In Memory of Adrienne Noelle Channing
January 22, 1949 – February 26, 2011
Adrienne Noelle Channing, Alice Guy Blaché’s granddaughter, died on February 26, 2011. With her goes one of the last people who knew Alice Guy Blaché personally. In addition to many other accomplishments Adrienne took on her mother, Roberta Blaché’s task of preserving Alice Guy Blaché legacy, after Roberta died in September of 2000.
I first met Roberta, Adrienne, and Adrienne’s husband Bob, in 1994, when I was working as line producer for the New York shoot of Marquise Lepage’s documentary on Alice Guy Blaché, the Lost Garden. Quite a few documentaries have been made about Alice Guy, but The Lost Garden is still the best and the most comprehensive. Adrienne appeared in and narrated the documentary, bringing her warm presence and strong but gentle voice and thereby greatly adding to the project.
My life was greatly enriched, first by my friendship with Roberta, and when Roberta passed away in 2000 with a growing friendship with Adrienne and Bob. Although their move to Arizona meant I didn’t get to see them as much we kept in regular contact. Adrienne worked with Anthony Slide to ensure that her grandmother's Memoirs stayed in print and were published in other languages, and she and her daughters made appearances at Alice Guy Blaché related events, including the retrospective curated by Joan Simon at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York in 2009-10.
Two years ago I was finally able to fulfill a dream of longstanding and go to Arizona and visit the Channings. The stated motivation for the trip was a screening of The Lost Garden in Show Low, Arizona, but the real reason was so that we could spend a few days together, visiting the Grand Canyon, exploring Show Low, and enjoying life on the Channing ranch. Adrienne asked me to focus on Alice Guy Blaché’s westerns in my talk; you can read about the talk and our other adventures here.
The White Mountain Obituary is here.
It seems impossible to sum up a friendship of sixteen years. I think Adrienne’s husband Bob said it best in the obituary he wrote for his wife, so I have appended it below.
Adrienne Noelle Channing
Bob Channing's Tribute to Adrienne Channing
Adrienne was an artist, an animal lover, a lifelong learner, an adventurous spirit, and an inspiration to those who knew and loved her. She was known for her generosity, her creativity, her tender heart, and her quirky sense of humor. Adrienne loved unconditionally, laughed easily, and forgave willingly. Although wheelchair bound, she lived her life without boundaries; she earned her BA in Communication, raised two daughters and became a dedicated social worker. Adrienne cherished her roles of loving wife, mother, Nana and friend. She faithfully served First Baptist Church, Pinetop, and held Jesus close to her heart. Adrienne was a unique and humble individual with a Bohemian soul, an irreverent zest for life, and a courageous heart. Her art can be seen here.
Adrienne overcame Multiple Sclerosis for 33 years and survived cancer for 2 and a half. She has won her battle and transcended this life, where there is no pain — only peace. Adrie will love us from Heaven. She will be loved, she will be missed, she will be remembered.
~..Until we meet again.. She was the light in my life and the heart of my soul..~
The memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 19th, 11:00am
First Baptist Church of Pinetop, Arizona