Letter: Appreciation for Jeanne Duval and Jaffrey

For thirty years (1960 to 1990) Robert Warfield, with nested painting, finish work and bookkeeping by wife Virginia, made a career of carving birds. Matching new craft and artistic passions, they bid adieu to Littleton Crafts, their custom furniture and pottery enterprise, found a restorable site above Cummings Meadow with a sweeping view of Monadnock and got to work.

Developing defining technique, variety and pose, they ultimately produced 7,000 finished pieces before Robert’s death in 1990. Virginia then turned to pen and ink flat work, detailing wildlife perspective. When Virginia died in 2004, daughter Penny organized an exhibition of their life’s work as a memorial gift, “The Warfield Collection,” for permanent display at the Sharon Arts Center, with which Robert, Virginia and community had a long relationship. 

But things were not well with the arts center. A sinking financial and serial merger picture led to ownership and ultimate closure by New England College. Many readers will remember a sad day in August 2019, when that curtain came down. And “The Warfield Collection”? Jaffrey community, recognizing original intent and cultural value, organized the nonprofit Jaffrey Preservation Alliance to recover and secure the collection, anticipating conveyance to the Jaffrey Historical Society. Bruce Hill agreed to serve as president, and Rick Stein rose to the tasks of VP and custodian. Joined by David Belletete, Pauline Brackett, Suze Campbell and Charles Turcotte, JPA had a killer board, and the collection was saved.  

But the best part, until recently dimly perceived, came with Peter Lambert’s JHS energy and the extraordinary vision of showcase possibilities, realized by Jeanne Duval, who’s mastery of herding cats produced the exhibit featured at the Jaffrey Civic Center through Sept. 21 – altogether worthy and remarkable achievement for Jaffrey and community.   

Bob Warfield    

Lakewood, Wash.