Article was published in the newspaper Molodjozh Estonii on March 26, 2008

Paintings from North Carolina

Dmitri Babichenko

Ambassador Dave Phillips and his wife Kay.
Photo: Elina Päsok

A couple of days ago, U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Dave Phillips and his wife Kay invited Estonian cultural figures and journalists to their home to show them a superb collection of paintings that adorns the walls of the residence.

An enormous dark-brick mansion, which is surrounded by a high fence and guarded by watchful video cameras, set on the Pirita seafront close to the Estonian Exhibition Centre, opened its doors in welcome. Standing on the porch, Dave and Kay Phillips cordially welcome their guests by shaking their hands and inviting them in.

The spacious lounge with a fireplace and an essential grand piano, a cozy living room, a staircase. Large paintings of artists of South Carolina—the home state of the host couple. Most of the paintings are done in expressive abstractionism. What at first looks like wide sloppy strokes, turns into wonderful images on a closer inspection.

“Kay and I have always lived in rather traditional homes, nothing modern. But when we came to Estonia at the end of April last year and settled into this amazing mansion, I was impressed by its architecture. It is spacious here but cozy at the same time. But what makes this house even warmer and more welcoming are the paintings that are brought from different places in the United States. I cannot even tell you how many painting there are here. I guess about thirty,” says Mr. Phillips. “Kay took the decoration of the house very seriously; she knew the dimensions of the walls before we moved in, so the paintings were specially selected by height and width.”

Kay, who took much trouble around the house throughout the day and baked amazingly delicious treats with nuts and fruit butter, shows us a photograph of her daughters. The Phillips' have four. The youngest is a professional painter. “A very elderly American painter, who has done presidential portraits for the White House, suggested she study with him. Many years ago, when Kay and I just got married, we were greatly taken by a portrait of the Kennedies that adorned one of the White House galleries. We tried to find out who painted it. The painter wanted so much for his work that we felt abashed. Now we have our hopes up for our daughter, who specializes in portrait painting,” laughs Phillips.

Another reason for the reception at the ambassadorial residence was the just finished American film festival that ran through last week at the capital's “Sхprus” cinema theatre. It appears, the Phillips are also fascinated with cinematography. “North Carolina is the third U.S. state in the number of films made. After California and New York. We also used to have a small film studio, which is now part of the local university. It is all very fascinating, especially since America has always taken pride in its script writers, cameramen, actors, and directors—just as it has been proud of its painters. This is why the festival with films about modern American art, which was so successful in Tallinn, was a nice surprise for me. It is as if I was able to share my passion with Tallinners,” says Phillips.