Obituaries

Louise Galbraith Dierks

Photo of Louise Galbraith Dierks
Louise Galbraith Dierks, 93, died at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 26, 2011. Her death followed that of her husband, Frederick M. Dierks, in April. Her exuberant life will be celebrated at the First Presbyterian Church, 213 Whittington Avenue, Hot Springs, Ark., on January 5 at 1:00 pm, followed by a gathering of friends and family in the Fellowship Hall. Louise Lane Galbraith was born in Evanston, Illinois on March 29, 1918, and grew up in the Glencoe, Ill. area. After graduating from New Trier High School in 1939, she attended Northwestern University as a journalism major. In 1942, she and Fred married at her family home and moved to Kansas City, where they started their family. During World War II, they briefly lived in Washington, D.C. In 1946, they permanently relocated to Hot Springs, due to Fred's family business, Dierks Forests Inc. During her time there, she became very active in in the community, particularly in the arts, and she and Fred extensively traveled the world. In 1974, they built a second home in Steamboat Springs, Colo., chosen for it's natural beauty and varied activities to enjoy with family and friends. They later had a home in Shoreline, Wash., to spend their time with their family, including great-grandchildren. As her life work, Louise became a professional artist. In 1962, she earned a degree in Art Education from Henderson State University, and continued her training at the Arkansas Art Center under the guidance of numerous well-known instructors in sculpture, painting, and other art forms. In addition, she did graduate work at Syracuse University Graduate School of Sculpture in New York. After 1974, through her joy of back country hiking and skiing around Steamboat Springs, her work became influenced by the shapes and textures found in nature. Louise became distinguished for her sculptures in cast bronze, cast aluminum and welded steel combined with blown glass. Her work had been accepted in over 20 regional and local shows and received numerous awards, the most noted being the Purchase Prize at the 1977 Delta Show at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, where it was selected to be in their permanent collection. And in 1993, her work was chosen for the Arkansas Artists exhibition in Washington, D.C. Throughout her career, galleries in New York and Arkansas represented her work, which may be seen in public and private collections in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, New York, California, and Washington, D.C. Louise's passion for art was equaled by her generosity. Her philanthropic efforts included being a founding member of both the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock and the Hot Springs Southern Artists Association, where she was Director of Art Education for two years. She donated and helped build a bronze foundry for Henderson State University. She was appointed by Governor Winthrop Rockefeller to the Arkansas Board of National Arts and Humanities Council, and also served on the board of the Arkansas State Festival of Arts. In addition, she was an active member of both the National and Arkansas Associations of Art Education, Fine Arts Club of Arkansas, American Federation of Arts, among numerous other organizations. Her support of the arts in Steamboat Springs included Steamboat Arts Council, Strings in the Mountains, and Literary Sojourn. She is survived by her daughters Suzanne Hooper, Constance Whitney, Kathryn Greene, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her ebullient life, enthusiasm for art and nature, and generosity of spirit will be missed by her family and communities. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made in her memory to the Nature Conservancy, P.O. Box 6014, Albert Lea, Minn. 56007, or a charity of one's choice.

Published January 5, 2012

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