Wylie Warren Curry had a daughter, Jean Maxwell, and two sons: my father Charles Allen, and my uncle David Warren. David was a lifelong, prolific artist whose life and work deserve recognition beyond his family members' knowledge of him. He was a dedicated college art teacher while continuing to create his own artwork on a daily basis until he was into his 80's. His life is summarized here in his obituary:
David W. Curry, age 86, artist and college art instructor, died in Bakersfield, CA on Tuesday, August 7, 2007. He was born July 14, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Mabel and Wylie Curry. He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art and received a Master's Degree from Case Western Reserve University also in Cleveland. He served as a shipboard officer in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during WWII.
On September 8, 1946, he was united in marriage to Mildred E. Curry in Chicago, IL. Mr. Curry taught art and art history for 35 years at Sacramento City College in Sacramento, CA. He loved teaching students the fundamentals of visual design and the purposes of art throughout history. French cathedrals and his workshop at his former home in Colfax, CA, were his favorite places. David was a member of the Congregational Church in Auburn, CA, where some of his metal sculptures decorate the church's vestibule. Many of his sculptures are displayed in Sacramento churches. In addition to paintings and metal sculptures, Mr. Curry used driftwood to create charming imaginary creatures. David is survived by Mildred [ed: now deceased], his devoted wife of sixty-one years; son Randal Curry of Auburn, CA [ed: now deceased].; son and his wife, Martin and Linda Curry of Tehachapi, CA.; grandson Bret Curry of Tehachapi, granddaughter and her husband, Krista and Brian Dawley of Elk Grove, CA, and great-grandson Benjamin Dawley of Elk Grove. He is also survived by other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Charles Curry of Berkeley, CA and sister Jean Curry of Lakewood, OH.
My earliest memories of my uncle Dave's artwork came from his Christmas cards which, if I recall correctly, were usually silk-screened in several colors and featured expressive, religious figures. They warranted framing; one of them was placed prominently in the entryway of my childhood home in Seattle.
David moved to California with his wife Mildred after World War II ended. Both were public school teachers, with David teaching college art and art history in Sacramento, the state's capitol. Once their two sons were raised, they began their international travels. As mentioned in his obituary, David was inspired by the French cathedrals as well as the religious and historic figures associated with them.
As a mature artist David focused primarily on creating sculpture in wire, glass, and sheet metal. Below are some of David's artworks owned by members of my family. In presenting them here, I see my uncle's consistent love of linear form and the rich, varied textures of worked metals. His artwork has a distinct modernity while being historically inspired:
Fortunately, my sister and I made a trip to visit our uncle and aunt just a few months before David passed away. Below is the photo I took of them in Auburn, California. It is in the Congregational Church in Auburn where numerous artworks of David's are still on display.
