Lucette White

Lucette White, renowned painter and sculptor, died peacefully on Saturday, April 19, surrounded by her four children. Mrs. White was a prolific artist whose work is held in museums, galleries, and corporate and private collections across the US and Europe. Her painting "Inauguration 1993" hung in The White House during the Presidency of Bill Clinton, and is currently held in the permanent collection of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. Her work is also held in the permanent collections of the DeCordova Museum (Lincoln, Mass.), Endicott College, (Beverly, Mass.), the Cape Ann Museum (Gloucester, Mass.), Newcomb College (New Orleans, La.), the Maier Museum (Lynchburg, Va.), Butler Institute (Little Rock, Ark.), and the Hill Country Art Foundation (Ingram, Texas), among others. She exhibited in The National Academy of Design (New York, N.Y.), ML Gallery (New York, N.Y.), the Judi Rotenberg Gallery (Boston, Mass.), the Mercury Gallery (Boston and Rockport, MA), US Artists American Fine Arts Exhibit (Philadelphia, Pa.), and the Public Library of Tunbridge, Vt., to name a few. Although her enormous body of work encompassed a wide array of media including watercolor, gouache, gold leaf, ink, pastel, oil, bronze and porcelain, her inspiration was deeply rooted in nature. "I see art everywhere," she often remarked, "the light changes from one minute to the next, and my surroundings continuously provide me with subjects no matter where I look." Known for her beautiful home and gardens, Mrs. White's residence at Bass Rocks is a Gloucester landmark. It serves as a frequent inspiration for artists and photographers, and is often depicted in books and publications detailing the town's architecture and history. Deeply devoted to Cape Ann's tradition as an artist's colony, Mrs. White built a studio on Gloucester Harbor and for many years provided space for local artists to work. She also maintained a studio and residence in Vermont. Mrs. White is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, where she spent her early life. After graduating high school, she attended Newcomb College in New Orleans, La., and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Her first art teacher, Helen Terry Marshall, recognized her gift, and helped set her on an artist's path, for which Mrs. White was eternally grateful. She also studied printmaking with John Canady, drawing and sculpture with George Demetrios, watercolor painting with Hilton Leech, and drawing with Luciano Guarnieri. Although she was based in Gloucester, Mass., Mrs. White traveled the world to paint. She had a particular fondness for the hills of Scotland, the fields of Tuscany, and the mesas of the American Southwest. Gracious, kind, spirited, and vivacious, Mrs. White was a loving mother and grandmother, a devoted friend, and a legendary hostess. Her generosity was boundless and she never hesitated to help others. Mrs. White is survived by her beloved husband of 51 years, Dr. Harold White; her children and their spouses: Dr. Elizabeth Harris and Dr. Jonathan Ross of Andover, Mass., Dr. James and Darby Logan of Boone, N.C., Matthew and Keri White of Philadelphia, Pa., and Esther and Rex Vanier of Hamilton, Mass.; and her nine grandchildren: Olivia and Whitfield Logan; Sam, Riley and Dylan Ross; Kate and Will Vanier; and Cormick and Kelsey White. She is also survived by her sister, Anne Kocinski and many nieces and nephews. Her two beloved sisters, Phoebe Norman and Sue Gaston predeceased her. Mrs. White considered her family her greatest work of art. The family held a private burial on Tuesday, April 21 at the Sharon Memorial Park. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Lucette Darby White Memorial Scholarship for the Arts at Endicott College, C/O President's Office, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, Mass. 01915.