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For Woman Who Almost Died, Memories Are Made Of This

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: March 4, 2009

Two years ago, Judy Case Redder almost died.

As she lay in her hospital bed groggy from complications from a kidney stone, Redder asked herself, "OK, Judy, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?"

Redder's art reflects her decision. In a kind of artistic archaeological dig, Redder excavates and paints the artifacts that detail people's lives.

"I want to paint stories of what people want to remember about their lives," she says.

Much of her work hints of her own past growing up in Watertown, N. Y., where her father was the superintendent of schools. Redder paints enamel vases holding flowers obviously freshly picked from someone's garden, old-fashioned galoshes children use to wear to school and jars of homemade jam with hand-written labels.

A painting titled "School Days" has a plaid book bag, blackboard with white chalk, a black rotary dial telephone, and an old-fashioned whistle, the kind the teacher used to use when children got too rambunctious on the playground.

She also does memory boards on which she paints a series of objects meaningful to the subject. In colonial days, itinerant folk artists would travel to people's homes and paint murals in the home, telling the story of family life, Redder explains. Her memory boards tell her clients' stories.

"I want to be their itinerant artist," she says.

A memory board she made for her sister has images of an old-fashioned orange juicer and orange juice glass. She and her three sisters grew up on fresh orange juice.

"I remember Mom squeezing the orange juice," Redder says.

Other objects include an Ovaltine jar for the hot drink her sister loved, beloved books read to her by her father and her school primer.

Her illness caused her to return to creative endeavors after a 17-year stint at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., as office coordinator of media service. The Redders moved to New Port Richey after her husband's retirement in 2006.

She had previously been in the performing arts in New York after graduation from the Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. The academy was run by Philip H. Burton, actor Richard Burton's mentor and adoptive father. Redder's classmates included actresses Tyne Daly and Madeline Kahn.

When Redder landed a spot in the chorus in the 1960s revival of South Pacific in Lincoln Center, her artistic talent came in handy. As the best artist in the cast, one of her duties was to draw a ship on David Doyle's midsection every night.

Doyle, who would later become famous as Bosley on the 1970s television hit "Charlie's Angels," played a sailor who was in a play. Redder's ship was part of the play. Doyle simulated the ship's movement on the ocean by moving his stomach in wavelike motions.

Doyle evidently took a fancy to the young Redder. "He was all hands, that one," she says wryly.

Although she auditioned for Richard Rodgers, the noted composer of the music from "South Pacific" and other musicals, she didn't have much contact with him except for one memorable incident. Redder stood in the wings on opening night next to the composer.

"I can't believe I'm here," Redder remembers whispering. Rodgers kissed her on the cheek and said, "You're here."

She later was in the chorus of "Mame," where she worked with actresses Angela Lansbury and Celeste Holm, who were starring in the play.

Painting is a way to exercise her creativity without the vulnerability of performing in front of a live audience, Redder observes. In painting, the artist is invited into the viewer's home. "Painting is safe," she says.

For examples of Redder's art, visit artbyjudycaseredder.com.

Cheryl Bentley can be reached at 727-815-1069 or cbentley@suncoastnews.com.

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