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On top of the world!

April 30, 2017

... or rather Nob Hill in San Francisco for a festive celebration of her son's elopement.

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

Hilary in front of the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace, 200-190 BC

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

Of course, an art walk through the Louvre was a must!

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

During this time, Hilary was inspired by the French installation artist Sophie Calle who's work led her to create elaborate knitted fabric and wool collages.

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

Breakfast in the room was a daily highlight.

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

As family tradition would have it, they stayed at the historic Hotel "Lord Byroni" close to the L'Arc De Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées.

Visit in Paris, May 2008

April 30, 2017

My mom Inge spent a few enchanted days with Hilary at what turned out to be her last visit to Paris.

Color by Ronna

October 29, 2015

Color
People come in all colors and I don’t mean the color of their skin. 

Hilary, Carol (or Carol as her parents Charlotte and Clemence and her brother Ted may have called her sometimes) was just about as colorful a person as I have been privileged to know.

John O’donohue refers to indigo and azure blue (said with his wonderful Irish lilt); she was that, and cerulean, and electric cyan, not to mention French blue (oh how she loved Paris and if we are on P’s, Picasso even though he was from Malaga, Spain (of course she knew not just the country but the details of his birthplace, his work, his life and genius). Then, there’s Lapis lazuli, Persian blue, ultramarine, sapphire, slate and sea blue. There’s turquoise, aqua (yes there is a difference), and a world of teals and emeralds. She’s also cadmium yellow, and canary as well as chartreuse, citrine, daffodil, lemon (oh how she loved Stonewall Kitchen lemon curd), peridot, tangerine. Don’t get me started on the shades, the texture (just look at the silky smooth grained wood topped with the clarity of glass), the nuances, the evocative, the sublime, the sensibility, her sensibilities. 

She favored the color, taste and experience of champagne. Even those teeny weeny little bottles could make “the ordinary” less-so; just as she made “simple things” so extraordinary.  In her presence I could be extraordinary too. What is the color for someone so rare they embody that capacity? Maybe charisma, or sweetness and encouragement coupled with authority. But, watch out for her salty pirate, titillating tartness and robust relish. Her colors were vivid, strong and determined. 

If there’s a color for smarts, she had that too. 

If there’s a color for struggle, yeah, throw that one in. 

If there’s a color for sorrow, yeah, that was hard to shake sometimes, but she kept on going. 

If there’s a color for a person who would just about give you the shirt off her back, add that to her equation. I don’t think there are too many people on this planet able to represent that color. 

If there was ever a person who cherished her parents, just let her reminisce about the old days in St. Louis. Her memories included a richness of feeling that was palpable. Remember her great grandma who played a great game of golf in her 90’s? Her father who lived with a pretty big daily challenge (only one arm), adored by her beautiful mother.

If there’s a color for passion, get yourself in the Venetian red zone, there’s scarlet and crimson, razzmatazz and imperial (forget about tractor red; on second thought, she was open to many things and could create style where there was none).  There’s Japanese carmine, lust and ruby. If we slip toward blood orange marmalade you must remember her chicken dish with Sarabeth’s peach apricot preserves.  If a little was good, a lot was better there. If there’s a color for any of the lamb dishes at Central Park Bistro, she loved them with company. Maybe it was chestnut or burgundy, umber or russet.

 If there’s a color for the love of art in particular, the arts in general, culture in its infinite variety -- and the love and affection for her family, including Boo, it’s all the colors of the rainbow, and infinite too. 

Hilary/Carol -- a deeply colorful (how many of us can pull off two names and those glasses?), lively, creative and charming person who wore her ups and downs on her sleeve.  

Her fine mind, and insistence upon continued study to better understand the issues of the day included the course by the Afghan-American lecturer and author Tamim Ansary. It was post 9/11, who else was trying to understand “nation states and empires” at that time? If there was a class she could take, she took it --- but no matter how much I tried, I could never get her to stop using caps in those emails…..

If there’s a color for her humor, maybe it’s tickle me or shocking pink, majenta or fashion forward-fuschia. 

If there’s a song for her enthusiasm, it’s “Who Said” by Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana that she played on her click pen and gave to friends who needed inspiration:

“Who said, who said I can't be Superman
I say, I say that I know I can
Who said, who said I won't be President
I say, I say you ain't seen nothin' yet

Oh yeah. Yeah

Go on and make some noise
Every girl has a choice
To lead their own parade
I do it my way“

If there’s a color for her default to joy and wonder and amazement, maybe it’s neon green, outrageous orange or smitten sunglow yellow.

If there’s a color for her compassion, maybe it’s lavender rose or wild orchid.

If there’s a color for her ability to share, maybe it’s warm vanilla or lilac.

If there’s a color for her dinner parties (who else understood the inherent value of setting up little tables of 2 and 3’s and 4’s for others to socialize companionably?), maybe it’s welcoming cognac, spicy clove, earthy ochre or fresh peppermint.  She was a hostess in a class all her own, queen of her castle with a sometimes magical protective moat surrounding her --- and then there was Yosemite out the studio door.

If there’s a color for her inquisitiveness as she formed new ideas, maybe it’s in the family of jewel tones or glitter gold or electric purple. Her excitement too was joyous and her intrinsic tenacity deep.

Her amazing art, multiplicity of talents, relentless spirit, and inherent joie de vivre are missed.

So glad to have shared in her life, her work, her stories, RN

 

Mom's Birthday Today

October 29, 2015

Today I was thinking about Mom.  I added some photos to the site.  The photos include some friends and family, her home, and art.  Those were of utmost importance to her.
If you would like to see a nice sampling of her art-by no means complete, do look at www.hilaryzim.com.  All of the pieces have been placed.  The website is not up to date in that regard.  
She is missed.
Valerie
 

September 25, 2015

I have thought of Hilary often. I'm back in Ireland now but I met her when I managed Tesori Gallery in San Mateo. She came in like a whirlwind or should I say a breath of fresh air and sold me the idea having an exhibition of her work in the gallery and I in turn introduced her to the owners Greg and Judy. The dye was set for a relationship that lasted until the doors of Tesori closed. I sold some of her sculptures and I believe that her talent was in sculpture even if she insisted that she was a painter if you know her work her paintings had a sculptural quality. She came in with her friend Arthur and they were comical, passionate about art and books very vocal but always polite. Hollywood could not have invented those characters between the three of us we discussed what was important in the world Art and Art and more Art.  Hilary always reminded me of someone that belonged in a Chagall painting....her world was full of   activity.  I could say a lot more about Hilary she was a study in human nature always the chat but you knew that she was one of those people that rose above the negative forces. Anyway " it was long ago and far away and the world was younger than today" San Mateo must be a quieter place and I'm sorry to hear she gone.  

Hilary's visit in Phoenix, 2009

May 11, 2014

It always touched me to see how great Hilary and my mom got along in spite of the language barrier. The year before this picture was taken they even met in Paris for a few days where the two of them stayed at the old family hotel. Hilary always said: "once family—always family." She was convinced that there was more to our special soul connection, especially after she learned what my mother's maiden name is, and that her family came from Poland. She smiled from ear to ear and said "I knew it!" Then she raised her glass of buttery Chardonnay, and we all toasted and laughed.

Hilary's visit in Phoenix, 2009

May 11, 2014

These are pictures of Hilary's visit in April 2009 when she came to spend a few days with me, my husband Leslie and my mom Inge in Phoenix, Arizona. We took her to a Desert Chilhuly exhibit that she absolutely loved. It was a perfect day full of artistic inspiration and great conversations.

April 18, 2014

The last time I saw Nana was when she came to LA for my Mom's birthday on Febuary 3. It was 6:15 am, when I was about to get ready for school. She had told me the night before that I could say bye to her in the morning, since she would catch her flight in the afternoon, while I was currently at school. I pulled back the curtains and there she was, resting on the bed. And I walked up to her, " Nana." And she said,"Hi, honey." She gave me a kiss and I held her hand and she squeezed it back. It was such a peaceful goodbye. I am so glad that I got to see her in the morning and had a nice goodbye before her flight.

-Eliana 
Hilary's granddaughter  

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