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THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
MICHIGAN AVENUE AT ADAMS STREET/CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603/TELEPHONE (312) 443-3600

February 14, 1989

Mrs. Sheila Hicks
3bis, Cour de Rohan
Paris 75006
France

Dear Sheila:

When recently in New York, Connie Constantine had a wonderful surprise for me with the news that you wanted her to relate to me, that being your generous offer toward the acquisition of one of your pieces, provided I can raise the other half! I am delighted about this prospect, but unfortunately have to add that at this moment, I am settled in having to raise $60,000.00 for one of Lissy Funk's key pieces. Undoubtedly, this will take me a while. More and more fund raising is being dumped into the laps of curators and it seems to be never ending. But I will keep your wonderful amount in mind and if indeed I can within the next two years or so raise this money, I will let you know. What did ever happen about those people that came to your studio, were from the vicinity here and showed interest in maybe helping acquire the piece for the collection? Is that still a possibility? Was Elizabeth Mallot one of these?

I am sorry that I missed you in New York and I gather you flitted again through Chicago relatively recently --- but I am sure you were fully booked. Did you see the Lissy Funk inaugural exhibition, or could you not get here? It has just come down and was a howling success with 27,000 visitors during the eight weeks that it was up.

We will open March 18 with "Gift, Bequest and Purchase - Selected Textile Acquisitions from 1982 to 1987". It would be grand to see you here and of course, I do count on you in October when CIETA will meet. Again, many thanks for the wonderful offer of half of the amount! With all best wishes,

Sincerely,

Christa C. Thurman
Curator
Department of Textiles

CCT/jw