It was a day to say Good-bye to the late Richie Havens and his art work. About 200 long time friends and fans of Richie Havens came to Lyndon House Sunday, October 27, to remember Richie, who died in April of this year, and participate in the closing reception of Richie Havens: Recent Works. Walter Parks, pictured left, was Richie's lead guitarist from 2001-2011 and gave a special performance while fans enjoyed refreshments provided by the Lyndon House Arts Foundation.
Richie was a friend to Lyndon House and the Athens Community. In 1994 he performed two benefit concerts at the Georgia Theatre, increasing awareness for the Lyndon House Arts Center's expansion project and enabling the Lyndon House Arts Foundation to fund the schematic drawings for the proposed building.
In 2000 Richie's exhibition Traveler was shown in the newly expanded arts center, and he performed another benefit that same visit at the Morton Theater and was a guest teacher for an art class for neighborhood children that same visit. There were other visits, too, including a surprise at the 2008 holiday open house.
Pictured here is Richie Havens with Celia Brooks and Mamie Simonds at the 2008 Holiday Open House.
This event was sponsored in part by a grant from the U. S. Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded to Lyndon House Arts Center and Athens Regional Library called The Boomers: Reflecting, Sharing, Learning.
