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Lee Godie

Courtesy
ChicagoNow
.com
By Leslie Hindman, president/CEO of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
 
In the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of Chicagoans bought paintings from Lee Godie, a bag lady who called herself a French Impressionist and sold her paintings in downtown Chicago parks and on the steps of the Art Institute.
The paintings were a novelty back then. She sold them for as little as $5 and as much as $250 or so. Sometimes she would find an offer insulting and refuse to sell them at all.
For those who have held onto Lee's work, the news is encouraging. Her paintings have recently sold at auction in the $1000 range.
One collector recalls that when he bought her yellow-birds painting at auction 20 years ago, everyone in the audience laughed because no one had yet started collecting her artwork.
Lee died in 1994 at the age of 85, but she's always had a special place in my heart. I used to run into her when I lived at 100 E. Walton. The doorman felt sorry for her and sometimes let her sleep in the lobby.
She had a room in a transient hotel on Ontario Street, but she didn't sleep there very often, and she was afraid to leave her money there. She trusted me for some reason and let me keep her money in a green glass box until she needed it. Once, she gave me five $20 bills to keep, and when she wanted it, I gave her the $100 in different denominations. She was enraged. I never made that mistake again.
— Leslie Hindman, President/CEO of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
 

 

Courtesy
ChicagoNow
.com/blogs/
whats-it-worth
/2009/06/lee-
godie.html

Interview 1

Comments from the clouds

July 31, 2009 04:00:00 PM

Hello. This is John Cole of SANTA FE oneheart. I'm introducing a very new concept to media and that is simply taking advantage of voice messaging. With voice messaging, we can transcribe your words from the voice and put it in the paper but don't leave phone numbers or contact information because this is something where just an open conversation to the community. Thank you very much for using this service and I hope to hear from you soon. Bye

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March 07, 2010 09:35:00 AM

Hello, I was really touch by Allan Hutner’s Swammi Beyondandanda. I’m at live in Catron County and I wish I could get the papers to read and stimulate our mind for spiritual growth. I’m familiar with Aryvedic practice, great article. Your article of Ms. Martinez and her forgiveness was very touching. I appreciate your efforts with this kind of paper that we need so much in our lives. Allowing us o recognize the changing belief systems so we can feel what’s going on in the invisible world. Thank you so much, right on, you guys are right on my level and I appreciate so... (1 minute max)

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Hi, John. Hi, Karen. This is Carol Johnson at Stanta Fe. John, I’ve talked to you before and I just have to call in to say that kudos to the heavens for you and Karen for and absolutely beautiful, fantastic issue that just came out from March 15 to April 15. I’m telling you, I’m just, I just love it and just touched my heart particularly the article on Kathy Yurista. I just connected with her so deeply and I do indeed hopes she writes a book and ... It is all about love. Thank you John very very much for a brilliant issue. Just brilliant. Thank you again. Bye-bye

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March 16, 2010 10:36:00 PM

Hi, this is Jean Stokes. I love the article on the Kathy Yurista. I had her do some work for me. I didn’t realize that she has all of that interesting background. I think it’s my favorite story of all the ones you’ve done. I think Karen’s becoming a stronger writer. Maybe I just love the story because I knew her. It’s nicely done; thank you. I also wanted to say thank you very much for providing the free events page. I really miss the Eldorado Sun doing that. It’s an important community service for those of us who organize events and like to keep the costs low. It’s always one of the first things I look for. I used to look for in the Eldorado Sun but I don’t any more because there aren’t any there. Anyway, it’s a nice feature and really makes you a part of the communi

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Comments from the ground

June 19, 2010 06:27:32 PM

Thank you for the interview with Dana Richards. Dana is a founding member of the El Dorado School Community Garden which must be one of the great community gardens in America. He and his 4C crew made significant contributions to the start-up success of the garden and helped to make it a sustainable outdoor classroom for the entire Eldorado Community. We are very fortunate to have Dana Richards as a friend and neighbor.

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