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Refections from Others Who Knew Turner It was early spring,
,and my friends and
I were talking and
not paying much
Andrew Turner was a attention to the
modest man. Whenever teacher. We had
he brought an especially just won the school
wonderful painting to the championship for
gallery, I would remark basketball. Tis was the 1960s. Te teacher, tall and of
regarding the emotions slender build, continued teaching and demonstrating,
his art evoked. “I’m just and we continued to talk and to not pay much attention.
a man who paints,” he Gym class was next and we could not wait to lace up
would say. For more than twenty years, as our business our $6.00 Converse sneakers.
relationship became a strong friendship, we shared the Tirty plus years later, once again in early spring,
good and the bad, the joy and the sorrow. At his best, I was in my favorite place, Zanzibar Blue, listening to
his artistic aesthetic was without peer. my favorite music, jazz. Te group Pieces of a Dream
was “taking fve,” and I was taking a drink, when the art
Sande Webster
Sande Webster Gallery on the walls caught my eye. I thought it was cool that
Philadelphia, PA there was art that represented me on the walls. Tere was
one painting that stopped me cold and made me sit up.
While in college Te subject of the piece was a man and a woman seated
I had the romantic at a piano. Her left hand was placed between his in
notion of majoring in an intimate way. Tis painting was so expressive and
art. I still paint, but in passionate. It would be two years later that I would see
another venue. On or this painting again at October Gallery. To my shock
about 1995, I had the and amazement the painting was by Mr. Turner, my
unique opportunity seventh-grade art teacher.
by chance of meeting
In the last several years I have collected over 150
Andrew Turner. I had pieces of art. My greatest sense of pride comes from
contracted with a my Andrew Turner collection. In all his works I see
young lady to restore someone I know or places that are familiar to me from
her Victorian porch, located in the Powelton Village growing up in the city of Chester. All aspects of my life
area of Philadelphia. While working on the top side seem to be depicted. Tere is a character representation
of this porch, I spotted a tall, angular-looking fellow of Rev. Dr. J. Pius Barber in one painting. I waded in
walking by holding an elongated painting, which the water at his church at the age of fve. Tere is a
caught my eye. I yelled down to him, asking him who street scene of brothers on a corner. Te buildings in
had painted the picture. Naturally, he responded, “I the painting are identical to a place at 4th & Central
did.” We introduced ourselves to one another, and he Avenue. Tere is a barbershop setting where a little boy
asked me if I would be interested in buying his artwork. is getting his frst haircut. My history is all there in each
Going to Church by Andrew Turner. Upon negotiation, I purchased my frst Andrew Turner and every work. Tis history gives me a snapshot of my
painting. He asked if I wanted to buy more of his past. In Mr. Turner’s work, I am reminded of where
artwork, and needless to say, within one week’s time, I I’ve been and who has impacted my life.
had bought fve of Andrew Turner’s paintings. Next lifetime I’ll pay more attention.

Don Staford Jerome Davis
Patron Collector
Philadelphia, PA Chester, PA

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