Paul  Chambers

"Just before dying I had a dream: I was the subject of a painting that entered Heaven after thousands and thousands of years." O. Pamuk

Paul Chambers, artist, son, brother, friend, educator, died peacefully in his beloved Trumansburg home on Saturday, May 19th after a valiant five month battle with cancer. He gave all of his family and friends insight into the pain, the fight for survival, and the ultimate resolve of acceptance that death will touch us all. Paul is survived by his mother Barbara Chambers, a sister Victoria Brader, two brothers Timothy and David Chambers, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father John Frederick Chambers.

Paul was a visual artist with a conscience and the belief that we are all part of the same plan. An old fashioned painter, Paul was known for his enormously provocative abstract conceptual landscape paintings relating to his intense concern for lasting international peace. Born in Lincoln, England on July 14, 1951, Paul graduated from the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham, UK (’73). As the story goes, he immediately relocated to New York City because of his fascination with the American political system as a result of “Watergate.” Paul came to Ithaca in 1974 and earned his MFA from Cornell University (’77) where he subsequently became a member of the faculty. Paul continued to share his passion for teaching as a member of the Cascadilla School faculty from 1992-2002. During that time he developed their first art program emphasizing drawing, art history, painting and sculpture, teaching students who would go on to become artists, designers and educators.

In 2002, he relocated his studio to a 19th century Greek Revival church in Trumansburg, NY, which Paul proudly restored from a derelict state, along with the last of the region’s eight bay buggy barns. In 2003 he created dialecticalaestheticism.net, a website which functions as an illustrated political philosophy. Since 2003, Paul focused this project to 'redefine art to include religion.'

Those who knew Paul will remember him as a deeply political creature, a brilliant theorist who had a way with words unlike any other, and perhaps, most of all, a lover of beauty. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and students whose lives are forever changed by knowing Paul.

Paul said the money he spent supporting President Obama’s campaign was ‘the best money I ever spent.’ Please consider making a donation in Paul’s name to Obama for America, P.O. Box 802798, Chicago, IL 60680 or to Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.

Family and friends are invited to gather from 5-6pm on Thursday, May 31st in the Waterburg Chapel, Paul’s home, located on 4414 Waterburg Road, Trumansburg, New York. At 6:00pm, Rev. Meredith Ellis will lead in a time of tribute to Paul’s life. As Paul would have liked, immediately following the service there will be a celebratory dish-to-pass. If you are able, please bring a “Paul” story to share, lawn chairs, card tables and a dish-to-pass. For more information on the service and gathering, please contact Kate by e-mail: shopsatlittlelake@hotmail.com.