MCL 05-29-2018 - Artist Denise Chamberlain Talks About Mary Blair

EDITOR'S NOTE: After posting this interview with Denise Chamberlain, I was contacted by Mary Blair's niece, Maggie Richardson, contesting information in the interview. In an e-mail, Maggie told me Denise is not a blood relation of Mary Blair, never met her, and does not represent the Blair family. I contacted Denise for comment, and she confirmed her relationship to Mary was through Denise's uncle, who married Mary's niece, Jeanne, when Denise was a child. Denise still contends that when she was young, she met Mary at various parties and family functions, and still considers Mary her "great aunt," even if not by blood.
Not clarifying Denise's actual relationship to Mary Blair in the interview was an oversight on my part and I apologize for the confusion. Maggie has asked me to delete the podcast and all related materials due to the inaccuracies she is claiming. I have declined,
What follows is the podcast's show notes as originally posted.
To say Denise Chamberlain has art in her blood…is a pretty accurate statement. Her great aunt, Mary Blair, is a Disney Legend whose distinct artistic style influenced classic Disney animated films like Cinderella, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland as well as perhaps her most famous work, the Disney park attraction It’s a Small World. Growing up, Denise got to know Aunt Mary and continues to feel her influence even now, 40 years after Mary’s death. Denise is a successful painter and muralist whose work can be seen throughout Colorado and via her website at MagicBrushArts.com. She joins us today to share stories about Mary Blair and talk about the impact art has had on her life. Denise Chamberlain is Tim's guest today in The Mouse Castle Lounge. Enjoy! www.TheMouseCastle.com RSS Feed: themousecastle.libsyn.com/rss

[@ericglawe57]

I am a very close friend of the family, screenwriter and researcher of Mary Blair and have heard of the issues that have plagued the family recently in terms of the statements Denise Chamberlain has made regarding Mary Blair. First off, there is indeed no way that Denise, who is not a blood relation to Mary Blair, could have known her in the capacity that she is claiming. In the last years of her life Mary was in decline due to health reasons making it difficult for her to attend events. From the year of the wedding in 1973, which Mary did not attend, to when Mary passed in 1978, get-togethers were few and very intimate and did not include Denise or anyone but immediate family. This has been confirmed by Mary’s living blood relatives. Although the disclaimer attached to the UA-cam interview video explains all of this, it is revolting that it has not been taken down even after the true family has requested that it be removed. The video’s removal has not been requested due to a “family quarrel” as has been claimed, but a simple act to respect Mary’s legacy and the last of her remaining family members. One questions the integrity of someone who decides to keep a video posted that is full of errors and misleading information. The true nature of these videos and interviews should be to educate and enlighten. This particular interview has been changed into a thing of dishonesty and exploitation. It is not about taking sides, unlike the claims that have been presented to the family but, however, understanding the elegance and self-esteem that Mary held and trying to exemplify those attributes in the actions that we, who find her so inspiring, perform every day. At the end of the day this is all about Mary, who she was and the talent and vision she possessed. How would she react to people who are dishonest and only out to further their own agendas?