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September 1, 1997

California artist leaves life's work to educate future generations

[Photo of Chancellor Greenwood greeting Charles Griffin Farr, with dean of arts Edward Houghton]
Chancellor Greenwood greets Charles Griffin Farr at a reception in January while dean of arts Edward Houghton looks on
Living trust of Charles Griffin Farr identifies UC Santa Cruz as recipient of his private collection

By Barbara McKenna

Charles Griffin Farr, one of California's great realist painters and a veteran of the San Francisco art scene, died August 5 at the age of 89.

Farr, described not long ago by a reporter as "the grand old man of the San Francisco art scene," is considered a master of the American Realist tradition. Born in 1908 in Birmingham, Alabama, he painted for more than 70 years. In his youth, he studied in New York City and at the Academie Americaine in Paris. Farr began his move westward after serving in the army in World War II, arriving in San Francisco in 1948 where he lived until his death.

This past year Farr donated a dozen of his paintings and drawings to UCSC's Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery. Some 100 people attended a January reception to honor Farr (article). The reception took place at University House, where Farr's works continue to be on display.

Farr's work is on display in public collections at the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C., the Oakland Museum of California, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and at UCSC. Major exhibitions of Farr's work are planned for the next year both at UCSC and in San Francisco. Farr is survived by his nephews, Tom Davis and William Davis, both of Knoxville, Tenn.


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