Simmie Knox on TV

[Michele Rushworth]

He thought we were under possible attack today because the hits to my site and Simmie's were so high at times throughout the day.

I also noticed a big slowdown on SOG throughout the earlier part of the day. I suspected it might have been because of Simmie Knox's thing. Good for you -- and him!

[Cynthia Daniel]

Yes, that was the cause. This is a case where we can be happy about a slow-down on the web.

I've also confirmed that Simmie will be on Paul Zahn at 8pm EST tonight.

[Kimberly Dow]

It was on Fox News as well - although just a quick flash of the portraits.

[Patricia Joyce]

There was a front page article about the portraits in the Cleveland Plain Dealer this morning. They are getting a letter from me, Simmie Knox was not named. In fact there was no mention of the artist AT ALL, as if the portraits just materialized out of thin air.

Never been a fan of the Plain Dealer, but this is the first letter they have gotten from me in a long time

steaming in cleveland!!

Do you know where I can view a good photo of the portraits?

[Cynthia Daniel]

Well, if you really want to start steaming, there is no artist acknowledge on the White House web site for the presidential and first lady portraits:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/

I emailed them quite some time ago to bring this to their attention, but I see it has not changed. Perhaps if everyone writes to them this might help.

As far as I know, there are no good images of the portraits yet available on the web. I've emailed Simmie to see if he already has a scan he can email to me or if he will send material for me to scan.

[Michele Rushworth]

It seems that many people's perception of the significance of any given portrait is solely based on the subject, not on the artist.

After all, even the National Portrait Gallery has stated that they include works in their collection based just on the importance of the person depicted, not based at all on the importance of the artist who might have painted it. Harrrumph!

[SB Wang]

Knok, knok,
Knoks your door is your destiny!

[Cynthia Daniel]

Simmie will be sending me better images, but for right now, this is all I have. Simmie wrote me "The last several days have been overwhelming and even surreal with all the attention I have been getting. "

He is such a wonderful gentleman and well deserves this honor. I've long felt Simmie's talents have not gotten the credit due and I've been pulling for him for years.

[Michele Rushworth]

I am sure Simmie won't recover from the media blitz for some time, but whenever he does have a few minutes it would be great if he might be able to explain the significance of the various objects in the paintings. For example, is the book in Hillary's painting her "It Takes a Village"? Is the chair of some special significance, and I also wonder what the objects are behind Bill that look like medals of some sort.