Hello, and thank you for inquiring about a donation to the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts.

We’d like to tell you how we began our mission in the hope that it will answer the question of why you may want to help us. It’s the story of a woman whose one benevolent act set the stage for what would become the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts.

Edith Hamlin

In 1982, our founder Paul Bingham (1941-2022) left corporate America to become an art dealer full time. Married to Susan, Paul was 41 years old with a family to support. Paul had an immense passion for the arts, and a deep interest in American history. Going into the art business was a major leap of faith, but he truly believed that art would always be essential to the preservation of American culture. (Not to mention, he liked selling art more than he liked selling Xerox machines!)

And then in 1987 Edith Hamlin entered the Binghams’ lives in a major way. Edith was an accomplished San Francisco artist in her own right. As the widow of Maynard Dixon, Edith gave the Binghams the opportunity to help her resolve a portion of the Maynard Dixon material she had set aside to sell in her later years. The Binghams mounted a show of Dixon drawings, watercolors and major oils in their San Jose gallery. The night of the opening, 80-year old Edith traveled to San Jose to show her support. The Mexican restaurant next door catered the event, complete with music by a full-size Mariachi band.

And then Edith did something so beautiful that night. In earnest joy, she stepped out onto the red concrete tile in that small gallery courtyard — and danced alone to the music. Looking at her, one could imagine a woman recalling the years of painting trips with Maynard throughout the desert southwest. With eyes closed, in an elegant gown, this graceful woman seemed to embody what it is to live with the true happiness and freedom that comes with artistic expression. It’s what Robert Henri called “the art spirit” and what Frederic Remington meant when he told a young Maynard Dixon: to achieve happiness, he should “draw, draw, draw.” It was a touching scene the Binghams have never forgotten. Edith’s support that night sparked something magical, and it was this one shining moment that became the vision for the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts to exist.

Eleven years passed until an opportunity arose in 1998 for the Binghams to acquire the Mt. Carmel Dixon property from the venerable California watercolorist, Milford Zornes, (who had purchased the Mt. Carmel property directly from Edith Hamlin in 1963). The Binghams knew this was their chance to do their part in keeping the Dixon inspiration alive. Before escrow closed, Paul climbed up to the hillside memorial where Maynard Dixon’s ashes are buried. As he sat and looked out over Long Valley and the Mt. Carmel hillside with Sugar Knoll in the distance, Paul took a moment to meditate on what he would do. He sent a silent message to Maynard and Edith both that he would restore and take care of their Mt. Carmel haven. Later that week, the funds were miraculously acquired, and the Binghams set out the hard work of restoring the Dixon home, studio, and surrounding land.

In 1999, the Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts was established. And since that time we have been committed to preserving Maynard Dixon’s Utah property and educating the public about his contributions to American art through public educational tours, internships for working artists, art workshops and artist retreats.

Edith Hamlin’s help in 1987 gave us the spark. And when you donate to our cause, you help us to keep the passion burning for a community of artists and patrons who also believe in the importance of historical preservation, and the immense value that art brings to all of us. Although Paul Bingham passed away in 2022, we know that the passion he had for this mission still lives to this day.

Please help us by making a donation today. 100% of your donation goes toward the annual budget of maintaining this important property. In addition, the Foundation is working on establishing a substantial endowment fund that will allow the property to be shared with the public for many years to come.

The Thunderbird Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, so your donation as well as any purchase from our online store is tax deductible.