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.
