The 2015 Falconer Education Fund :In Memory of our Artists David Falconer and Karen French.

Last year in memory of David Falconer, photographer, father and Washington County Open Studios supporter, we announced a new educational fund.

Our very first sponsor, David Falconer was a tour artist for two years, enthusiastically sharing his love of photography. Well known as an Oregonian staff photographer for 25 years, David’s passion on and off assignment kept him shooting professional and candid shots of family members, neighbors, cats and landscapes.

This year, we add to the Falconer Education Fund with memorial to one of our tour artists, potter, Karen French.

A Tigard area Washington County Open Studios artist, Karen showed the true spirit of our tour.  She opened her studio and demonstrated her pottery process by showing visitors how to throw, glaze and do horsehair raku.  She volunteered her time helping with signs, catalog distribution and event pr.

To both David Falconer and Karen French, service to others was always part of their lives.  They both taught classes, volunteered in their community, mentored other artists and friends.  They both believed in the value and importance of arts education.

And so, it seems fitting to honor the memories of both David Falconer and Karen French with the Falconer Educational Fund.

Donations of any amount can be made on our website www.washcoart.org.

Funds will be used to promote art education and opportunities via the Washington County Open Studios Tour.

IN MEMORY: David Falconer, artist, photographer, father and WCOS first sponsor.

Educational Memorial Fund

By Peg Falconer Weber

Early this spring, one of our Washington County Open Studio artists passed from this world. My father David Falconer was our very first sponsor and participated in two of our tours, enthusiastically sharing his love of photography from my home in Aloha. His photo career spanned decades, beginning in a high school photo club, and his passion never wavered. He landed a job right out of Jefferson High at The Oregonian, eventually becoming the chief photographer, and worked there for 25 years.

Clients over the NEXT 25 years included National Geographic, Time, People, Boys' Life, NW Airline, Sunset and World. Whether on assignment or taking a "posed candid," he was notorious for cheerfully insisting on "just one more" shot. Family members, neighbors and friends were his favorite models, followed close behind by mountains, wildflowers, and cats.

 David and Bob Cato, lifelong friends, met in the camera club.

 This one of daughter Wendy become a billboard.

 A gaggle of daughters offered many photo ops

 A classic “posed candid” with granddaughter Rachel

and dog Patches.

He traveled around the world, but this was his favorite place.

Service to others was always part of his life. He was more than a photography instructor: he was a mentor and friend.  As he got older, he turned his volunteer efforts to tutoring new immigrants, reading with kindergarteners for SMART, chauffeuring elderly neighbors to doctor's appointments and volunteering to support children through CASA. Even approaching 80, he continued to teach photography classes through PCC and Chemeketa Community College, show his work at galleries, sell photos through stock agencies and take pictures. Always taking pictures.

  

 

When he lost mobility, he took photos from his wheelchair of flowers that friends would bring him, or of the cats that lived at the adult foster care home where he spent the last two years of his life.

I can’t think of a better way to honor such a talented, kind and generous man than to begin a Education Fund for the Washington CountyOpen Studios tours. He never missed an opportunity to take a photo, this is true; but more importantly is that he never missed the chance to engage others, to share his knowledge, and to make friends. That was his true art.

Donations of any amount can be made on our website Washington County Open Studios.

By mail to: Washington County Art Alliance at 1819 SW 5th Ave. #110, Portland, OR 97201. 

Funds will be used to promote art education and opportunities via the

Washington County Open Studios tours.

I miss him, and I am proud to be his daughter. Thank you for your support.

Peg Falconer Weber

Founder, Washington County Art Alliance

 photo by Washington County artist Mike Teegarden

June 21,2014: “Crag Rat” shirts all around; celebrating Daddy