Marilyn (Mari) Marks Fleming, one of the pioneers in the field of Encaustic Painting, passed away peacefully on November 24 after celebrating the holidays with family and friends. She had fought an inspiring six year battle with cancer while continuing to create new work, as a vital member of art and music communities . She was a longtime supporter of the Berkeley Arts Festival, through which she met her husband, pianist Jerry Kuderna. For 20 years she practiced in the SGI Buddhist communities where she uniquely inspired her fellow members. She will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 18, 1932, Mari achieved academic excellence, studied the oboe and art, and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with highest honors in painting. There she studied with Richard Diebenkorn and Mark Sprague. After marrying, she raised three children and farmed in Illinois for six years. After moving to Maryland, Mari continued to grow as an artist and in 1975, she received an M.F.A. in Art Therapy at George Washington University in Washington D.C. Her next thirty years were marked by a move to California, marriage to her second husband, and experimentation with various media, including fiber art, sculpture, mixed media, and encaustics. She is much loved by her many art therapy patients, who appreciate her warmth, sensitivity and loving support.
In 1992, Mari became one of the first California artists to choose encaustic painting as her medium of choice. Her encaustic paintings are created from a love of nature and a sensitivity to its many moods and patterns, and their expression of an enduring and beautiful life force. She said "Through my paintings I seek to bring experiences of beauty, peace, and healing to a fractured world."
Mari has exhibited at over forty galleries across the united States. Her paintings are included in public, corporate and private collections, among them the Richmond Memorial Civic Center, Hewlett-Packard Corporation, and the Hilton Hotel in Sapporo, Japan. Her work can still be seen locally, exhibited at the Vessel Gallery in Oakland, and in publications: "The Fine Art of Encaustic Painting, (2001)" "Portrait of the Artist as Poet (2006), Encaustic Art, the Complete Guide to Creating Fine Art with Wax," (2010) and "Encaustic Art in the Twenty-first Century (2016)."
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Kuderna, her sons David and Daniel Fleming, her daughter Robin Fleming, grandchildren Dayna, Matthew and Kaili Offenbacher, Andrew and Ben Fleming, and Gwendolyn and Iain MacLeish. She is predeceased by her sister Gwendolyn and brother Byron Marks, as well as her daughter, Nanda Fleming MacLeish.
The family extends deepest appreciation for Kaiser Oakland Hospice, who provided caring and spiritual support in Mari's final months.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday January 13th at 1:00 p.m., in the SGI Community Center at 3060 Hilltop Mall Road in Richmond. The celebration will include an exhibit of her artworks, tributes, poetry and musical performances by Jerry Kuderna and friends. All who loved her are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Berkeley Art Center.
