Alphabet File page 19

She is currently engrossed in creating 20 paintings for another one-woman show for November at the Daytona Beach Museum of art.

 

In a rare moment of relaxation this week at her beach front home, (226 N Beach Blvd., by CHG) the artist calmly and dispassionately discussed her life, work and success.

 

"I paint to please me," she said. "People read into them what they want, what they remember from their childhood and what they dreamed of then."  "My paintings usually include young children, lacy clothing, and spring flowers because this is what I like to paint. I love to sew and the clothes in the paintings are carefully thought out in pattern form."

 

A strong sense of nostalgia and timelessness pervades the soft pastels of her highly imaginative creations, touching off hidden emotions in the most hard-bitten viewer.

 

Mrs. Bannister compares a painting to an invention, with all the difficulties of the creative process involved.  "Every time I start a painting, I must invent something totally new - and it's agony when you can't think of anything."  "Then the idea comes, sometimes even in a dream, and it all goes great initially, until the time comes to add the detail - that's when the real work begins.  You just sit there in your studio for hours and days,' she said.

 

A perfectionist, she doesn't let go of a painting easily. "I never feel it's good enough - I can always see room for improvement.  How can any artist improve if he's satisfied with his work." she asked.

 

Many have compared her work to Boticelli's, one of the great Renaissance Italian painters she was introduced to at the Slade Academy of Fine Art in her home town of London. However, she disclaims this. "The English painter Turner is my favorite and if I've been influenced at all, he's the one.'

 

A highly personalized style is what she has worked and found.  Her works stand out in any gallery and fairly about her name.

 

She feels strongly that any aspiring artist must receive a thorough background in the basics, training she received  at State Academy.  "Several years back everybody was taught impressionism and how to draw colorful blobs. A  more realistic style has returned to fashion now and these artists lack the essential basic drawing skills to compete,' she said.

 

Mrs. Bannister, whose parents were both recognized artists, admits she draws heavily on her past in her work.

 

That past includes a childhood spent in war-time London and frequent excursions into the English countryside to escape Nazi bombs.

 

And, she says, it was probably here that she discovered her love of the country - especially the horses.  After attending the academy, she declined a chance to advance to the Royal Academy of Art,  choosing instead to work illustrating children's horse books to help support her widowed mother.

 

Her work was recognized and at age 17 she was selected by J. Arthur Rank to create artwork for his motion picture studio.

 

Then after three years and finding herself restless under the strictures of English life, she applied for visas to India and Australia, found the wait for these countries too long and arrived in the United States after only a six week’s delay.

 

At first she worked as a English governess in New England tired quickly of this and moved to Florida and a job as a stewardess with Southern Airlines.  "I was a stewardess when I met my husband Glenn," she said smiling.  In those days, it was against company policy for stewardesses to be married and I'm afraid poor Glenn spent many hours hiding out in our shower stall when unexpected company arrived.'

 

Also at this time, she was doing some portrait work, which she found too confining.  "Painting faces I was not interested in was not my idea of art. Glen and I picked up and moved to New Orleans where he established an art gallery on Bourbon Street.  It's  now called the Townhouse Gallery and still exhibits my work."

 

Other galleries currently exhibiting Bannister works are the Merrill Chase Gallery in Chicago, the La Galeria in San Mateo, Calif., and the Summers Gallery in Shreveport.

 

Recently, Bill Haynie of Gulfport has been representing her locally.

 

Baptist churches - see;Churches

 

Barabino:  See Barbino and Barrabino

 

Barabino, Capt. Paul - Tucker, Capt. George D., returned this week from a cruise around the islands, and while at Deer Point, about seventy-five miles south east of the Bay, discovered the wreck of the sloop "ST. PAUL".  The boat was owned and commanded by Capt. Paul Barabino, and was engaged in the Pearlington oyster trade.  Captain Tucker reports the "St. PAUL" a total wreck, with bottom side up, with the body of the unfortunate captain lashed to the center board. (10/28/1893)

 

Barber, Alton A. r 155 Favre Ln. Waveland (Ph 55)

 

Barber, Harold R. -   Laurel Wreath - Harold R. Barber, left, presents the annual Laurel Wreath Award to M. James Stevens, Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce outgoing president, for his contributions to the Coast area. The award is sponsored by Coast Federal Savings & Loan Association of which Mr. Barber is president.  (Photograph of Stevens and Barber VF MJS IX00414) (Daily Herald 10-10-67)

 

Barber, Nellie 10-30-1913 baptized at the Pearlington Methodist Episcopal Church (PC&C)

 

Barber, Virginia Evelyn 2-11-1913 baptized at the Pearlington Methodist Episcopal Church (PC&C)

 

Barbo, Joseph Gerald, 63, S. Cem. Lenora, Jan. 12 Nov 1979 (CEC)

 

Bareboom, David 4-24-1982 baptized at the Pearlington Methodist Episcopal Church (PC&C)

 

Barere, Mrs. J. - Mrs. C. Reed, Mrs. Collins, and Mrs. Burger were the New Orleans guests of Mrs. Moreau and Mrs. Muller this week.  (SCE 8/6/1892)

 

Barham, Ed and Sloan, Will, two popular rail road employees, visited friends at the Bay this week.  (SCE 10/28/1893)

 

Barham, Mr. Ed., the genial and popular engineer of the bridge working train, is now with a regular freight on the main line. (SCE 1-13-1894)

 

Baringer, Maud - Duty, Miss of New Orleans, is the guest of Miss Jennie Neuroth, on Union street.  Miss Maud Baringer, who is the guest of Miss Mamie Neiuoth, has just returned from a pleasant visit to her friends in the country.  (SCE 9/3/1893)

 

Baringer, Mrs., after spending Sunday the guest of Neuroth, Mrs.B., returned to New Orleans the same evening with her daughter Miss Maud, who has been spending several weeks with the Misses Neuroth.  (SCE 09/09/1893)

 

Barneaud, Mr. Chas., Ph.D., will take a select number of pupils in the different branches of the French language. He can be seen at the Sea Brook Cottage. (SCE 1-13-1894)

 

Barnes, Mr. C. R., of Kansas, was in the Bay this week, inter-viewing the merchants on the subject of the feasibility of a bank in Bay St. Louis.  Now it is a source of good news to learn that there is some probability of securing a bank.  (SCE 04/29/1893)

 

Barnes, Mr. Edgar of Handsboro spent Sunday evening here with his many Bay friends. (SCE - 10/1/1892)

 

Barnes, Mr. Edgar, a Bay favorite, was here Sunday from Handsboro. (SCE 09/09/1893)

 

Barnes, Wm. E. r Lakeshore (Ph 55)

 

Barr, Mr. J. J. (Waveland) and son from New Orleans spent Sunday at their Waveland home. (SCE 01/14/1893)

 

Barr, Mr. J. J., of New Orleans, came over on a visit Thursday morning.  (SCE, 1-28-1893)

 

Baron, Messrs. Alphonse J., James Breath, L. Capdepon, Chas. Breath, L. J. dePaoli were among the many visitors to the Pass Sunday.  (SCE 10/15/1892)