Dale Walters

Photo taken August 2002

Hello Sally! June 26, O6 was the day Dale Walters lost his life in that terrible accident driving home to Washington after a long and very hot show in Salt Lake City. Dale was my nephew, I met him when he was 8 hours old, and we have had a close, loving relationship ever since.

Your connection to the many artists and all the good you are doing for them, is very much appreciated. In Dale's memory I am mailing a small contributution to help you along with the expenses you are facing. God bless you and many thanks.
Best wishes, Gertraut Findley

A celebration of Dale's life will be held July 8th, 2006, immediately following Art Fair On the Square in Madison, Wisconsin.

From Larry Berman:
Adrienne Adam helped me research this. Dale Walters, a photographer, died in an automobile accident on the way home from the Salt Lake City Art Show yesterday. From what I understand, he was going over a rise at the top of a hill in Mountain Home Idaho and rear ended a tractor trailer. Another artist was following him, was the first on the scene and called the police.
Cards can be sent to Dale's home address where a friend is taking care of his stuff.
Dale Walters
PO Box 1565
Milton, WA. 98354

From Patricia Hecker:
This hurts my heart. Dale was bigger than life and always had a great smile and jovial laugh. He knew a good resturant when he found one and will be sadly missed. His website has an area called "Out the Window" where he chronicled his day to day life traveling to shows and criss-crossing the country. His parting words were 'we'll see you later'.

That we will Dale.
RIP.

Over the years I've shared show-time with him I have watched his work develop - usually being one step ahead of the norm as an artist. In my opinion, his most recent body of work pushed the medium beyond the edges of the art form -
work that challenged my mind to understand.

I am honored to have known this man who was always the best he could be. To me, he was a "celebration".

Dale, you are in my heart -
Adrienne

A point of clarification in Larry's entry:
Dale's family intends to create a tribute to him and will be uploading it onto
Dale's site soon. For those who are interested, his web site is
http://dalebuilt.com/

From Barbara Bouman Jay:

I am saddened to read this information.

It seems as if I've always known Dale... I don't recall the first time I met
him. Over the years, we've spoken briefly at some shows and at length at
others... I was always taken in by his easy smile and sincerity to what is. It
appeared he had worked out solutions for making the most of all situations,
whether at shows or in between.
He knew how to enjoy the moment.

His friendly ways, joyful demeanor, positive outlook and easy approach to life
has and will continue to influence me as I journey forth. Thank you Dale...

From Robert Barab:

I can't remember how long ago and at what show I met Dale. Once I met him it seemed as though I'd known him for years. He seemed always the same: a great gentle bear of a man who seemed always mellow, always with a wonderful self-reflective sense of humor. He would relate tales of his great drives and
the shows he'd done. No matter how hard he worked or how little money he'd made, he never complained about the unfairness of it all. Instead he gloried in his life-style which allowed him to photograph and experiment with new techniques every day. Every time I ran into him I would stop whatever I was doing and try my best to return his great bear hug. I always enjoyed talking with him and never knew when I'd next see him again.

When I read of his death on this forum I shouted in pain. I've tried not to write about him here but I feel that I owe him some tribute. I'm glad for him that he died quickly. I'm sorry that I'll never again enjoy the companionship of this friend I so barely knew.

When I visited his website I found that he doesn't refer to a "show schedule". Instead he talks of his "travel schedule". That was a bit of a surprise for me. Shows are how I make a living. For him they seemed to represent a major part of his life. The larger surprise when I visited his website was the sense I had of the great fatigue he seemed to be experiencing-due (I speculate) to the driving, gruelling show schedule, and the increasingly difficult and time-consuming setup and teardown at almost all shows. It occurred to me that this might have led him into the final accident which ended his life. I regret that I'll never again get a chance to spend quality time with Dale Walters.

To read a newslpaper article on Dale click on this link:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/visualart/275981_walters30.html

From Dale's sister:

Hello Sally, My name is Lori, I am Dale Walters sister. I was directed to your website via Dianne with Meridian Arts in Alabama. I wanted to thank not only you for posting the letters from Dales fellow friends and artists, but also to thank everyone in the art community that responded by sending letters, e-mails, flowers and attending the memorial that took place in Wisconsin and the two memorials in Washington. I have been so moved to meet so many of his friends and read the thoughts of others about Dale. I cried many times over while reading those thoughts knowing that others feel the pain I feel. For me, a part of my heart left that day, though I know I will see him again and he probably stands behind me as I type this.... I remember as a child, running to stand in the path of a rainbow as it traveled across the field; and doing the same thing with my daughter when she was young.
Dale was the rainbow.

I want very much for everyone to know how much I and my family were touched by the out pouring of care and concern from Dales artist families. His work and travel meant the world to him but the friends he made and had in the art community were a very special second family to him.

Thank you again,
Lori Walters

Milton, WA
PHONE: 253.840.0458

dalebuilt.com