September 1997 Volume 19 Number 3

In Memory of a Friend and Colleague

Edward Pinney died on July 18. He was a wise, pragmatic, caring friend to many. He will be particularly remembered for his pithy, profound, and witty one-liners. Edward was fond of words, ideas, people, art, artists and we quirky folk sometimes known as conservators--responding to and contributing to both our inventiveness and passion.

Edward was born in New York City in 1908, and in 1919 moved to Los Angeles where he lived for 77 years. For twenty-six years, Edward and his wife Zora owned and worked at Zora's Art Materials, a mecca for artists and conservators, both for the hard-to-find materials and more importantly, the scarce reliable information provided about them.

Edward and Zora traveled throughout Europe searching for sources of unique artists' materials, sailed their boat, the Mehitabel, along the coast of California, suffered the death of a 19 year-old son, and shared life and unconditional love for over forty years.

As he wished, there was no memorial service and his ashes were returned to the sea that he loved.

Contributions to the Edward Pinney Memorial Fund may be made to the Conservation Department of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Attn: Meg Porta, where Edward's and Zora's collection of contemporary art materials is housed.

Note: Edward was well-known to the members of WAAC and many will wish to give their love and support to Zora. For the present it is requested that friends refrain from using the telephone; a note or e-mail would be most appreciated. Be assured that Zora is doing well and will resume her professional participation in the near future.