A SINGULAR COMMISSION

I was privileged by the invitation from the Charles River Conservancy (CRC) to paint a watercolor piece for the Ribbon of Green, Ribbon of Blue Gala in honor of the retirement of Renata Von Tscharner, CRC’s Founder and guiding force, and my friend. Renata came to Cambridge from her home country of Switzerland, where she had obtained degrees in architecture and urban planning. She also had practiced watercolor there, and continued her sketches here, and loved the medium.

Through the Boston Society of Architects (BSA), Renata had heard of me and my watercolor seminars, and inquired about my offering a workshop through the CRC, which she arranged and attended. The resulting works from all students in this workshop were used in the first edition of Renata's paean to the Charles, River Stories I, an edition of short essays, poems and reflections about the Charles. Renata also had private lessons with me to further her skills in the medium. She even devised her own pen name for her watercolors that were published in River Stories, three impressive issues of which featured poets, architects, designers, radio hosts, authors and politicians, as well as the artists.

The Conservancy Board felt that a commemorative artwork, produced by my hand in her favorite medium of watercolor, would be a most fitting tribute for her on this occasion. After my initial discussion with CRC directors, it was decided that the best concept would be to somehow represent all the major events, installations and changes Renata had accomplished for the River, the cities of Boston and Cambridge, and the thousands of people who were involved as volunteers; and thousands more who have all enjoyed the changes Renata had wrought over her eighteen year CRC tenure.

The Directors provided numerous photos of the CRC's accomplishments and sponsored events, from which relevant photos were chosen, and from nearly 100, I selected about a dozen or so images; in addition to one major photo of Renata with her bike that the Directors asked me to use for the central image (fig. C). Knowing well the various aspects of Renata's work, it was not difficult to use these photos to assemble an 11x17 line drawing study (fig. A), which was submitted for CRC directors review. Although the general direction was excitedly received, there were a number of comments about the drawing, especially for my depicting Renata's signature slicker outfit and updating her bike. The inclusion of a second image of Renata was deemed not necessary and detracted from the main figure.

A second, and then a third line study (figs. B & C), were drawn to best arrange the vignettes around the central space, and weave together the edges and lines of these multiple images.

After completing the third study, the line drawing and a photo composite were enlarged and pencil-traced to nearly a full watercolor sheet size of 22 x 30 (fig. D). Further tweaks were made in this line stage, and the real work of interpreting the color palettes of so many images was begun with the initial color washes. My preferred paper was an Arches 140 lb. hot press surface, 18 ?” x 28 ?”, which more easily allowed for some adjustments with the many color washes. The main issue was transiting from the background colors and edges of the main figure into seven smaller drawings arranged around it.

Surrounding the large figure of Renata, with her trusty bike in an evocative sunset lighting along Memorial Drive near Harvard – a prescient selection by the CRC team - smaller vignette views included the River Sing, the North Bank Bridge, Basin Kayaking, River Swim, Bulb Planting, Parkland Games, and the Lynch Skate Park - all of her remarkable achievements over such a short span. The Skate Park vignette also depicts a figure of Renata's son, Reynolds, who was the inspiration for her creating this park.

As the watercolor developed with so many disparate images, the means for effective visual connections was further enhanced in the course of painting with an ongoing interweaving of various complex hues and forms between the seven vignettes and the ground and edges of the larger main figure. The result was extending compatible lines, curves, forms, shadows, or colors, which at the painting’s base resulted in transmuting Renata's shadow as water, symbolically suggesting that she literally "walked on water" to accomplish so much with the River. At the top of the painting, the watercolor depicts the file photo’s original sunset lighting to suggest her departing CRC in a glowing light of retirement and leaving the Conservancy as a strong urban institution.

Given our mutual architecture training and love of the watercolor medium, this commission was a special undertaking for me, having developed a strong kinship with Renata, almost from the beginning of CRC, and continuing for so many years. My work became a unique, special effort to represent and honor a singularly remarkable woman. 

The telling aspect of the work was in Renata’s excited and surprised reception to the work at the Gala’s culmination. My son Matt also attended the affair, and we enjoyed seeing the piece in its final presentation.                  

Presented at the Blue/Green Gala, Anneberg Hall, Harvard University, June 2, 2018. https://www.thecharles.org/get-involved/gala/

And most importantly was a very touching note of appreciation from Renata after the affair: Dear Frank, The CRC could not have picked a more meaningful goodbye gift than a water color by you. I love it. And all the elements of the CRC s projects and programs you wove in, make it such rich collage. I know how hard it is to adapt different pictures into ONE piece of art. You are the master of this art form. Your water color will not only be a memento of my years at the Conservancy, but also of the many happy hours we worked in the parklands, on river stories and in your studio. I have now had a chance to read your thoughtful text on the back of the painting. I was so touched by your words and for including my son on his skateboard. I hope you will stay involved with the CRC and the urban Charles. There is nothing like an artistic rendering done with flair to "sell" an idea or project. With enormous gratitude, Renata.