Evolution of a Tribute: Jamie Bernard

Jamie Bernard’s creative spirit lives on as the inspiration behind POBA. Jamie’s family wanted to recognize his talents, celebrate his life and passions, and use his creative legacy to inspire, recognize and support the contributions of other deceased artists of all stripes and talents. This has happened, with more than 50 artists, hundreds of portfolios and thousands of works spanning all media displayed on POBA. But POBA, itself a creative moment, has also evolved to provide real-world assistance to the families, estates, and loved ones of talented deceased artists, to provide tools and direct assistance to working artists, to host special exhibits of works that would otherwise be lost to time and tides and to support the work of dozens of partners, including many state arts councils and arts-related organizations.

The Bernard family’s loving tribute to Jamie’s talents and creative passions – POBA – has already evolved into an organization widely recognized as a unique service and as a provider of real and reliable assistance to art lovers, art legatees, art collectors and art makers. It has become everything that was intended, and more.  We are grateful that the Bernard family and the James Kirk Bernard Foundation had the vision and the capacity to turn tragedy into a treasure that benefits so many.