Remembering Pettigrew: Retrospective gathers late artist’s work

Published 6:50 pm Sunday, January 25, 2015

VALDOSTA — Walking through the Don Pettigrew: Retrospective exhibit, one somber question keeps pounding at the forefront of the mind, a question that won’t go away, but seems almost unspoken.

Why didn’t Don Pettigrew present more local exhibits of his work while he was alive?

Granted, one or two of his pieces were regularly exhibited in the annual Spring Into Art.

His prints were popular; people bought them.

It is not unusual to encounter a Pettigrew painting or illustration of a hunting dog, a cat, a landscape, a hunting scene, water, on a wall here and there throughout South Georgia.

His works were an annual staple within the Colson Calendar, the yearly month-by-month expression of the abilities of the print shop where Pettigrew worked.

His work is scattered throughout the region and beyond, which may explain why there weren’t more one-man shows and retrospective exhibits.

Pettigrew was a working artist for many years. Painting and drawing wasn’t only something he felt he had to do to sate his artistic spirit. No, Don Pettigrew had to paint and draw because he had made art his career. It was his job. It fed him for many years.

He painted works that had been commissioned. He painted works which he felt could be sold.

But seeing the retrospective exhibit now on display at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, all of that talent in one room, condensed to a few walls, one can’t help but wonder what Don would have made of this show.

Don Pettigrew died in the first early days of 2014. The Valdosta-based artist worked independently for many years. He continued selling his works even after taking a job.

His friend, printer and employer Wendy Colson shared his memories of Don Pettigrew.

Colson wrote:

“Don Pettigrew had been a successful artist most of his adult life. The first time I met him, he had heard about Colson having a fine art division and decided to give us a try printing the famous Ocean Pond Clubhouse painting.

“Before this Don’s reproductions were printed at Litho-Krome in Atlanta. Litho-Krome was the premier fine art printer in America and was my mentors. Don said, If you spot me the funds I am sure I can sell enough of the prints at the club’s annual meeting to pay you in full. At the time I was honored that Don would trust us to reproduce his work so I took a chance and printed the edition without any upfront money.

“In three days, Don came back and paid for the edition in full.

“Don came back many times after that day and printed new editions and we developed a friendship.

“Then one day he showed up and did not want to print anything, he actually wanted a job. Imagine that, Don Pettigrew working at Colson Printing. At the time I did not have an opening but something came up later and I hired him.

“Many times our customers would come in and look at his desk plate and say, ‘Are you the artist Don Pettigrew?’ Don would always reply in his humble way and you would have thought some of them had met Elvis. I always loved that and Don did, too.  

“Until Don died he worked with us and it was a blast.

“Even through chemo, Don was just like he told me in the interview. He said, You can count on me to be dependable and always show up for work. What a great work ethic.

“Don would go to SGMC for treatments and then come to work three weeks before the cancer killed him.

“The week before Don died I decided to give his family a break and spend the night looking after him. He was in such pain but we still talked about printing and fishing. He went to bed early that night, and at 5 a.m., he got up, made coffee and took his morphine.

“The next thing I know he was sitting at his old art table with one little light on just staring at a blank piece of art board. I walked over to him and asked him what he was doing.

“He said, This is my special spot where I dream up things to paint.

“We all have our special spots in life to reflect and be at peace. Don’s was at his old drafting table where he created some very special works of art. I miss my co-worker and friend but his works of art will live forever.”