The story of the Granny painting as told by its painter…

I'm happy to see that my painting has found a home in Vermont. My grandmother, Rose Machanic, was born in Vermont and lived her entire life in Burlington so it seems appropriate.

As far as the mystery goes, you have supplied one link in the story but there's a lot more to uncover. Before giving my theory I want to emphasize that I was happy to see the painting hanging in your shop and to learn that people are seeing and appreciating it. I am pleased that you have it and are showing it.

So here's my theory...

I did the painting sometime around 1977. I'm fairly certain I didn't sell it or give it away. In 1979 my wife and I went to France for almost a year, she to teach on a Fulbright scholarship while I enrolled in the local art school. Before leaving for France, I put several paintings in a restaurant called Dylan's that was located in the mall on Church Street. When we got back to Burlington 8 months later the restaurant had gone bankrupt and the space was completely empty. I tried to track down my missing artwork and heard rumors that it was stored in a barn somewhere but I never learned anything more and never saw the paintings again. So my theory is that I must have hung that painting in the restaurant. I'm fairly certain I did a large collage-like painting that also went missing. Of course this was decades before google and I never did learn what happened to the owner of the restaurant.

In any case, I'm happy to know that the painting has joined the world of the living and has a new home where it is being well taken care of. Next time I'm back in Vermont I'll have to stop in and see it again in person. And get a good cup of coffee!

Best wishes,
Steve Goodman