Robert M. Kulicke

Robert Kulicke Obituary

KULICKE--Robert M. Davis & Langdale Company deeply mourns the death of Robert M. Kulicke, painter, draughtsman, printmaker, frame designer, framemaker, potter, goldsmith, historian, collector, and teacher, on December 14, 2007. Roy Davis, Partner Cecily Langdale, Partner

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Published by New York Times from Dec. 15 to Dec. 16, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Kulicke

13 Entries

Walter Jamieson Jr

November 26, 2008

11/25/08 Because some of Bob's beautiful drawings and etchings are currently on view at Davis & Langdale, I thought this might be an appropriate time to write a few words about him. Our great friend was what Steve Martin used to call "a UNIQUE kind of guy" not "a wild and crazy guy", but a UNIQUE kind of guy. His countless talents, manifold interests and accomplishments, his contributions as teacher and mentor are well known. But there is even more to his story that some few may not know. For example, Bob lived every summer for a number of years on the smallest inhabited island in the continental United States and was, for parts of that time, its only inhabitant. He was also its historian and resident celebrity. In addition, he was a consummate filleter of fish, especially that rare variety, the snapper blue, known to flourish in the tranquil waters not far from his island. Never one to be stingy with his knowledge, Bob was also a dedicated teacher of snapper-blue filleting to his many acolytes, whether they had come to him as students of painting, goldsmithing, picture framing, Chinese pottery, or anything else. I know that I, for one, am a better person for having been instructed in this arcane proceedure. I first came to know Bob when some of his paintings were shown at an exhibition of West Side artists at The Goddard-Riverside Community Center in 1966. My reaction to seeing them was, Maybe Morandi doesn't live in Italy after all; he must be living on the West Side of Manhattan, but these are Morandis of pears not pots. Who is this guy? Sensing a sensational bargain right here in my backyard, I asked if any were for sale. I was told that they were commited to an upcoming gallery show and were, in fact, already sold. Those words, "already sold" would soon become very familiar. Anyway, not to be deterred, I went to the gallery opening, found one last unsold painting, and bought it. That was the beginning of a friendship that was rich and productive, personally and professionally. Bob helped me get my little framing business to the next level by securing large, important jobs at the Guggenheim and MoMA, which we then worked on together. As Bob's obit in the New York Times mentioned, those jobs caused "some art lovers' consternation." Consternation doesn't quite do justice to the controversy, but does bring mack many happy memories of sulking all the way to the bank....it seems like yesterday. Bob was also very generous to my children, Wendell and Lindsay. His generosity toward them even extended as far as attending their school plays with the rest of the family. When Wendell asked him after one of the plays what he had thought of it, Bob said, "Well, Wen, I could see you kids put a lot of work into it. It's great to see everybody working together like that, but as entertainment it was excruciating." Bob often called me his "husband-in-law", and one of the times I visited him at the Tolstoy Foundation nursing home, I was asked if I was a relative; almost without thinking, I said, "I'm his husband-in-law." Our friendship was challenging and never dull, and I sometimes wonder if his teaching credo "No Opinions Tolerated" has traveled and traveled well into whatever new world he is conquering now. - Walter Jamieson Jr.

Melinda Kahn Tally

January 23, 2008

I have felt hopelessly tongue-tied since the day I first came upon this Guest Book. Remember "To Sir with Love" ??? How can I put into a handful of words the love and gratitude that I feel for Bob? Impossible. But I do want to say how moved I have been by the sentiments recorded here. I do hoard a trove of memories, from the sublime to the ridiculous: communing with Bob over the exquisite beauty of the 17th c goldfinch painting by Carel Fabritius....throwing Cheez Doodles to the seagulls with Bob and my children on his tiny Harvey Cedars island (eating two for every one the gulls were offered)...to Bob's epicurean delight over the simple combination of duck sauce and hot mustard at a Chinese restaurant ("Try this, Honey!")..... So I guess I would write across the sky in letters: TO BOB, WITH LOVE. Melinda p.s. spacing may be screwy...beyond my control -- this is NOT a poem!)

kathi fertig

January 23, 2008

this is my second entry. i have spent a lot of time these past few weeks keeping bob alive and spreading his immortality by talking to my friends about him - telling his favorite jokes, talking about his teaching, his insights, his big appetite for more than food, for all that he found worthwhile.

i am back in school studying counseling and i have realized that bob helped me find this path. he was profoundly insightful. he loved people and embraced their influences and love. his ego was so large and healthy and that is part of what allowed him his generosity.

as i go through this journey is school and read the great therapists of our time and study their theories and philosophies about people i feel bob's presence. he was a philosopher and his teachings are reflected in those readings.

he believed that life can be whatever you want it to be and that if you think the best of people they will be that way. it's all attitude. giving begets giving, loving begets loving.

it sounds so simplistic but it's not. i used to ask him how he could be so positive and kind and altruistic and he told me that he had to learn it - it was not his nature. by 'nature', i think he meant he didn't learn it in his childhood years. that is what i meant in my last entry when i said that he taught me that i could be whatever i wanted to be.

he lived his philosophy. he reinvented himself.

Caroline Ellen

January 18, 2008

I was so lucky to have Bob as a teacher, almost 20 years ago. He gave me a great gift: he lead me to believe that it was not only possible to expect to spend your life making beautiful objects, but it was perfectly reasonable to have that expectation. His incredible enthusiasm infected me and changed the course of my life. The school he created taught me the craft I love and practice every day. He shared his knowledge and passion so generously, and I am forever indebted to him for that. I will never forget him, and will do my best to pass the gift along to others.

Lindsay Jamieson Gallagher

January 13, 2008

Bob said to me when I was a child that anyone who had a dollar more than he needed, was a rich man. He was true to those words, always so generous. He gave me a pear painting for inspiration and I've had it with me ever since, reminding me that hard work and dedication will pay off, encouraging me not to give up on my pursuits. He took me fishing and made me his famous burgers and sushi with fish he’d caught that day. He sat with me on Christmas Eve when I was too excited to sleep and gave me a half a glass of beer. That is how I remember him most, sitting at the kitchen table with a cigarette in one of his paint stained hands, a detective novel in the other, smiling at me and calling me “honey.” What a great influence in my life.

Lindsay Jamieson Gallagher

Ronald katz

December 21, 2007

What seemed most admirable about the work of Robert Kulicke was its clarity and humility, both in very short supply in today's art world.

Bessie Jamieson

December 20, 2007

Bob's

enthusiasm and encouragement were the greatest influence in my life, which

I shared with him for 16 years. There are still people at the school who

remember him when he was re-discovering ancient jewelry techniques, and that

exciting time will never be equalled. I was at the Met yesterday to see

the Greek and Roman Galleries, and I wished that Bob could have seen it,

he would have loved it - he always drew a group when we went to museums,

people thought he was a lecturer. He had such knowledge which he gave unstintingly.

He will be sorely missed, but he has certainly left a large legacy and will

hardly be forgotten.

Merle Raab

December 20, 2007

Bob Kulicke was one of the most generous men I have had the pleasure to know. He shared his knowledge, his passion, his laughter. His paintings will continue to give me pleasure and never let me forget how fortunate I was to have known him. Max and I will miss him.

Poochy Buchholz

December 19, 2007

I am here at the shore, receiving Bob's spirit as he wanders among snapper blues, picks blueclaw crabs and makes little piles, encouraging me to try it --"Taste this, it's the best I've ever had!"
I remember him picking my snapdragons, then painting them. Painting a peach or a tomato, then eating them.
A lusty, lovely, lively man. I met him when he and Barbara built a house down the street -- then he met Jean and they started the jewelry school.
And then Bessie, and Bessie and Bob in my upstairs apartment. the excitement of the pear jewel,and pear paintings.
And then painting with Pam on the Island house.

Bob taught me how to see all the colors in the water --his vision is a part of my everyday life through the paintings on my wall. Bob will live on through his work and the memories of all those he has influenced and whose lives
he has touched.

kathi fertig

December 19, 2007

where do i begin? bob was my mentor, my best friend, my father figure. he was one of the most important people in my life for 30 years.

he influenced me on many levels - he taught me how to think, he taught me how to love life, he taught me enthusiasm and passion, he taught me about painting. most importantly he taught me that i could be the person i wanted to be; his own life was exactly about that.

bob was bigger than life. everyone who ever met him was touched by him. his presence filled a room and his laughter and passion was infectious.

i forgive him for making me eat apple pie with pepper jack cheese and left over tomatoes (soaking in balsamic vinegar for 24 hours) from the night before.

and i miss him terribly.

Melissa Weiland

December 15, 2007

I am sorry to say that I didn't come to know Bob until the end of his life. But that doesn't prevent me from having some very beautiful memories of him. The first time I met Bob, I was struck by his love of the world around him and his very straightforward honesty. While breakfasting in a diner that first meeting, he looked at me and he looked at Erin, smiled hugely, and said, "You two are very good friends aren't you?" I think we both blushed. My favorite memory of Bob, though, happened some time later, when Erin and I visited him to drop of a wallet full of prints of his paintings. We found him sleepily playing bingo at the edge of a crowd. When we gave him the wallet Pam had put together, he came alive. Leaning over to the other residents, he flipped through the wallet and whispered to them very confidentially, "I have the companionship of the most beautiful young lady" as he showed them a picture of Pam.