Merlin Dailey

Dailey, Merlin,

Artist, Teacher,

Immense Spirit

Middlesex, NY/Victor, NY: On Thursday, October 8, 2015, Rochester and surrounding communities lost a longtime artist, connoisseur, teacher, patron of the arts, and friend.

Merlin C. Dailey was born in El Dorado, Kansas in 1931, the only child of Edna and Harry Dailey. His search for self-discovery and expression started at an early age, and would lead to a lifelong love of art, philosophy and spiritual growth.

After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for two years before college. Dailey graduated from Kansas City Art Institute (B.F.A.) in 1958 along with his future wife Mary Ann Bennett. He went on to receive an M.F.A. from the University of Indiana in 1960 with a degree in printmaking and Asian art history. He was associate professor of art at Memphis State University from 1960-68 where he taught drawing, printmaking and Asian art history.

After becoming involved with the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff, Merlin and Mary Ann moved their family to upstate New York to become members of the Rochester Folk Art Guild, a community of artisans and students of the Gurdjieff Work. He accepted a position of professor of fine art at Keuka College (1968-70) and then at Eisenhower College (1970-72).

In 1970, Merlin and Mary Ann's longtime interest in Japanese art and philosophy culminated in the opening of the East West Gallery in Victor, which would run for 33 years and become the oldest Asian art gallery in the U.S., specializing in Ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock prints of the Floating World. Over the years, they catalogued museum and private collections and arranged exhibitions in the U.S. and Japan. They were instrumental in helping numerous clients build their art collections. With the opening of the gallery, he eventually became a full-time art dealer, taking him around the world meeting collectors, fellow dealers, and attending auctions.

Merlin's interest in spiritual growth led him to the Enneagram, a study of personality types with ancient Sufi origins, of which he became a certified teacher. He held evening workshops in the gallery for many years.

After the death of Mary Ann in 1994, Merlin continued in the art business with the help of his daughters, and joined the International Fine Print Dealers' Association, exhibiting at their annual print fair in New York City. He resumed a more active interest in his own artwork, producing new drawings, paintings, pottery and writing.

In 2003, a new chapter of Merlin's life began when he met Angela M. (DeSantis) Krueger, an English teacher and poet. Angela became an integral force in Merlin's life as they worked together to complete several projects, including a memoir of his spiritual path, Each in Our Own Time. They were married in 2011 and retired to his farm.

Merlin is survived by his wife Angela M. Dailey, children Hadrian B. Dailey, Hillary A. Dailey, Maia C. (Dailey) VanOrman, 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; and step-children, Mikal J. Krueger, Emily R. (Krueger) Giunta, James W. Krueger, and 3 step-grandsons.

The family will be holding a private celebration of his life at home. Contributions may be made in his name to the Rochester Folk Art Guild in Middlesex, New York; and the Middlesex Valley Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Arrangements: Jarmusz Cotton Funeral Home, Victor, NY.