ARTIST
RESTORES HISTORICAL PAINTING
An
unveiling of a painting restored by IRENE BAILEY was held
at the Monmouth Armed Forces Reserve Center, Red Bank,
NJ on 7 May 2008.
Irene
Bailey, a professional portrait artist with a Masters
of Fine Arts is a strong supporter of the Marine Corps
and numerous charitable organizations. She donated her
time and expertise to restore a 69" x 83" painting
by B. Brown inspired by the famous photograph of "Raising
the Flag on Iwo Jima", by Joe Rosenthal and completed
in 1946. The owner of a Lincroft funeral home saw the
painting and bought it on the spot. The painting was displayed
in the foyer of the funeral home until about 2002 when,
after the owner of the funeral home passed away, the home
was remodeled. The new owners felt the painting didn't
fit the new interior but wanted to do the right thing
by the painting. Their only conclusion was to give it
to the Marines.
The
painting needed a serious overhaul with 60 years of dust,
dirt and several tears. Thanks to Irene's generosity of
several months of her time and talent, the painting is
fully restored.
Irene Bailey was recently honored as "One of One
Hundred Extraordinary Women of the last One Hundred Years"
by East Carolina University in 2007. A well known portrait
artist, Irene has donated $45,000.00 worth of portraits
to Monmouth County charities since she arrived. She is
presently working on a portrait of a Monmouth County resident
which will be submitted to the Smithsonian Institute's
National Portrait Gallery competition in July 2008.
