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A Walk Down Memory Lane
ASK THE

artsperts

www.HarmonMeek.com

599 NINTH STREET, NORTH, SUITE 309, NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek
Dear Artsperts,
From Juliana Meek, "As the technologically inclined member
You have represented Hunt Slonem for 30 years, what are your
of the Meek family, I had the idea to create a website for the
fondest memories during those years?
gallery while still a student in 2001. Long before it became a trend,
Signed,
Pearl I worked remotely for the gallery for over a decade by updating
the gallery website. It was through this effort that I gained ever
Dear Pearl, increasing respect for Hunt. Each year more museums were added
to his list, books published, and more gallery exhibitions. I also
Each member of our family, including the youngest, has a
continued to gain appreciation for Hunt's work as I uploaded new
memory to share to commemorate the years of our relationship,
images of his work each season to the website. For many years
both professionally and in friendship….
I wouldn't be able to see all the works in person, but I still was
From William Meek, “Last month as I was going through artist
amazed by the images alone!"
files, selecting older files to go to the archives in our warehouse
From Kristine Meek, "My fondest memories of Hunt go back
storage, I happened across a single cashed check in Hunt Slonem’s
to when I was a teenager, and our Gallery had the first exhibition
file. It was a check for $1,000 and the note line read “for a small
of Hunt Slonem works in Naples. I was in high school and got to
rabbit oil painting”. Written across the top of the check was “our
pick out a 10x8 painting for myself and I picked out a painting of a
first sale for you!” The check was from thirty years ago and the
pair of birds. I still have the painting and just last year I purchased
reason for keeping it all these years seems to be a mystery except
a second 10x8 bird Hunt Slonem painting - this time a gold owl.
that perhaps it was a premonition of the hundreds of sales to so
It was really the experience of picking out a painting for myself
many supportive and pleased patrons in the years since.”
at that young age, that helped me form my eye for collecting and
From Barbara Meek, “Hunt, Bill and I were all in our early
appreciating art."
40’s when we first met. Over the years we have shared many good
From John William Meek Yegge (age 9), "I really like the
times, laughs, and outings together both in Naples and elsewhere.
painting I have had my whole life. The blue bunny I have on the
Some of our outings in Naples have been to the butterfly garden,
wall next to my bed helps my imagination. I can look at it and my
after which Hunt rediscovered his childhood love of butterflies.
mind wanders to all sorts of places. And then picking out the new
Another time, it was to Corkscrew Swamp to look for wood storks.
bunny painting we have by our tv was so much fun and I get to look
But most enjoyable to me are the times Hunt and I would detour
at it while I am playing Xbox and I feel so lucky to have something
to discover the antique markets between RSW and Naples. Our
so creative in my life."
excursions elsewhere include visiting his studios in New York City
Sincerely,
and visiting his antebellum homes in Louisiana and New York The Artsperts
state. Certainly, to know Hunt is to love him and we have been
privileged to have a strong personal relationship with this
talented artist.”

Barbara Meek, Hunt Slonem, William Meek John William as a baby with his first Juliana Meek, Hunt Slonem, Kristine Meek
impressions of the painting Slonem
gifted to him.

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