Provenance

• To tell the story of the collection of hidden paintings Shirley Mason left locked in the basement of her home in Lexington, KY
  
• To share these paintings with anyone interested in Shirley Mason's story that may visit this website
  
• To promote the use of art as therapy, as Shirley Mason did throughout her life as an artist and art teacher
  
• To sell limited numbered collector prints in conjuction with the promotion of the collection for exhibition
  

Authenticity and Provenance Links    ( click links in orange )

The hidden paintings are discussed at length in the documentary shown below (in two parts), which was included in Warner Brothers'  30th Anniversary Special Edition of the 1976 movie Sybil  DVD set.  And, several pieces of the Hidden Collection were used in the 2007 remake of the movie Sybil.


         

         


The attached letters show an agreement between Dr. Wilbur, Flora Schreiber and Shirley Mason for the book Sybil, and two of the publishers' commitment to keep Shirley Mason's identity secret.  (Note - "Sylvia" was one of the original names contemplated for the book.)


The 1943 Katonian (Mankato State Teachers  College yearbook) shows Shirley Mason, a sophomore, was one of two art editors on the yearbook staff, and the Fine and Applied Arts section has a picture of Shirley standing at her easel painting Entrapment - one of the hidden paintings.


The attached program from the 1944 Joslyn Art Exhibition shows Shirley Mason as receiving recognition for her two watercolors  -  The Wash ( #89 ) and Impression of Port Arthur ( #90 ) - both of which are part of the hidden paintings collection.


Owners

James A. Ballard  ( Lexington, KY ) - Jim Ballard purchased the complete collection of hidden paintings, with all attendant rights and privileges, at Shirley Mason's estate sale auction in 1998.   Jim has spent the time since researching Shirley Mason and the story of Sybil, promoting the artwork, and offering them for exhibition.

Brian Neil Wheeler  ( Pembroke Pines, FL )  -  Brian Wheeler was born in Dodge  Center, MN (Shirley's hometown), and is a cousin of Shirley Mason.  Brian came to learn about the hidden paintings in his genealogy research in 2009 and has spent the time since researching Shirley Mason and working with Mr. Ballard to help promote the collection.


Contact us at  prints@hiddenpaintings.com


Contributors

Nancy Preston  ( Newark, OH )  -  Nancy Preston was a close personal friend of Shirley Mason, and kept in contact with her right up to Shirley's death in 1998.  Nancy first met Shirley when she was an art student of Shirley's at Rio Grande College in 1971.  They became life long friends, and Nancy was one of the few people, outside of Dr. Wilbur and Flora Schreiber, that knew Shirley was in fact Sybil.  For additional information about Nancy and her relationship with Shirley, please visit www.sybilsfriend.com.