With
several brush strokes, East Liverpool native and ELHS Class of ’51 member
Marie Fricano Dippolito committed to canvas a lingering memory and visual
image from the “Lookin’ Great in ‘98’’ Potter Parade, held July 4, 1998.
Dippolito,
now of Warren, captured classmates Nancy (Chestnut) Turner, Nancy (Shields)
Beedle, Jane (Seitz) Peterson, Dorothy (Logan) Foutts, Barbara (Dray) Nutt,
Jo Ann (Alcock) Graham and Lois (Klemen) Kidd, outfitted in red, white
and blue dresses forming a living, marching U.S. flag in the parade for
her painting entitled, “We’re a Grand Old Flag.” Peterson made the dresses.
Several photographs of the women’s visual image of “Old Glory” floating
down the parade route were taken, with some published in area newspapers.
Dippolito,
herself, had a photograph of the women, and she told herself she would
one day create a painting. Three years later, the award-winning artist
completed the painting, which has been exhibited at the Trumbull Art Gallery,
Kent State University Trumbull Campus and the Butler Institute of American
Art in Youngstown and received favorable reviews.
The
painting has found a permanent home at the East Liverpool High School Alumni
Association Clock Tower. The painting was presented to the ELHSAA to commemorate
the 50th anniversary reunion of the Class of ’51. It is on display
in the main lobby of the Clock Tower.
