Just off the phone with Connie. Norm Darwish passed away last night from his third occurrence of prostate cancer. He was first diagnosed 20 years ago and twice over that time it had gone into remission.
Connie's address if you want to send a card:
Connie Mettler
298 West Chicago St.
Coldwater, MI 49036
Norm was one of the top photographers on the art show circuit, specializing in hand painted black and white photography. You can see his work on the web site: http://normdarwish.com
I've also attached a few pictures of Norm that I've taken. The first is Norm and Connie with fellow photographer Chris Maher in Chris' booth and the second is Norm working on his original hand colored photos behind his booth at the Cain Park Art Festival.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
Comments
How in the world did I miss this? I guess I wasn't tuning in due to our own health disaster in Macon, GA. Connie, I'm so sorry to hear about this. I'll be in touch. Love, Barrie
This is a wonderfully moving eulogy, Jack. I didn't know Norm, but this gives me a real sense of who he was, what he contributed to the world, to Connie, and to artists, and how much he will be missed. My sympathies to all who knew him...and to Connie.
Norm Darwish died, May 9th, 2015 at 5:36 Eastern Time
In his time Norm reached many people through his art photography. He was a man who believed in design and process, he worked tirelessly for so many years. Norm dominated the market for quite a while, winning many prizes and experiencing a high volume of sales to serious collectors. To be good and successful is an accomplishment unto itself in a business that often favors the decorative. To my family Norm was far more than a successful artist. He was encouragement and profanity. He was broad in perspective and yet tightly wound. He would pretend to be deaf at the breakfast portion of a Bed and Breakfast stay so he wouldn't have to talk to people he didn't know. When he and I went out to shoot pictures together he talked to everyone. He was an eager teacher as to the ways of the business, he was a joker who would sneak in at night and surround your booth with crime scene tape. Norm was best when we went out shooting pictures together. I remember the junkyards we prowled with our 35 mm cameras, shooting Tri-X, Plus -X and infra red film…always black and white. We shot the shapes and forms of not quite antique cars that still sold for parts. We hung around sorghum mills and old country diners. We just drifted around enjoying each others perspectives on light , shape and content. Norm was Detroit, he loved cars. He always knew what was coming out next. Norm loved electric trains, he kept a full operating set in his dark room. Norm loved Connie and like most of us who have been married a long time, probably didn't show it enough, he loved her just the same. We were the old guys even then, still working in Silver Gelatin, still open tray processing our prints, still adding color by hand. So Norm is gone, but truth be known he's been gone awhile. Part of him had gone on before he breathed his last. Norm was our friend, Norm was my friend. HIs last days were attended by his daughters Farah and Melanie and his wife and partner Connie. We are of the many that miss him already.
Jack Stoddart