Sandra McKenzie, President,

Margaret Lefranc Art Foundation

Traveling Exhibition

April 17, 2010 – July 2010

An American Original:  Margaret Lefranc

Fifty Years of Watercolors

St. George Art Museum, Utah

This program consists of a five-minute film clip of Lefranc, featuring part of the art collection and followed by McKenzie’s 30-minute discussion of the steps necessary to organize an art collection for quick access. Artists will learn how a foundation serves to protect their work and how to form a foundation.

Training for Artists:

This program consists of a five-minute film clip of Lefranc, featuring part of the art collection and followed by McKenzie’s 35-minute discussion of the steps necessary to organize and catalogue an art collection for quick access. Artists will learn how a foundation serves to protect their work and how to form a foundation.

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About Sandra McKenzie:

SANDRA MCKENZIE is president and director of the Margaret Lefranc Art Foundation. For the past decade, she has worked to save Lefranc’s extensive collection of artworks, dating from 1921, when Lefranc was 13-years-old, to 1998, the year of the artist’s death. McKenzie edited and directed the film, A Lifetime of Imaging: The Art of Margaret Lefranc, provided the research for a 413-page, full-color companion catalogue written by Lois Katz, and actively promotes Lefranc’s legacy through a foundation Web site, public appearances, publications, films and research.

McKenzie’s work in broadcasting and as a freelance writer and public speaker include:

• The Secrets in Your Name, published by Great Quotations, with book signings at BookExpo America and bookstores (various locations)
• Appearing on numerous television and radio stations in the United States discussing The Secrets in Your Name
• Writing and broadcasting for Voice of America, Washington, D.C.
• Working with author Harold Robbins on The Survivors televisions series
• Hosting of the California radio show, Know Your Presidents
• Performing on camera and providing off-camera voices for numerous radio and television commercials across the United States
• Lecturer, trainer and educational consultant for Wang Laboratories, Roslyn, Virginia
• Lecturer, contract groups for Sperry Unisys, McLean, Virginia
• Presenter for AT&T, Orlando and Dayton Beach, Florida
• Commencement Speaker

McKenzie has a B.A. in history from Florida International University in Miami.

McKenzie says, “Every artist needs a person dedicated to promoting her or his art. I am honored that Margaret, as a person and as an artist, entrusted me with her heartfelt world. She allowed me to find my mission and purpose for living by helping her to achieve her purpose.”

e-mail: info@margaretlefranc.org or McKenzieHi@aol.com

Humorous and inspiring, this account of Sandra McKenzie’s journey to save an artist’s 78-year collection of works is a testament to faith and endurance. It took McKenzie 18 years to secure Margaret Lefranc’s works within an active, growing foundation, during which she battled five long-running lawsuits in two states.

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The Margaret Lefranc Foundation offers a variety of materials and services for artists and institutions seeking to learn more about Lefranc, her career and how she and Sandra McKenzie worked to secure her collection for future generations of scholars, collectors and art lovers. The materials and programs described below offer insight and inspiration to those who want to form their own foundations, are employed in the non-profit arts field and/or are interested in art conservation.

Educational Institutions and Museums:

This program consists of McKenzie’s 10-minute introductory speech, followed by a 45-minute film of Lefranc telling her own story with views of part of the art collection.

Trade Associations and Corporation Keynote Speaker:

This program offers a five-minute film clip of Lefranc with views of part of the art collection, followed by McKenzie’s 30-minute speech.

Training for Artists:
This program consists of a five-minute film clip of Lefranc, featuring part of the art collection and followed by McKenzie’s 35-minute discussion of the steps necessary to organize and catalogue an art collection for quick access. Artists will learn how a foundation serves to protect their work and how to form a foundation.

_________________________________________________

About Sandra McKenzie:

SANDRA MCKENZIE is president and director of the Margaret Lefranc Art Foundation. For the past decade, she has worked to save Lefranc’s extensive collection of artworks, dating from 1921, when Lefranc was 13-years-old, to 1998, the year of the artist’s death. McKenzie edited and directed the film, A Lifetime of Imaging: The Art of Margaret Lefranc, provided the research for a 413-page, full-color companion catalogue written by Lois Katz, and actively promotes Lefranc’s legacy through a foundation Web site, public appearances, publications, films and research.

McKenzie’s work in broadcasting and as a freelance writer and public speaker include:

• The Secrets in Your Name, published by Great Quotations, with book signings at BookExpo America and bookstores (various locations)
• Appearing on numerous television and radio stations in the United States discussing The Secrets in Your Name
• Writing and broadcasting for Voice of America, Washington, D.C.
• Working with author Harold Robbins on The Survivors televisions series
• Hosting of the California radio show, Know Your Presidents
• Performing on camera and providing off-camera voices for numerous radio and television commercials across the United States
• Lecturer, trainer and educational consultant for Wang Laboratories, Roslyn, Virginia
• Lecturer, contract groups for Sperry Unisys, McLean, Virginia
• Presenter for AT&T, Orlando and Dayton Beach, Florida
• Commencement Speaker

McKenzie has a B.A. in history from Florida International University in Miami.

McKenzie says, “Every artist needs a person dedicated to promoting her or his art. I am honored that Margaret, as a person and as an artist, entrusted me with her heartfelt world. She allowed me to find my mission and purpose for living by helping her to achieve her purpose.”

e-mail: info@margaretlefranc.org or McKenzieHi@aol.com

The Art of Margaret Lefranc

Portrait of a Woman, 1932. Oil on canvas.

Dec. 14, 2007 to Jan. 18, 2008

Friday, December 14, 2007 at 7 p.m.

Exhibition Opening and book signing with author Lois Katz.

Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 2 p.m.

Film Screening
A Lifetime of Imaging: The Art of Margaret Lefranc

Introductory remarks by
Sandra McKenzie
President and Director
Margaret Lefranc Art Foundation

Gerald Peters Gallery
1011 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, New Mexico
(505) 954-5700

www.gpgallery.com

Margaret Lefranc received the 1996 Governor’s Award
for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts for Painting.

Margaret and New Mexico’s Governor Gary Johnson

Lefranc joined a galaxy of former New Mexico’s finest artists which included such names as Georgia O’Keeffe, Maria Benitez, Tony Hillerman, Allan Houser, Peter Hurd, William Lumpkins, and Andrew Dasburg.

The luncheon ceremony took place in the William Lumpkins Ballroom at La Fonda Hotel followed by an exhibition opening and public reception in the Governor’s Gallery at the state Capitol.

The Governor’s Arts Awards were establish in 1974 as a way of celebrating the significant roles artists have played in the state, both economically and culturally. Gov. Gary Johnson, first lady Dee Johnson and members of the New Mexico Arts Commission chose the recipients, who were nominated by local arts groups and citizens.

Margaret Lefranc received the Fifty Best Books of the Year Award in 1948 for illustrating Maria: The Potter of San Ildefonso.

The Fifty Best Books of the Year was presented by the Library of Congress in conjunction with The American Institute of Graphic Arts. The catalogue of the 27th Annual Exhibition was inaugurated simultaneously during the month of April 1948 in five American cities: Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D. C. The purpose of the simultaneous opening was to focus public attention upon the values of good bookmaking.

Margaret, Governor Bruce King and Sandra McKenzie

In 1948 Margaret was unable to attend the award ceremonies, but in 1992 Sandra McKenzie arranged for it to be sent to Santa Fe, New Mexico. At the opening of Lefranc’s 1992 exhibition, 3 Women Working in New Mexico, then Governor Bruce King presented the long overdue award to the artist.

Lefranc’s illustrations for Indians of the Four Corners (1952) were similarly honored with a One Hundred Best Books of the Year Award.

From 1948 through 1977, Lefranc also illustrated books Dance Around the Sun (1977), Hell on Horses and Women (1953), The Valley Below and Indians on Horseback (both in 1948), as well as illustrating numerous issues for Southwest Review and Sunstone Review.