True Blue: Celebrating the Whimsical Art and Lifelong Friendships of Anne Coke

By Sissy Cullum

True Blue: The Inspired Works of Anne Coke is a beautiful new release that celebrates the work of Anne Coke, an exceptionally gifted self-taught artist and longtime Saint Michael parishioner who is known for her whimsical and personal artwork. Anne’s work has spanned multiple mediums over her 90 plus years, from paintings and ceramics to tiny bronzes.

As Anne approached her nineties, Sissy Cullum, who has known Anne since childhood and plays a weekly bridge game with her, realized that her art and philosophy of kindness should be documented. With help from family, friends, and well-known photographers, she embarked on a project to capture and celebrate Anne’s artwork in a book. The process involved gathering pieces from across Dallas and interviewing those who owned and cherished her art, with each story adding emotional depth to the collection.

Featuring outstanding photography by Allison V. Smith and Evans Caglage, True Blue showcases Anne’s unique artistic creations. Her deep love of animals—especially dogs—is apparent! Anne’s husband, Father Henry C. Coke, is also prominently featured in her work. Father Coke was a much-loved member of the clergy staff at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church from 1961 – 1976. This beautiful book also illuminates Anne’s artwork of stories from the Bible—ceramics and paintings that have her clever and personal twist. There are exquisite photographs of the stained-glass windows she designed for the church.

True Blue celebrates the “true blue” friendships which helped to define her life and follows her decades-long friendships with a small group of artistic friends who met weekly at Anne’s home to share their creative talents. Longtime Dallasites will enjoy the stories of these devoted friends and will likely know them!

True Blue: The Inspired Works of Anne Coke was truly a labor of love for the author, and it will be a beautiful addition to any coffee table! It is available at The St. Michael’s Women’s Exchange (5 Highland Park Village) and on their website (smwexchange.com/shop).