Alabama has lost one of its most acclaimed artists. Cancer took the life of Woodie Long on Oct. 12, just days before his 67th birthday.

This gentle man left behind an important art legacy as well as memories of the beautiful way he lived his life and cared for people. My own memories come from the years I was director of the Kentuck Art Festival in Northport. Woodie was a featured guest artist.

Visitors to the annual festival moved quickly to his location so they could have first choice of his artwork and could spend as much time as possible with him. His paintings, often set directly on the ground, were like bright jewels punctuating the shade from the tall pine trees.

Now this folk art master has left us, but his story lives on in thousands of those paintings. He is featured in books and exhibition catalogs. We tell his history — how he was a house painter for 25 years before picking up his wife's art brushes at the age of 45 and beginning to paint the stories of his life, capturing memories for his children. He said he couldn't write those stories, but he could certainly make pictures.

What wonderful pictures they are. Swirls of bright color capture children flying kites and "jumping on grandmother's bed." They show the New York skyline, where his successful art career brought many exhibitions of his work. The pieces are bright, very personal and whimsical, but at the same time elegantly sophisticated art forms. He had no art training, but his work teaches us much about art, about the strength of painting those things that matter personally.

In the two decades of his prolific career, Woodie's art was collected by museums, graced the covers of corporate publications, and was featured in books and exhibition catalogs. Most of all, his paintings were lovingly purchased by people to hang in special locations in their homes. One such piece, a depiction of freshly washed clothes hanging on the line to dry, is on the bedroom wall of my very good friend in Charleston, S.C. She sees it first thing every morning and says the warm, sunny colors start each day with happiness.

Woodie Long's passing has also been noted as a milestone in the loss of a generation of Alabama's legendary self-taught, contemporary folk artists. These individuals work outside the mainstream of the fine art world, attracting a serious following of collectors. From this group, in the past years, Alabama has lost such luminaries as Mose Tolliver, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, Howard Finster, Fred Webster and Brother B.F. Perkins. People question what will happen to the field in general as we continue to lose these unique artists.

Many artists in this arena, including Charlie Lucas and Lonnie Holley, are still in the middle of vibrant careers. We can expect many more years of exciting work from their minds and hands. While we grieve the passing of our friends, we also know that this art has a long history and is worldwide — art not limited by region or time. It will continue to emerge with fresh visions and new approaches. Our challenge is simply to look for honesty, substance and authenticity; to find creative passion and significant messages; not to be misled.

During the weekend of Nov. 7-8, the regular Slotin Folk Art Auction was held in Historic Buford Hall in Georgia. The bidders ranged from decorators and serious collectors to museum personnel. Phone and eBay bids added to the excitement. This secondary market has become a serious measure of the on-going monetary value of folk art. Some pieces were marked as masterpieces and sold for very high amounts. Others had more modest bids.

Pieces by Mose Tolliver, Brother Perkins, Jimmy Lee Sudduth — and Woodie Long — were paraded to the podium and sold for generally substantial amounts. New homes will welcome the color and images.

As I watched the proceedings, I kept remembering the faces of the artists and their laughter. I was reminded that, although the hands that produced those pieces are now still, the beauty and memory live on. Dear friends, rest in peace.

Georgine Clarke is visual arts program manager for the Alabama State Council on the Arts. She served as founding director of the Kentuck Festival, Art Center and Museum in Northport. Kentuck is known as the premier festival for folk art in the South.

State museums display work of folk artists

Woodie Long retrospective

A retrospective exhibit celebrating the life and art of Woodie Long is on view through January at the Lyceum Gateway Building on Central Square in Seaside, Fla. Hours are noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Folk art at the Berman

Locally, the Berman Museum in Anniston is hosting the exhibit "Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts, and Beyond," through Jan. 3. In addition to the quilts — which are considered works of folk art — the Berman is displaying works by Alabama folk artists Thornton Dial, above, and Lonnie Holley, below. 237-6261, www.bermanmuseum.org.

Folk art in Birmingham

The Birmingham Museum of Art has devoted its Arrington gallery to the display of folk art, all by American artists, most from the Southeast, including artists such as Thornton Dial, Howard Finster, Lonnie Holley, above, Charlie Lucas and Mose Tolliver, below. (205) 254-2565, www.artsbma.org.

Folk art in Montgomery

The Woodie Long paintings that accompany the story are courtesy of Marcia Weber Art Objects, a folk art gallery in Montgomery. Weber's collection includes many other Alabama folk artists. (334) 262-5349, www.marciaweberartobjects.com.