Born to Paint: Two Brothers, Two Paths

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The Artistic Offspring of Wylie Warren Curry: David Warren Curry, Son

David, Dad, Jean
David W. Curry is in the center, flanked by my father Charles on the left and my aunt Jean on the right.

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.

DWC Navy
David Curry in U.S. Navy uniform, 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.

David country road sm
David W. Curry in Colfax, CA, ca. 1980. Photo by son Martin Curry.

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:

Crown whole
Suspended Crown. Brass wire, brazing, glass. Appx. 12"x20"

 

Crown detail
Suspended Crown, detail.

 

Wire King
King. Brass wire, brazing. Appx. 8"x16"

 

Wall piece abstract
Abstract wall piece, melted and soldered metals (appx. 4' wide).
Welding detail
Abstract wall piece, detail.

 

DSCF0385
Woman. Welded and soldered metals, wire. Appx. 20" high

 

DSCF0390
Faces. Glass, wire, metals. Appx. 8"x12"

 

DSCF0397
Christ. Hammered metals, solder. Appx. 20"x28"

 

DSCF0395
Christ (detail using flash).


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.

 

Dave and Millie late
David and Millie Curry, Spring, 2007, Auburn, CA.



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Pages

  • The Artistic Offspring of Noble Wilbur Curry: Patrick Frawley, Grandson
  • The Artistic Offspring of Wylie Warren Curry: David Warren Curry, Son
  • 20th Century Curry Family Homes in Columbus and Lakewood, Ohio
  • The Poetry of Noble Wilbur Curry
  • Partial Chronology of Exhibitions Which Included Noble Curry's Artwork
  • Noble Curry's Essays on Abstraction and Modernity in 20th Century Painting
  • Cleveland Plain Dealer Interview with Noble W. Curry
  • Born to Paint: Two Brothers, Two Paths
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