CRESTON ARTS DEPOT GALLERY

About the Artist:

Lawrence Earl Nash was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri on March 6th, 1950. His parents were Lawrence Russell Nash and Alice Erline (Hughes) Nash. He was known as Earl. Earl, his twin brother Eddie, and his older sister, Linda, lived in Oregon, Missouri until he graduated. He graduated from Oregon High School in 1968. He joined the army and served in Vietnam. In 1970 he was wounded and received the Purple Heart and continued in the army until the early mid-1970s. He married Shirley Elaine Cook on August 1st, 1969. His daughter, Jennifer (Nash) Queener was born in 1972. Earl and Shirley divorced in the 80’s and Earl lived in Arkansas with little to no contact with Jennifer.

In 1993, Jennifer reached out so Earl could meet Jennifer’s fiancé, Chad. After that, Chad and Jennifer moved to Arkansas to try to get to know Earl. They had more of a friendly relationship than a father-daughter relationship. Chad and Jennifer moved to Iowa in 2000 and the relationship became only existent because of grandchildren. Earl’s health declined and in November 2022 he was moved to Grant City, Missouri, living at the convalescent home. He moved to Mt. Vernon, Missouri to the Veteran’s home in 2024, where he died May 27, 2024. He is next to his parents and twin brother in Oregon, Missouri. Jennifer inherited his art collection.

Through this collection, Jennifer hopes to tell her and Earl’s story of a father/daughter relationship that never really was, but because of Jennifer’s mom, paternal and maternal grandparents, and paternal aunts, no bitterness or hatred ever existed between Jennifer and Earl. Earl’s time in Vietnam is documented through letters received by Earl’s father and by his fiancée/wife and through photos. Jennifer not only inherited his art, but through these letters and photos, Jennifer feels she finally knows Earl on a personal level.

This exhibition will be up for the month of November. The Opening Reception is on the first Friday of the month, November 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.