Franco’s Book is Brimming with Beauty & Emotion

Daughter Rebecca Franco Chalmers took some time to compile an emotional and magnificent tribute to encapsulate her mother, Phyllis Alterman Franco’s, artistic body of work. Chalmers turned to artist/author Robin Bernat to co-create the coffee table book, “Collected Works of Phyllis Franco Alterman.”

Chalmers stated, “My mother was an accomplished, well-loved artist for over 40 years. After her death, I realized that her work that meant so much to so many, had never been catalogued in one place, such that you could see her contribution to the art world and the Atlanta Jewish community in its totality. I thought a gorgeous, curated coffee-table book would serve as the kind of documentation I was seeking. It would also serve another purpose: her work would be shared with, and enjoyed by, many more people than she’d been able to reach in her lifetime.”

Author Robin Bernat (left) teamed up with Chalmers to create the book. Rebecca credits Robin for the book’s beautiful layout and print quality.

To execute a project of this scope, Chalmers needed an expert collaborator, whom she found in artist Robin Bernat, owner of publishing company Poem88 EDITIONS. Bernat and Phyllis had worked together to produce an art book in 1997, so the bittersweetness of joining with Bernat, as Chalmers’ mother had done years ago, gave this book extra poignancy. Bernat was featured in the AJT Chai Style column, Oct. 28, 2021, while Dr. Richard Franco’s home, replete with Phyllis’ work, was likewise featured in September 2023.

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The book is 305 pages featuring more than 275 images, a forward by Bernat, an afterward by Chalmers, and an essay by art critic and culture writer Beth Ward who analyzes, critiques and contextualizes both the artwork and Phyllis’ life—her love for her husband, children, family, Judaism, friendships and the themes she devoted her life to pursuing. It is arranged thematically, mostly chronologically, and flows sensually with color, texture, image. It’s designed to flip through quickly for inspiration, or to open flat to savor individual images.

Phyllis’ large, multi-medium paintings hang in many private and corporate collections throughout the Southeast, so it took Chalmers almost a year to track down the work, have it professionally photographed, and documented. Art photographer Mike Jenson and Chalmers traveled to private homes, meeting with collectors, shooting the pieces, and learning what the artwork meant to them and how they came to own it. This process is continuing beyond publication of the book because there is still so much art not yet located.

Franco often painted birds seen here in “Water Bird.”

When asked to summarize the impact of her mother’s work, Chalmers said, “I suppose what I love most is the narrative arc of the book and the impact the images have. My father, brother, sister and I all love watching people as they have their first look at the book and its artwork. We love watching expressions on their faces deepen and change, their bodies relax. Many will reach back out to say how many times they will go through the book and what it means to them, even if they did not personally know Phyllis, and how they would like to gift another copy to someone about whom they care.”

A poignant part of the book is the story of Phyllis’ journey with Alzheimer’s disease as her art changed through various and progressive stages. Chalmers noted, “It’s fascinating and inspiring. For years, my sister, Meryl Franco, patiently enabled our mom to keep expressing herself through art. At times I found this change in her art too painful, and I questioned whether I would be able to include it in this retrospective. Fortunately, I was able to evolve to appreciate the work and how strongly it does connect to who she always was. I believe there is value in enabling your loved one to find avenues for expression and in accepting what is, because though you may not see the beauty or brilliance in it at that moment, you may appreciate it with the passage of time.”

Phyllis Franco’s daughter, Rebecca Franco Chalmers, poses in front of her mother’s painting “Layers.”

Chalmers concluded, “My experience is that Phyllis Franco painted when words did not suffice. She used her work to challenge, calm, heal, inspire and connect. My hope is that this book will do the same.”

Available at Cappella Books and directly via rfrancochalmers@icloud.com. Prints and originals available at the Atlanta Art Fair at Pullman Yards, Oct. 3-6.