In an arts community as rich and tightly woven as that of Cincinnati, it is not uncommon for artists- even those of different genres- to collaborate. Birds of a feather flock together, after all. What is uncommon-even rare- is the joint creation of a masterpiece through the combined passions of two artists who have never met, let alone exchanged a paintbrush.
Rarity is something graphic designer Jill Baker knows well. The 32-year old Spring Grove Village resident was born with a congenital birth defect known as proximal focal femoral deficiency (PFFD), a disorder occurring as infrequently as 1 in 200,000 births. This developmental anomaly, characterized by a shortened or absent femur (thigh bone), is most often associated with children whose mothers took the drug Thalidomide during pregnancy. Baker's mother did not, making her case exceptionally rare. As Baker smilingly points out, "I guess I was just one of the lucky ones."
Her childhood was marked by a succession of surgeries on her shortened right limb, twelve of which were performed at Cincinnati's
Children's Hospital. Under circumstances which were understandably frightening, Baker distinctly remembers the unexpected solace she felt while being wheeled to the operating room. As if awaiting her passage, the walls of the hospital's hallways were adorned with vivid displays of framed art by renowned Cincinnati wildlife artist
Charley Harper.
"I have always loved birds- their beauty, their grace, their calls. The colorful depiction of them in Charley Harper's prints captured my attention and put me completely at ease," recalls Baker.
Charley Harper would have loved knowing the comfort his artwork had provided the young child. At the time, the renowned artist was very likely ensconced in his Cincinnati studio, adding another precise line or splash of bold color to the wings of one of his whimsical bird images.
Trained at Cincinnati's
Art Academy, the prolific graphic designer, painter, and illustrator had already established himself in the arts world as a master and pioneer in Mid-Century design. He was internationally known for his creation of memorable ads for Morton Salt, Libby's Pineapple, and Procter & Gamble, his illustrations in Childcraft Encyclopedias and Golden Books, and the notable completion of 30 covers for Ford Times Magazine.
As the accomplished artist was entering his golden years, young Baker was growing into adulthood. With the emotional imprint of Harper's art lingering long beyond her childhood surgeries, Baker was ultimately inspired to pursue her own career in graphic design. While taking advantage of every opportunity to view his work at local Harper exhibitions, Baker's modest income- supplemented by a variety of moonlighting positions as bartender and barista- did not allow her the luxury of owning any of the artist's work . . . or so she thought.
In mid-summer 2009, Newport prosthetist Rob Pinkston presented Baker with a unique opportunity to take possession of her own Harper original.
"We often work outside the box," says Pinkston, who looks for ways to ensure that his "patients are both comfortable and aesthetically pleased" with their prosthesis. While measuring the young mother for a new prosthesis, Pinkston suggested that she select a decorative fabric to cover the carbon graphite shell which would encase Baker's residual limb.
Baker's excitement was difficult to contain, but determined to give thoughtful consideration to her design choice, Baker decided to "sleep on it". She now sheepishly admits that she knew her decision long before her head hit the pillow that night.
Confident that she could find the work of her favorite artist printed on fabric, Baker tapped into the first of her many contacts in the "small world that is the arts world in Cincinnati". A close friend steered her to Matt Distel, a former Associate Curator at Cincinnati's
Contemporary Arts Center (CAC). A big contributor to the city's visual arts community and a Harper fan himself, Distel made a phone call to the one person he was certain could help Baker in her hunt for Harper textiles.
Celebrated designer Todd Oldham was excited to hear from Distel and more excited to hear of Baker's quest. A long-time friend of Charley Harper's, he had incorporated some of Harper's work into the contemporary line he had designed for La-Z-Boy Furnishings. Sadly, this avenue did not prove fruitful, due to legal entanglements between the fabric maker and the furniture company. Initially disappointed, Baker laughingly concedes, "It was probably just as well. The fabric was appropriate for a chair, but not so much for a leg."
Without missing a step, Baker dialed the number of
Fabulous Frames and Art, a family-owned frame shop and art gallery in Cincinnati considered the leading Harper dealer in the world. Corporate Art Consultant Megan Carl remembers the phone call well.
"We have been family friends of the Harper's for years and I remembered a story my father used to tell me about a little girl who had undergone numerous leg surgeries at Children's Hospital." He told his daughter of the little girl's fascination with Charley's artwork.
Carl had never forgotten that touching tale and just minutes into her phone conversation with Baker, she realized she was talking to the little girl- now grown- of the poignant story.
Though she did not have the fabric Baker was hoping to find, Carl said "we were determined to find a solution for her." Obtaining permission from Charley's son, Brett, the frame shop opened their entire computer library of Harper artwork for Baker to access. "It was overwhelming," admits an emotional Baker.
Working with the same precision as her icon, the young graphic designer got to work, "dumping Charley's bird images into Photoshop, isolating them from their backgrounds," and generally preparing them for her femoral masterpiece. "I felt a little guilty making modifications to his work, but I thought Charley would understand."
From her computer, the bird images made their way to
Queen City Reprographics, where former Sales Consultant Michael Cipollone joined the migratory path. Cipollone's involvement in the Cincinnati arts scene, and a Charley Harper fan himself, made him the perfect choice to spearhead the transformation of the bird images to an overlay for Baker's new leg. His enthusiasm for the project was matched only by that which he held for his client. "I felt privileged to work with Jill. She was so open and comfortable to work with."
Cipollone joined forces with Baker's "leg dude", Rob Pinkston, and together they conducted a series of test runs on models using a dimpled vinyl material designed to prevent distortion of the artist's work. By September of 2009, less than two months after the search began, Baker tearfully received her new (and bird-fully embellished) prosthesis.
Just weeks later, Baker debuted her "original Charley Harper" while participating in Cincinnati's annual Reggae Run and on September 18th of this year, an encore is planned when her new groom removes the traditional garter from his lovely bride's beautifully-adorned leg.
Charley Harper once noted, "I never count the feathers on the wings; I just count the wings." Perhaps he knew that it wasn't his artful adornment that would give wings to his young protégé, but rather an inner spirit that in the end would give her flight.
Though Harper passed away in June 2007, never having met the young graphic designer who shared his love of birds and who found solace and inspiration in his art, together the two created a memorable masterpiece.
Photography by Scott Beseler.Charley Harper images provided by Megan Carl at Fabulous Frames and ArtJill's new legJill Baker showing me some legRob Pinkston, "Jill's leg guy""Green Jay", Charley HarperCharley Harper painting in studio (provided)Jill and her fiance' Michael