Sep. 26—BEMIDJI — Allison Kaul DeLeone was bewildered after visiting with fellow students of Bemidji State University art professor Marley Kaul.
She says all of them shared something Marley talked about in class that changed their lives.
But as the daughter of the professor, Allison asked herself, “Why don’t I have that? I was wracking my brain, but then I realized it was in the air I breathed.”
Allison shared that story on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, where people gathered to learn about “Marley Kaul Paintings,” a book of stories and art celebrating the life of Marley, who died in 2021.
The book was released this month and may be purchased online from the distributor
It contains more than 300 full-color paintings hand-selected by Marley, his wife Sandy, and their children, Steve and Allison.
The hardcover coffee table book is divided into 10 chapters showcasing Kaul’s development as an artist, beginning in 1961 and continuing for 60 years.
Marley started working on the book before he died, and Steve said completing it in his father’s memory was part of the grieving process.
“We’ve all kind of bonded in a new way as a family,” he said. “It gave us a sense of purpose as well to complete it in his honor. But also we just really liked the work. We grew up with our dad being an artist, and so we accepted it. It was just normal for him to be painting in the studio.
Steve shared how in the course of working on the book, he found himself traveling some of the paths his father had.
“Reading his notebooks, it was like getting insights into his thought process,” he added. “I thought that was really interesting. There were some instances where I really felt a connection that I hadn’t felt before.”
Allison added, “For me it was very healing, because he had started it. So we knew what his vision was and it was easier to carry it forward.”
Steve said there were some surprises along the way.
“What we didn’t know was that Marley had created almost 500 works of art in his career,” he said.
Once they got into the studio, they saw works they had never seen before: Drawings, sketches, beautiful paper pieces that they didn’t know existed.
“We tried to do it right and get this art out there, because it really impressed us, not only the amount of work, but just the detail and the energy and the different styles,” Steve said. “It was a knockout. We hope you enjoy the book as much as we enjoyed making it.”
Allison shared how her father saw the book as a teaching opportunity.
“Marley had a vision for it,” she said. “He actually wrote the preface before he passed away. We really wanted it to be an educational piece. So if an aspiring artist or an established artist picked it up, they could look at it and understand the progression of the work. His words contributed to that. He teaches through the whole thing.”
Kathleen Weflen, the book’s editor, also attended Tuesday’s event.
“I think that Marley’s vision comes through so beautifully in this book,” she said. “What he’s really helping us do is pay attention and observe the world as he did so closely, even with ordinary objects.
“Like he mentions a garlic bulb, something you use and maybe not look at as this beautiful form like Marley did. Looking at his paintings, I think helps us to see how important it is to just take the time, slow down and look. This book is your chance to just slow down and look at what Marley saw and how he communicated that to us.”
Also in attendance was Bemidji artist Lou Ferreri, who first met Marley in 1967 when he enrolled in an art class at Bemidji State and later became a close friend and colleague.
“I was there when this new teacher showed up for his first year as a college teacher, and his name was Marley Kaul,” Ferrari said. “Marley not only was a great teacher but he became a great friend. Marley was able to do things that I never would have guessed were possible. I learned so much from him.”
