by David Bates, May 20, 2010
I happened across your website today and it brought back many childhood memories of my days visiting and working at Kriebel & Bates as I grew up.
My father, who is still living a good life at the age of 89, is one of three brothers who worked alongside my grandfather, who started and ran the company, Kriebel & Bates.
As I was growing up, I spent many days at that office in Indianapolis where all of the Sallman paintings were displayed on the hallway and office walls for everyone to look at.
I remember talking with my grandfather, my dad, and my uncle about the stories behind each of the paintings, and I still remember being shown the small details that Mr. Sallman had painted into some of his paintings that were not known or seen by the average person observing his works.
As I grew up I worked at their office sweeping floors, and eventually started working in the production areas mounting the litho prints onto pieces of cardboard, cutting them to size, and wrapping them in brown craft paper to be stored until they were shipped off to places around the world.
I remember one summer day, while still a very young boy, going to the office with my dad where I met Mr. Sallman, who was painting in my grandfather’s office. He was repainting and touching up one of his earlier portraits that hung on my grandfather’s office wall. I remember how he smiled as we talked about how he used his brushes and tools, and how much he enjoyed painting.
A few days after that visit with Mr. Sallman, I was at the office again when my grandfather gave me the palette, a painter’s knife, and the three brushes that Mr. Sallman had been using the day we talked. I kept those items in my bedroom where they stayed as I grew up. Unfortunately, they were given away when my mother sold and moved away from that house after I left home for the military.
I am now 58 years old, but I still often think about and have so many memories from my days visiting and working at Kriebel & Bates, and hearing the stories behind Mr. Sallman’s paintings; but most of all, I will always especially remember that one summer day when I met and talked with Mr. Sallman.
