The dedicated art lovers who found their way to Tooley's Coffee Shop in the Lost Barrio (showing through November 30) for the rare, once-a-year opportunity to view and purchase the work of beloved Tucsonan Francisco Franklin were not typical of those who usually attend these kinds of events. Instead of gathering in clusters of appetizer nibbling, wine sipping conversationalists dressed in their neo-Bohemian splendor, talking of local politics and gossiping, occasionally casting a desultory glance at the displayed offerings, these mostly jeans-clad Franklin fans actively and avidly vied for the chance to purchase one of the master's vivid, well-composed oil paintings or beautifully carved pieces of furniture, perhaps a bright female angel with radiant flowing robes and outstretched wings, a serene and winsome "El Toro," one of the many voluptuous nudes, a semi-abstract landscape executed with broad brush strokes and luscious colors, or even poetry hand written and mounted in one of the characteristic hand carved, hand painted frames. Of the approximately 75 works shown in the high-ceilinged space at 299 S. Park Ave., probably 80% will have been sold by Monday night.
A humble man in his 60s, Franklin's only publicity on offer -- no brochures or fancy postcards here -- consisted of photocopies of a hand-written letter to his visitors, which states, in part, "If you are so kind, when you view these paintings, know that I did them in spite of myself rather than because of myself." And "It is the viewer of a painting who brings their life experience to the painting and their reaction to it makes it live." These are not what could be called a formal "artist's statement," but the sincere thoughts of a primarily self-taught man who lives to paint and who delights in sharing what he considers his "accidental" gift with the world.
He wants visitors to come in, to stand still, or "walk around and take it all in" he says. From his letter: "I do so very much welcome you to my exhibition." I got the feeling that he wanted to personally welcome each and every person who showed up, and many, if not most, seemed to be old friends or long time patrons, some who own a dozen or more paintings, drawings, chests or benches and proudly line their rooms and hallways with these exquisite examples of primitives that are surprisingly sophisticated in their simplicity.Find yourself in the Lost Barrio before Monday night for an unusual art-feast!
