Frankfort Heritage Lecture Series Pop-Up: The Life and Art of Paul Sawyier

Schedule

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601 | Frankfort, KY

Advertisement
Paul Sawyier’s paintings, particularly his impressionist watercolors, are ubiquitous in Central Kentucky and their wider recognition continues to grow. Yet a century after his death, most Kentuckians today know next to nothing about the artist himself, and the little that is thought to be known is often so wrong as to constitute caricature of the real man. This two-part presentation marks the first-ever collaboration of Don Coffey and Bill Coffey – widely considered the foremost experts on the life and art of Paul Sawyier.
PART I: PAUL SAWYIER IN CONTEXT
Don Coffey, author
Paul Sawyier, Kentucky Artist: An Historical Chronology of His Life, Art, Friends, and Times from Old Frankfort to the Catskills (2010)
Paul Sawyier lived a fairly normal life as the middle sibling among five children of the prominent Sawyier family. Their two-story home in downtown Frankfort stood about where the Kentucky Historical Society’s front doors face East Broadway today. In his time, Sawyier had a reputation as pleasant-natured, sociable, likeable, a bit unsettled, and a good artist very determined to earn his living with his paintings.
This presentation will portray Sawyier’s lifetime as four periods, each representing a significant phase in his unfolding life story and the ways it affected his art. Description of each period will show how changes in his personal life and his artistry affected each other – a major example being his early decision to switch from dark oil portraits to light impressionist watercolor landscapes. His third life period coincidentally included his 23-year romance with Mayme Bull, the breakup of which marked the beginning of tragic endings for both her and Paul. His remarkable artistry and its true value would remain unrecognized until many decades after his death.
William D. “Don” Coffey spent four decades in governmental service—the first in federal defense work, the remainder in Kentucky human services budgeting, program evaluation, public health and health care reform. From 1982 through 2000 his avocation was co-creator and co-director of some 35 folk dance schools—semi-annual, week-long events featuring historical Anglo-American folk dances. With his wife Sylvia he established and for fifteen years co-directed folk dancing in Frankfort as the Capital City Historical Dancers and Musicians. He created “Legends of the Great Hall—Ae Stately Frolic and Mid-Winter Celebration of Ancient Music, Dance, Traditions and Delights,” produced in 2005, 06 and 07 as a community fundraiser for Thorn Hill School.
A lifelong musician, Coffey founded and directed several choral groups, dance bands and a couple of ad hoc orchestras, and has provided music for countless folk dances in several states. Over fifteen years he sang and played hammered dulcimer, guitar, accordion and keyboard with The Mink Run Consort, a four-person band featuring Celtic and Anglo-American traditional ballads and instrumentals. He composed a contemporary operetta, The Parables, and has authored four books. As playwright he wrote two plays: “Maisie’s Dead,” produced by Bluegrass Theater Guild; and “Two Loves and a River,” a biographical dramatization of Paul Sawyier’s life produced by Capital City Museum. His presentation today is based on his 2010 book published by Frankfort Heritage Press titled: Paul Sawyier, Kentucky Artist: An Historical Chronology of His Life, Art, Friends, and Times from Old Frankfort to the Catskills.
PART II: THE ART OF PAUL SAWYIER
Bill Coffey, president
Paul Sawyier Galleries, Inc.
Bill Coffey, over the past fifty years, even though he’s not an artist, historian, or art expert, has become well-acquainted with Paul Sawyier’s art. After Paul Sawyier Galleries initially reproduced the J.J. King Collection of fifty original watercolors, Bill had to find additional originals to reproduce. This led to finding and viewing over 1,000 Sawyier paintings. Since 1976, he has reproduced 185 Sawyier watercolors, oils, pastels, and etchings.
In 2021, his research was summarized in a catalog of every Sawyier he has found, seen, or knows to exist. He continues to find an average of ten additional originals each year.
Coffey’s presentation will show examples of Sawyier’s styles and subject matter during his life. A sheet will be available on Sawyier’s life, estimates of his artistic production, where to find Sawyier originals, books about Sawyier, where to purchase Sawyier prints, Coffey’s research on Sawyier, and how to contact Coffey.
Attendees will also receive a free Sawyier art print.
William H. “Bill” Coffey is the descendant of Lewis Russell Coffey, who settled in Monticello, Wayne County, Kentucky in 1807. While Bill’s parents were natives of Kentucky, his father’s job meant the family moved to Birmingham, Alabama and then St. Louis, Missouri. Bill graduated from the University of Missouri. After college, he worked for a bookbinding company. In the late 1960’s, he was a commissioned U.S. Army officer. He then sold color copiers for the Xerox Corporation. In 1976, Bill moved to Frankfort and purchased Paul Sawyier Galleries from his brother, Coleman Coffey, one of the company’s creators.
Bill has a widowed adult daughter, Cathy, in Prescott, AZ. She has three fine, well-educated married sons. In 1989, Bill met and married Becky, and the twins – Alicia and Cory. They have blessed him with Tanner, Caroline, and Callan.
Please register at https://www.pspl.org/event/fhls-sawyier. For more information, contact Diane Dehoney at (502) 352-2665 x100 or [email protected].
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Paul Sawyier Public Library

Host or Publisher Paul Sawyier Public Library

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Frankfort

Back to the Basics: An Introduction to Basic Microsoft Excel (Level 2)
Thu, 30 Oct at 01:00 pm Back to the Basics: An Introduction to Basic Microsoft Excel (Level 2)

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

WORKSHOPS MUSIC
"Mad Dogs & Women" A Night with Jeri Katherine Howell & Grace Rogers
Thu, 30 Oct at 07:00 pm "Mad Dogs & Women" A Night with Jeri Katherine Howell & Grace Rogers

330 St Clair St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

DOG PERFORMANCES
Friday the 13th (1980) - $5 Horror Series
Fri, 31 Oct at 04:00 pm Friday the 13th (1980) - $5 Horror Series

1303 Hwy 127, Franklin Square Shopping Cntr, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

FRIDAY-THE-13TH ENTERTAINMENT
Fall Festival
Fri, 31 Oct at 05:00 pm Fall Festival

803 Louisville Rd, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

FESTIVALS FALL-FESTIVALS
Safe Trick-or-Treat
Fri, 31 Oct at 06:00 pm Safe Trick-or-Treat

Kentucky State Police Headquarters

TRICK-OR-TREAT HALLOWEEN
Kentucky State Thorobreds vs. Clark Atlanta Panthers
Fri, 31 Oct at 07:00 pm Kentucky State Thorobreds vs. Clark Atlanta Panthers

Alumni Stadium - Frankfort

KENTUCKY-DERBY TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Halloween Extravaganza at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe
Fri, 31 Oct at 07:30 pm Halloween Extravaganza at the Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe

235 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

CONTESTS
Adventurous Scavenger Hunt - Frankfort\u2018s Funtastic Treasure Hunt
Mon, 25 Nov at 08:00 am Adventurous Scavenger Hunt - Frankfort‘s Funtastic Treasure Hunt

300 W Broadway St

TRIPS-ADVENTURES KENTUCKY-DERBY
Open Mic ~ Music ~ Poetry ~ Hip Hop ~ Jazz ~ Vendors Needed Wanted
Wed, 08 Jan at 08:00 pm Open Mic ~ Music ~ Poetry ~ Hip Hop ~ Jazz ~ Vendors Needed Wanted

Frankfort

ENTERTAINMENT OPEN-MIC
From the Rafters of Rupp: An Evening with Kyle Macy
Tue, 30 Sep at 06:00 pm From the Rafters of Rupp: An Evening with Kyle Macy

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

SPORTS ART
Homeschool Clay Class
Wed, 01 Oct at 10:00 am Homeschool Clay Class

223 W Broadway, Frankfort, KY

WORKSHOPS ART
Adult Arts & Crafts Club
Wed, 01 Oct at 12:00 pm Adult Arts & Crafts Club

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

ART
Museum After Dark
Wed, 01 Oct at 06:00 pm Museum After Dark

Capital City Museum

MUSIC NIGHT-MARKETS
Mixology on the River: Uncharted Secrets of the Sour with Ingram River Aged
Thu, 02 Oct at 02:00 pm Mixology on the River: Uncharted Secrets of the Sour with Ingram River Aged

"The Bourbon Boat" Kentucky River Tours

WORKSHOPS ART
The Stave is the Rave with Peggy Noe Stevens and Limestone Heritage
Fri, 03 Oct at 01:00 pm The Stave is the Rave with Peggy Noe Stevens and Limestone Heritage

Kentucky History Center & Museums

RAVES ART
Painting Workshop: Witch Hat
Sat, 04 Oct at 09:30 am Painting Workshop: Witch Hat

223 W Broadway, Frankfort, KY

ART FINE-ARTS
An Afternoon of Poetry with Sara Cahill Marron
Sat, 04 Oct at 01:00 pm An Afternoon of Poetry with Sara Cahill Marron

319 Wapping St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

ART LITERARY-ART
"Crafts on Tap" Community Craft Night
Thu, 09 Oct at 06:00 pm "Crafts on Tap" Community Craft Night

330 St Clair St, Frankfort, KY, United States, Kentucky 40601

CRAFTS ART
Clay Pumpkin Carving
Sat, 11 Oct at 09:30 am Clay Pumpkin Carving

223 W Broadway, Frankfort, KY

WORKSHOPS HALLOWEEN
Red Oaks Art Club in Frankfort
Sat, 11 Oct at 10:00 am Red Oaks Art Club in Frankfort

Josephine Sculpture Park

ART KIDS

What's Happening Next in Frankfort?

Discover Frankfort Events