Debra Clemente Honor

David and I just returned from a morning visit to our Kansas state capitol building in Topeka. I was invited to attend the presentation of my painting "Sunshine Grows in Kansas" to Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

A couple of private parties from Junction City donated funds to the Junction City Arts Council which in turn purchased the painting from me and gifted it to the Governor's office. It is now property of the State of Kansas but will remain in the Governor's office. I understand it will have a permanent home over our Kansas Governor's desk in her private office in the capitol building. The painting had been on loan to the office for about 7 months and was installed in that location. Originally it was part of a Sunflower themed Kansas artist exhibit last summer in the Governor's office. When that exhibit was taken down last August they decided to leave my painting up as it felt as if it was meant to be there. I was contacted and asked if it I would loan the painting to the Governor's office through the inauguration in January. As well, the Governor, her staff and other pertinent parties made in known that they would like the painting to be purchased so it could remain above the Governor's desk.

This is not the desk you see in most photos or on TV. Most pictures are taken with the Governor at a ceremonial desk in the front office which truly has the appearance of being a stage prop. My painting will hang over the Governor's private desk where she actually works. When I met Governor at a reception last July, she told me my sunflower painting was over her computer and that she looked at it all the time. Several people have told me they have seen it on TV and in the newspaper, so I assume it will occasionally be shown in the future. Actually someone from the Governor's office commented to me that they really liked how it looked as a backdrop behind the Governor in photos. So be on the look out.

At 9:45 this morning, the Mayor of Junction City officially gave the painting to the Governor and she appeared delighted. The Governor acknowledged that she had enjoyed having it hang over her desk and had missed it during the last month when it was taken down to be returned to me. She said it was like the return of an old friend and she was very happy to accept the gift.

Then it was photo time with the Governor and the painting. The group included myself, the Mayor of Junction City, 3 Junction City commissioners, their state representatives, their city PR person and JC's Arts Council director. As the group cleared out of the room, I was asked to stay. I then had my photo taken with the Governor and I both standing on both sides of my painting, by the state staff photographer. I will have to make an appointment to come back another time to view the painting installed in her office and take pictures.

I have been told by the director of the Friends of Cedar Crest, that my painting is the only sunflower painting in the collection of the Governor's office at the Capitol or at Cedar Crest, the Governor's home.

David and I also toured our beautiful Capitol building and the House and Senate Chamber which are being restored to their full original glory.

I relished the experience and truly feel honored. I'm so glad David was with me to share the experience.

Thanks for listening.

Deb

"Sunshine Grows in Kansas", 36" x 48" by Debra Brown Clemente, in the collection of the Governor's Office the State of Kansas.

This painting is now available as a print on canvas $550 unframed.

On paper $375 unframed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lawrence Artist’s Sunflower Painting Finds Permanent Home Above Kansas Governor’s Desk

Topeka, KS, February 23, 2007 - When Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius looks above the computer at her desk, the bright sunny faces of Kansas’s sunflowers smile back. “I really enjoy looking up at the painting through out my day”, Governor Sebelius comments. A large impressionistic sunflower field oil painting by Lawrence Artist Debra Clemente now hangs permanently over the Governor's desk in her private office in the Kansas Capitol Building. This is the first piece of sunflower themed artwork to be part of the Kansas Governor's office permanent art collection at the Capitol or at Cedar Crest, the Governor's residence.

The Junction City Arts Council purchased the Clemente painting Sunshine Grows in Kansas, and then gifted the work to the Kansas Governor's office. Tuesday morning Junction City Mayor, Terry Heldstab, presented the painting to Governor Sebelius. “It’s like the return of an old friend,” remarked the Governor and she was delighted to accept the painting for the State of Kansas and the Governor’s office. The Clemente sunflower field painting had previously been on loan to the Governor’s office for about 7 months hanging above the Governor’s desk.

Originally the painting was part of a sunflower themed Kansas artists exhibit in the Governor's office last summer. When that exhibit was taken down in August the Governor and staff asked if the Clemente sunflower painting could be left up, as they felt as if it was meant to be there. Clemente agreed to loan the painting to the Governor's office through the inauguration in January.

“It means so much to me”, Clemente explains, “to have my painting be part of this important collection. I’m especially honored to have Sunshine Grows in Kansas installed above the Governor’s desk. As life long Kansan, with family roots planted deep in this rich Kansas soil, I feel my painting is personal tribute to all of my ancestors who lived on and worked this land.” For more information about Debra Clemente and to see more of her work visit her on line art gallery.

Photo above: Artist Debra Clemente of Lawrence and Kansas Governor Kathleen
Sebelius stand beside Clemente's oil painting titled Sunshine Grows in Kansas.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Lawrence Artist’s Sunflower Painting Finds Permanent Home Above Kansas Governor’s Desk