I met Audrey Legh Van Horne. Through a mutual friend, as I was commissioned to photograph some of the paintings of her late husband John Russell Van Horne Jr. Both Audrey and John were the founders of Van Horne and Van Horne Architects in 1956. They shared a life of design, painting, and photography until John’s passing in 2003. I come into the picture when Audrey tells her gardener and our mutual friend, that she would like to photograph some of John’s paintings, not only for preservation, but so that she can share his work with more of their family members.

It was a joy to meet Audrey. She has a warm personality. Is a gracious, welcoming host, and quite the conversationalist. She has a sharp mind, a quick wit, is full of energy, and always has a project she’s working on. Audrey is 94 years young, is perhaps 4'5" tall, with a bright smile, and a determined demeanor. Her sweetness juxtaposed with her humor quickly endeared her to me. I had the privilege of being welcomed into her home, where I saw family artwork everywhere. A bust of one of her daughters, which I believe was made by the other daughter. A wood carving her mother made of an eagle out in the garden, not far from a large sculpture of a blue wooden dodecahedron. In the living room hung a large abstract painting, with bright primary colors and basic geometric shapes, constructed of individually painted wooden blocks placed together to form a 2-dimensional, interactive image. This painting I later learned is one of John’s, as is the dodecahedron. It has a name, Flag Language.

One painting was particularly interesting to me. It was of a little toe headed girl with blue eyes and rosy cheeks and frilly clothing. This oil painting is perhaps 2.5ft wide x 4ft. tall and is framed ornately. Looking into those eyes I could sense something yet, wasn’t sure what. It nagged at me until I decided to ask about it. As it turns out this rosy cheeked little girl was Audrey herself. I’d recognized Audrey’s eyes as her own through the painting. Audrey seemed to derive joy through my recognition, as It became my opportunity to see that same rosy flush emerge before my eyes. It was clear to see that Audrey and John followed Audrey's parent's mold in creating an artistic family and home. Even the home it’s self was designed and crafted by their own hands in tandem with the neighboring home, in which lived a pair of their personal friends.

Audrey Van Horne-Architect, Vincent Howard-Photographer, Maurice Frazier-Gardener (Hoticulturalist) — Audrey Van Horne-Architect, Vincent Howard-Photographer, Maurice Frazier-Gardener (Hoticulturalist)

Over wine, dinner, snacks and conversation, I was told of John’s life as a father, husband and architect. The life they lived together was an amazing one, and I am privileged to have made a new friend in Audrey and the opportunity to share a small part of the fruits of John’s artistry. While photographing John’s paintings in a temperature-controlled storage facility, I learned that Audrey’s mother (Francine Garrett Jupp 1891-1976) too, was a painter and sculptor. Two of her works were included in the shoot.

Cupola Above Water_.jpg — Francine Garrett Jupp

PAINTER / SCULPTOR

The lives of Audrey and John have been part of the history of Seattle. Their works include residential homes, as well as large projects such as the Imperial 400 Motels designed for the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962, as well public works projects with the City of Seattle including low income housing and more. You can read more about the two of them and discover their impact on Seattle for yourself via the provided links below.

John’s artwork spans his lifetime. He paitined even as he served in the Navy with the SeaBees during WWII. John painted primarily in water colors yet, was also prone to work with other mediums at times. The works shared exclusively in VHOTON Images's gallery offer a small sense of the evolution of his eye over a period of his life. John was not known to name many of his paintings, or even sign them. Audrey shared that he was more likely to sign one if it was to get class credit. He painted while vacationing, and at home alike, and tried differing styles over his years. I hope you enjoy and, find your own connection to his work as I have.

http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/architects_detail.php?id=141

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=985382

http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/person/4672/

http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/person/4671/

Audrey and John...