When world-renowned artist John Fairchild first learned of the Woolsey Fire in November, he immediately phoned his daughter to find out if the fast-moving blaze was close to some of the homes he had built in the area when he lived in Malibu years ago. After arriving in Malibu in 1970, the artist—whose work has been collected by celebrities including Barbra Streisand and the late John Wayne—also built a collection of his own—designing and building fanciful, storybook-style homes throughout Malibu.
One of his favorite “children,” as he refers to his custom-built homes, was called Westfair, although locals knew of the Ramirez Canyon property as the “Windmill house” because of the large, working, old-world Dutch windmill that anchored the fantasy-inspired home. Although Fairchild hadn’t lived in the home for years, he remained friendly with its current owner and both were devastated to learn of the home’s destruction in the blaze, alongside hundreds more. As a former longtime resident, “I know a lot of these families,” he said with concern.
The British-born artist was so distraught after the blaze, and so moved by the stories of courage and bravery of the many local volunteers and firefighters, he decided to do what he knows best in response—create art. In a week’s time after the fire Fairchild, who has worked on advertising campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and who has had showings worldwide, came up with two striking images that pay tribute to the beauty and resilience of Malibu and honor those who served to protect it.
“I’m trying to find a way to give back to Malibu and the firefighters and first responders,” Fairchild explained. The artist presented Fire Station 88 with a limited-edition print of his work, entitled “God Bless the Firefighters,” which depicts in a century-old artistic style, or what Fairchild described as “art nouveauish,” heroic firefighter hoisting a victim on his back to safety. Moments before an interview with The Malibu Times, the 72-year-old was on his way to Pepperdine University to donate another work—a mixed-media piece entitled “From the ashes of Malibu,” a hopeful work using peacock feathers and Malibu Pottery tiles. The artist at one point was a major collector of Malibu Pottery tiles until he lost most of his collection when his own home burned in Encinal Canyon in 1979.
On paper hand made in Madrid, Fairchild printed 50 copies each of his two most recent Malibu fire images and intends to donate the prints to volunteers who have been singled out by the community to thank them for their service, saying, “I feel they’re worthy of it.” However, word has gotten out by those who have seen the striking prints and he’s been offered money to sell them. Fairchild, though, said he has no intent on profiting from the work, but would rather a Malibu recovery charity take on the project to sell the prints with 100 percent of the profits going to victims in an effort to help rebuild their homes and live in what was once his hometown.
As a busy artist who presents at major shows such as Art Basel, Fairchild said he simply does not have the time to organize charity sales, but would be happy to provide prints.
“I want somebody to run with it who shares the same goal as myself,” he explained.
Fairchild’s love of Malibu Pottery tiles is a frequent theme in his work and was the feature of a limited-edition Vans sneaker. For 50 years, the artist has traveled the world presenting his work, including a huge new piece for the U.S. State Department intended for the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Although he works for and sells to prestige clients around the world, he can be found Sundays at the Melrose Trading Post with his stylish fashion-inspired prints and “oddball stuff.”
