Ralph Childs, an elder of the social organizations, Asians & Friends Chicago (AFC) and IFCON, passed away suddenly in August of 2020. His estate donated several pieces of artwork to AFC in support of its work at building community among the LGBTQ Asian population in the city of Chicago.
Several pieces will be sold online beginning March 1, 2021 on our Asians & Friends Chicago Facebook page (see the Events section of the page), culminating in a virtual auction on March 20, 2021 at 7 p.m. CT. (Zoom Info below.)
Generally, Ralph loved to travel, meet people and explore the art scene. Many of the pieces reflect those passions. His taste gravitated to the more abstract, but also, as aligned with his sexual orientation, the male body. His family and friends say he was always interested in meeting the artist from whom he purchased work. Many of the pieces are signed by the artist and in the case of well-known illustrator Jon Reich, a friendship developed.
Two pieces in the collection were purchased by Kevin Tam, a close friend of Ralph’s, with whom the two shared Ralph’s last Chicago home, a condo over the renowned Boystown area (today known as North Halsted). Kevin purchased the pieces while on a solo trip to Italy. They were prominently displayed in Ralph and Kevin’s Boystown home.
Finally, a special piece in the collection up for auction is a photograph of pop vocalist, Bette Midler, in costume during her 2018 Broadway run as the lead in Hello Dolly in New York City. Ralph saw Ms. Midler in the New York production and while attending a charity event for a local performing art group, he purchased the framed photograph—signed by Ms. Midler—for $500.
Though Ralph passed suddenly in Chicago, he left behind a sister and brother, nieces and nephews and hundreds of friends from the AFC and IFCON communities, as well as dozens of others he met while on international cruises and trips abroad. He will not be forgotten.
March 20, 2021, 7 p.m. CT Zoom Call: Virtual Art Auction
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83877249403?pwd=QVNmbUdYOGlIVjQ5TXBEMFRpbDhodz09
Meeting ID: 838 7724 9403
Passcode: 896952
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