Simmie Knox on TV

Patricia Joyce · 06-15-2004, 11:27 AM

There was a front page article about the portraits in the Cleveland Plain Dealer this morning. They are getting a letter from me, Simmie Knox was not named. In fact there was no mention of the artist AT ALL, as if the portraits just materialized out of thin air.

Never been a fan of the Plain Dealer, but this is the first letter they have gotten from me in a long time

steaming in cleveland!!

Do you know where I can view a good photo of the portraits?

Cynthia Daniel · 06-15-2004, 12:29 PM

Well, if you really want to start steaming, there is no artist acknowledge on the White House web site for the presidential and first lady portraits:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/

I emailed them quite some time ago to bring this to their attention, but I see it has not changed. Perhaps if everyone writes to them this might help.

As far as I know, there are no good images of the portraits yet available on the web. I've emailed Simmie to see if he already has a scan he can email to me or if he will send material for me to scan.

Michele Rushworth · 06-15-2004, 02:00 PM

It seems that many people's perception of the significance of any given portrait is solely based on the subject, not on the artist.

After all, even the National Portrait Gallery has stated that they include works in their collection based just on the importance of the person depicted, not based at all on the importance of the artist who might have painted it. Harrrumph!

SB Wang · 06-15-2004, 05:50 PM

Knok, knok,
Knoks your door is your destiny!

Cynthia Daniel · 06-15-2004, 08:03 PM

Sean, you're so funny and supportive.

John Crowther · 06-15-2004, 09:02 PM

I did think that Bill Clinton's acknowledgment of and words about Simmie Knox were very welcome. I also liked very much that Mr. Clinton not only mentioned that the White House portrait of Teddy Roosevelt was his favorite, he gave credit to John Singer Sargent. -- John C.

Jean Kelly · 06-15-2004, 09:19 PM

I've been very disappointed with the news coverage also. I looked all over for a quality photo of both and really found nothing more than angled quick views with a lot of reflection. Of course I got to read and hear how kind Bush was over and over.

I'm glad that Clinton was moved enough to acknowledge Simmie Knox, and that Hillary decided to have him paint hers also. All morning CNN refered to Simmie as "Simmie Kox"! I kept on yelling at the tv with the correct pronunciation.

Cynthia, I hope Simmie can get images to you so they can be posted here. I'd like to see the paintings and offer my congratulations, what I did see of them looked wonderful.

Simmering in Wisconsin,
Jean

SB Wang · 06-17-2004, 10:45 AM

SB Wang · 06-19-2004, 04:23 PM

Cynthia Daniel · 06-21-2004, 12:25 PM

Simmie will be sending me better images, but for right now, this is all I have. Simmie wrote me "The last several days have been overwhelming and even surreal with all the attention I have been getting. "

He is such a wonderful gentleman and well deserves this honor. I've long felt Simmie's talents have not gotten the credit due and I've been pulling for him for years.