MY COUSIN NANCY PARK has been essential to me all through the long gestation of this book. She read every draft, thought and talked with me whenever I needed her ideas, did research for me, and kept me on track. My three daughters, Terry Tobey, Kat Wilder, and Peg Pierce, each in her own generous way, never stopped letting me know they believed that my endless scribbled-up manuscript pages would become a book. Their editing suggestions are always well grounded and wise. Kat, you gave so much to this book. My sister, Natalie Park Schutz, enthusiastically supported me throughout, not the least by always responding promptly and specifically to my countless questions. I am especially grateful for the luxury of being able to check my memory against hers. Looking back, I realize—with deep gratitude—that I owe editorial consultant Pat Holt the credit for helping me see early on that what I had to say was worthwhile and should not be lost to history. For their detailed and caring attention to sections of the manuscript I thank the friends I write with and send drafts back and forth to—especially Andrea Scharf, Bibbi Lee, Charlie Simonds, Lorraine Capparell, Connie Crawford, Ann Davidson, Chloe Scott, Amanda Kovattana, Elena Silverman, and everyone in Monday Writers and in Wednesday Night Writes. Ann Davidson, you pushed hardest about pursuing publication, and I love you for it. Thank you, Natalie Goldberg, for believing in me and in my book, for falling in love with my father’s paintings, and for the happy accident of linking me with Julia Moore, art editor. More thanks than I can ever express go to Julia for handing me her card one night at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico. She came along when I needed her most, masterminded the pre-production phase of the project, uncomplainingly edited with me over the phone no matter how long it took, and in a moment of inspiration on an airplane one day came up with the title of this book. Julia, you have the calmest, most graceful and reassuring way of helping. To book designer David Skolkin, thank you for your inspired ideas and beautiful work. In showing foresight, imagination, and professionalism, Hudson Hills Press’s Executive Director, Leslie Pell van Breen, has my appreciation.
Many thanks, with all my heart, to Michael Hackett, Francis Mill, Jessica Phillips and everyone at Hackett | Mill Gallery in San Francisco, for the delight they take in my father’s paintings and for aiding me with research and advice. I’m forever indebted to the Nothing Held Back Fund and to Deborah G. Seymour, Judy Kelly, Suki Schorer, my sister Nat, David and Peg Pierce, and all the owners of Park paintings who have given such warm support. To my friend Mark Gottlieb, thank you for your expert and timely photographic help. Special thanks to my dear friend Pixie Couch for saying, long ago, “You ought to write down some of your stories about your father.” And thanks to my father, David Park, for saying, much longer ago, “Buy yourself a notebook.” For all the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews of David Park who never got to know him, your presence close to my heart helped me make this book for you.
And, in loving memory, to my husband, Ed Bigelow, photographer supreme, thank you for your enormous contributions during more than thirty years of producing such stunning images of my father’s paintings. You told me that as you work on the images your vision is guided not by how we see the paintings in the soft lighting of museums and galleries, but by what colors David would have seen as he touched his brush to the canvas. Thank you for that, and for your indispensable help as my inhouse computer guru, for your deep well of ideas throughout this project, for all those clam chowder suppers, and especially for helping me by being who you are.