Hi my mother was a friend of Vlasta's. I believe they met in the 1970s while taking art classes at Edinboro college. I remember being probably being 6 or 7 when my mother was helping John and Vlasta set up for one of her first art shows at the Gannon library in Erie and John showed me how to hang a painting. Vlasta used to bring us bags of corn husks from her dairy farm that my mom would use in her craft projects. She would come by our house often and I think I visited her farm at least once. My mother would rave about Vlasta's skill as a watercolor artist and wanted her to exhibit more. My mother also didn't like that Vlasta would sign in pencil. Vlasta didn't want her signature to take away from her paintings. I have three watercolor paintings from Vlasta, all signed in pencil, that my mother has since given me. My mother and Vlasta were friends for years and I believe they kept in touch even after my mother moved away from Pennsylvania.

I know your post is from 2006 but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask and If I can help, I will.