Feature Articles


April Issue 2002

Greenville Museum of Art in Greenville, NC, To Honor Famed Artists Francis Speight and Sarah Blakeslee

The Greenville Museum of Art (GMA) in Greenville, NC, will honor two of NC's most important artists, Francis Speight and his wife Sarah Blakeslee, who called Greenville home for over thirty years, with a book signing and the dedication of a permanent gallery to house their works on June 8 from 1-4pm. The gallery will contain more than 12 paintings by the artists, including landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. Blakeslee, along with the couple's son and daughter and other family members, will be on hand for the event. The public is cordially invited. There will be no charge, and refreshments will be served. Author Maurice York will be in attendance as well to sign his new book, The Privilege to Paint: The Lives of Francis Speight and Sarah Blakeslee.

The book, published by the Museum in hardcover and based on extensive interviews and family documents, tells the story of these important American painters while allowing their art to speak for itself. It features 83 images of the artists' paintings, 80 of which are in full color, along with 18 documentary black and white photographic reproductions.
Greenville Museum of Art executive director Barbour Strickland comments: "We are pleased to honor Speight and Blakeslee with the book and gallery. They are so important in the NC art world, and we are proud to claim them as Greenville's own. Their works are included in numerous public and private collections up and down the east coast."
Francis Speight grew up in Bertie County, NC and taught painting and drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from 1925 until 1961. In 1936, he married Sarah Jane Blakeslee, who was a student at the academy's country school at Chester Springs. In 1961, the couple moved to Greenville, NC where Speight became artist-in-residence at East Carolina University and Blakeslee painted and taught art classes. Speight painted primarily landscapes, while Blakeslee painted landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. Both artists won numerous awards for their work and have been honored with exhibitions in both NC and PA.

The state of NC honored Francis Speight in 1964 with its highest award given to an artist, the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts. This was the first year the award was given. Thirty years later it honored Sarah Blakeslee with the same award. Francis Speight died in 1989. In 1998, at the age of 87, Sarah Blakeslee moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia to be closer to her daughter. Blakeslee continues to paint.

Author Maurice C. York is NC librarian at East Carolina University's J.Y. Joyner Library. A native of Louisburg, NC, he earned master's degrees in history and library science from the UNC at Chapel Hill. He lives in Greenville. His book about Speight and Blakeslee is available at GMA and select bookstores as well as from John F. Blair Publisher of Winston-Salem, NC for $34.95.

Anyone wishing further information about the Museum or about the gallery dedication/book signing on June 8 is invited to call 252/758-1946 during regular Museum hours..

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