Feedback from Carol Wilder Story & Photographs

For the Carol Wilder Story + Photographs

Funeral Photographs Carol Wilder Story

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19 February 2004

Excellent JR, Excellent.

Love,
Larry

In response to my e-mail out about the "photographs of Carol events now online." He is checking his E-mail.

The Gate

In Memory of Carol Lynn Wilder-Enge
by Carol's brother, Dwain Wilder

She was shoved at the gate
In a shower of light and glass,
Destroying her midriff.
Her daughters and son and husband and mother
Cradled the wreck of her in their arms,
Weeping
Praying
That she should not
Enter the gate.

Long hours her heart,
Fed by the medics
Who threw pint after pint into her vein,
Labored against the pull of eternity.

Finally, you know,
A heart can only do so much.

The medics folded their instruments,
Turned off the machines with a snap,
Sent the linens off to the laundry.

We repaired to our homes,
Feeling like shattered bowls
Held together by the crazy waywardness
Of our own fractures,
And began our preparations
To celebrate and mourn
Her passing into eternity.

Setting about this primordial work,
Still wondering at our shock,
We were suddenly delighted
At the falling of a rare snow,
A warm, flocky snow
Filling the air outside our windows
Festooning our yards and trees,
A fresh old wonder
Of primal grace.

Day after day it lingered on,
Complicating plans and driving,
Casting a feminine influence
Over everything,
Like fresh linens.

Finally, one afternoon
While we were all busy
It simply wasn't there anymore.
After days
Of furnishing the stuff
For snow toys all over town,
The snow sublimated
Directly into the air
And wafted little by little
Through the gate.

18 February 2004

JR, thank you for using your sensitive eyes and talents at the funeral and memorials for Carol. These are very precious pictures, especially for the family.

What a week and what coming together we've seen. Thanks to you and DallasArtsRevue, many more people knew about the services and Carol than would have otherwise. Everyone I talked to had been to your site for information.

Simply thank you JR for being a big part of bringing our ARTS community more closely connected.

Marty Ray

16 February 2004

Thought you might enjoy seeing this picture of a beaming Carol. Taken at my
house after her opening at Clifford Gallery in 1982.

Jutta Clifford

15 February 2004

Dear J.R.

I am still numb from the news about the accident. I was also a panelist on the Ft. Worth public art presentation. Both Carol and Charlotte approached the table at the end of the lecture to ask me a couple of questions, offer positive words on the presentation, and enthusiastically informed me of their collaboration for the airport project.

I congratulated both, as they handed me their cards. I read the letter posted by Carol's mother and offer my deepest condolences and strongly support the efforts against DWI. I have champaign for MADD. My daughter is an accident survivor by a DWI driver...

My prayers for Charlotte's recovery. Thank you for maintaining an update on her progress and the commemoration on Carol.

Sincerely,
Celia A. Munoz

Hi JR,

Thanks for that very heartfelt and moving tribute to Carol. Many of us are hurting right now and can't see our way to the light but your remembrances make us all realize that there is light and Carol would want us to see it as we move forward in an often cruel-seeming world.

She was a very positive force in the Dallas art community and she will be sorely missed. Thank God she produced so much wonderful work so her spirit will live on forever in the form of her creativity.

Peace,
Vicki Meek

JR, thank heavens for your site, I did not know about Carol until now. I don't understand. What you have done is a lovely, deserved tribute.

Nancy F

14 February 2004

Dear J.R Compton,

My name is Katiuska (Kati for short) and I'm a mother of two young boys and a wonderful loving husband.I'm unable to do much of my own artwork at the moment while my boys are still so young, but I try to keep in touch with the art scene through the web.

As I was just surfing the web looking up different art sites I came upon your sad note about Carol Wilder being killed in a car accident.

I don't know her or of her work. I just wanted you to know that I feel for you and her family for the pain that you all are currently going through.

My prayers are with you all.

Love from Melbourne, Australia.

JR, what a beautiful way to honor Carol. It was so personal, and you really
captured much about her. Thank you.

... I am so very sad for the family. What a rough way to lose a loved one! I had not seen Carol since she had a Carol/Larry collaboration show at Baker gallery. I remember so many talks in Carol's studio about her work and family life.

Carol worked so hard to be the best artist, mother and wife she could possibly be. I do remember that they were members of a fairly close-knit church community then. I hope that Larry gets some support from them. He will need it.

Please let me know if there is a fund set up for them to help with funeral
expenses etc.. If you know anything, please email me or call me. Also, please
let me know when the funeral will be. I didn't see anything in the paper as of
yet.

Thanks,
Jutta

13 February 2004

hello. my name is brad goldberg.

i am still trembling over the news about carol and charlotte.

i had been a panelist in fort worth last wednesday night on the subject of public art. after the panel, both carol and charlotte approached me and we had a long and delightful conversation. i had never met either of them before, yet had been corresponding with carol by email for about a year. i have curated the dart art and design program for the past six or seven years, and both carol and charlotte were eager to participate in that program. they both gave me their cards. when charlotte gave me hers, i looked at it and realized that she lives just a block away from me (not more than 100-200 yards) and that i drive by her home at least twice a day, yet we had never met. i looked at her house this morning in fact and all looked ok. i was especially taken by the mosaic address on the steps leading up to the front of her house. there was no question to me that this was her place.

the accident occurred as they were returning from the event at the fort worth community arts center....within an hour of having that conversation with them. I want to say that there was an energy in both carol and in charlotte. an energy that was looking ahead to future creative possibilities....to participate in an ever broadening world.....of art.

despite what is clearly such a tragedy, my deepest feelings today are in the knowledge that carol was pursuing her dreams right up to the end of her life; and the hope that charlotte has the strength and will to pull through this, recuperate and pursue that creative energy that i felt so keenly this past wednesday evening.

sincerely,
brad goldberg

12 February 2004

JR, I just heard about Carol. Oh my god, what a tragic loss. I feel so bad
for Larry and the kids. I'll watch your web site to find out about the
arrangements. I just can't believe it. I know she was a great friend of
yours. I am so very, very sorry.

Sonia King

Thanks for the sad announcements about Carol and Jim. A nice tribute to both.

Paull Harris

J R,

I'm so sorry you've lost such a dear friend. I know you and Carol were buddies for many years.

Thanks.
Cindy L

J.R.,

Thanks for the quick posting — we got the word from James Michael (Jim), this a.m. I was touched by your words, especially the Pooh/Eeyore item. This life is brief. It sounds like you were — and had become even more so — close. My condolences to you, dear friend.

Hey, on a lighter note, what's up with all the mentions of 'TAMU Commerce,' such as citations on various web-mentions of Carol's work? Do YOU use that high-falutin' name for our beloved-and-slightly-shabby alma mater?

Of course not. I know better. I was there. And I hate the new name.

I am sorry that your front page is currently an obit site. The kinetic sculptor's piece and accompanying pictures were beautifully handled, as well.

Keep on the Sunny Side

Candis

12 February 2004

We finally lost Carol this morning a little after 3am. Please pray, if you are so inclined, for Larry and his two daughters, and for Carol's mother and son. I hope to be able to keep everyone informed of funeral arrangements. I was only able to e-mail about a dozen people, so if you think of anyone who would definitely want to know, don't hesitate to contact them.

A little after 4am Charlotte came down from surgery to the intensive care unit. The IC nurse described her condition this way:

In general, everything is stable, which as I understand it, means nothing is changing and the damage done in the collision should be as far as things go, barring any infection and as long as they keep her from moving. The brain contusion and the spinal injury are not fully defined as yet, so they must keep her sedated, and thus immobilized, until neurologic tests and possibly some sort of radiology like a CT Scan (sp?) or MRI can be performed.

Her small intestine was "transected," which I think means it was essentially cut in two, but was successfully reconnected and her abdominal cavity cleared out so hopefully no infection will develop.

Alison and I, as well as Charlotte's dad and stepmother, were able to spend a few minutes with her (although she's sedated). So at least we got to see her face, which was the only thing uncovered. She had a few sutured cuts around her left eye, I'm guessing from broken glass, and a few bruises around her forehead, but did not appear to have suffered nearly as much head trauma as our dear Carol, whose eyes were blackened.

James Michael Starr

James Michael's news from the hospital and the families of the women in the crash continued through the hours and days. He sent maps when those were needed and precise schedules as soon as they were available. I know he and his wife Alison spent many long hours at the hospital. His caring, sharing and attention to detail are commendable. Thank you, friend.

12 February 2004

Charlotte Lindsey and Carol Wilder are, as I write this, both in critical condition at Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff. They were returning from a function in Fort Worth last night when they were involved in a head-on collision with another car.As far as we can tell, this happened sometime late Wednesday night, only a few hours ago, so their conditions can change at any moment.

But at this point in time, Charlotte is in surgery, in critical but stable condition, and Carol is in critical but unstable condition and cannot be operated on until they stop her bleeding.Alison and I are in the Surgery Waiting Room awaiting further word on Charlotte. We have no details at all about her actual injuries, but Larry told us on our arrival that Charlotte may not have been injured as seriously as Carol.

Larry and his family, including Carol's mom, Jo Nell, and Carol's son and daughter-in-law, are in the Intensive Care Unit. I've been going over there every few minutes to check on them. The staff is continuing to work over Carol to stabilize her. In addition to internal injuries, she apparently suffered a broken pelvis and broken legs, with severe damage to one leg.

We're on the 3rd floor of the surgery wing adjacent to Emergency (entrance on Colorado Blvd. at Bishop Ave.).The hospital phone number is 214-947-8181.

The hospital address is 1441 N. Beckley Ave.

Your prayers are much needed.

James Michael Starr