Grief, Gratitude, and an Online Auction to Benefit Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council

Former ASC President Krista Terrell has helped organize a public auction to sell the extensive art collection once owned by the late Robert Bush, her friend, mentor, and former boss

“A lot of fond memories in this place,” Krista Terrell whispered as she entered the dimly lit condominium that once belonged to the late Robert Bush, her friend, mentor, and former Arts & Science Council (ASC) president. On every wall and in every space, artwork adorned the fashionable unit – ceramic teapots, face jugs, paintings, wall reliefs, and more – some 250 cherished pieces in all.

“That’s a Willie Little piece,” Terrell pointed out before moving on to the next piece in Bush’s extensive and eclectic collection. “Since on this project, I’m here probably two times a week,” she said. “Lately, it’s been even more as we’re gearing up to begin.”

“The project,” as Terrell called it, is a coordinated effort to host an online auction to sell the personal art collection that Bush spent the better part of 40 years acquiring, from the 1980s through the 2020s. The auction is scheduled to begin Monday, July 15, at 10 a.m. and end Sunday, July 21, at 11:45 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Robert E. Bush Jr. Endowment Fund, which supports the ASC’s efforts to fund community-based arts and culture programming in Charlotte’s diverse neighborhoods.

The Value of the Collection

The value of individual pieces in the art collection ranges from $25 to $12,000, according to a press release announcing the auction. The collection includes acclaimed artists such as Burlon Craig, Herb Jackson, Willie Little, Juan Logan, Wan Marsh, Ben Owen III, and Richard Stenhouse, among others. Five paintings have been exhibited at the Hickory Museum of Art.

“The overall condition of the collection is excellent and its greatest strength is its broad representation of ceramics, found object sculptures, and works on paper,” consulting curator Carla Hanzal said in a statement.

A Legacy of Community Support

Marc Gustafson, friend and executor of Bush’s estate, said the endowment reflects Bush’s “lifelong commitment” to “equitable access to arts and culture experiences.” Funds raised will “ensure ASC has the resources to continue investing in arts and culture programs at the neighborhood level across Charlotte-Mecklenburg.”

Supporting community-based arts and culture projects has always been at the core of Bush’s passion for accessible arts. “I think that came from his experiences growing up in Hickory and what he later experienced during his time in a band and [seeing] how African-Americans [and other disenfranchised group] were treated,” Terrell said.

A Journey of Grief and Remembrance

Bush passed away on the morning of Dec. 8, 2022, from health complications related to the Covid-19 virus. Working on “the project” – her official role is project manager – has allowed Terrell the time and space she has needed to grieve, she said. “I think it’s important for people to know that Robert cared deeply about the community, the grassroots level as well,” Terrell said.

“I had a wonderful relationship with him,” she recalled. “… He supported me personally as well as professionally.” Now, she said, “Every time I walk in the door [of his art-filled condo] and turn on the light, I have to say, ‘Hey, Robert.” And then I come in and do what I need to do.

As Terrell reflected on death and grief, she shared her belief in an afterlife. “I believe we go to somewhere that is of constant peace,” she said, “and that we’re reconnected with friends and family and having a wonderful time.” Terrell said she believes Bush has journeyed to that place of peace.

A Friend and Mentor Remembered

Terrell first met Bush in 2001 when he worked as a senior vice president at ASC and she was marketing director at Community School of the Arts. In 2002, Terrell joined Bush at ASC. She recalled her former boss as a person who possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Charlotte’s arts history.

After leaving ASC in December 2023, Terrell took a few months off for self-care and then launched a public relations/consulting practice – Krista Faye Public Relations. Managing the sale of her late friend and mentor’s art collection was one of her company’s first projects.

Although anyone can bid on pieces in the Bush collection, Terrell said she had been intentional about reaching out to people who were closest to Bush. “I think they may want to take a piece of him with them through the art,” she said.

Terrell emphasized that Bush’s legacy is about community support and access to arts and cultural experiences for all. Through the endowment fund, his vision for ASC to invest in community arts programs at the neighborhood level will continue.