Sylvia "Jane" Levin Chamberlin
During the late afternoon of June 21, 2015, after leaving a loving telephone message for her youngest son, Richard, and sharing a delightful summer solstice with her longtime partner, Don, and her eldest son, Christopher, who'd just arrived from Hong Kong that morning to see her, Jane died from natural causes, in the arms of Don and Chris, surrounded by loving neighbors and just steps away from her beloved floating home in Marin County, where she'd resided since the 1970s. Jane never discussed age. We believe she was 39 years old, as she confirmed, for many, many years.
Born in Detroit, Michigan to Lydia Kahn and Israel "I." Bayre Levin, Jane was their first born and only daughter. A renowned artist and teacher, Jane Chamberlin enjoyed world travel and varied life experiences. Her artistic gifts emerged early in life and were encouraged by her parents. Jane studied with many accomplished artists including scuptors, Richard Boyce and Gwenn Lux, and painters, Hans Hoffman and Henry Hensche. Jane's formal art education began at the School of Arts and Crafts in Detroit. She continued her studies in Boston at Emerson College and then at UCLA. Jane received a B.A. in Fine Arts and Humanities from San Francisco State University. Jane's paintings, collages, drawings, and sculptures have been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States and her works are included in private collections world-wide. In 2014, Jane launched "Tinkachew Creative" to apply reproductions of her museum-quality contemporary images to packaging, marketing, and branding, elevating quotidian items into works of art, to inspire the user everyday. Jane Chamberlin, also an author, created and illustrated two books: Cool, Grey City of Love (Tinkachew Press, 1996) and Great & Notorious Saloons of San Francisco (Capra Press, 1982). Jane's illustrations also appear in The Long Ships Passing by Walter Havenhurst (McMillan Publishing Co., 1975) and The Hell Fire Cook Book, by Phillip Cranwell (New York Times Book Co., 1975).
Jane held a California lifetime teaching credential. As an Artist in Residence, 1988 National Endowment for the Arts (Saipan, Micronesia), Jane trained 73 teachers to use visual arts as a universal method to educate more than 900 children, successfully overcoming the barrier of six different languages. Jane designed a primary grade curriculum to address problems relating to multi-lingual and multi-cultural groups, believing in the power of art and creativity to transform problems into solutions. In 1993, Jane founded a non-profit organization "Giant People" dedicated to children from multi-cultural, inner city environments employing her unique artistic vision to develop their entrepreneurial skills and critical thinking.
Jane is survived by her sons, Christopher "Chris" Bayre Chamberlin (Marlene), and Richard "Rick" Addison Chamberlin, Jr., Ph.D. (Michael Bishop), brother, Michael Levin (Adah), grandchildren, many nephews and nieces, and longtime partner, Donald "Don" Partier. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Peter Levin.
Jane was a lifelong animal lover and cherished Fargo and Charley, who she rescued in the hills of Marin after the fires. Memorials in Jane's honor may be made to the Marin Humane Society, 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato, CA 94949.
A private ceremony for Jane was held on June 24, 2015, at Sinai Chapel. A public celebration of Jane's life and to honor her work will be held in Marin County in September 2015. As Jane said throughout her life, "All we have is each other." Family and friends may send condolences or leave a comment to, or about, Jane at Sinai Memorial Chapel, www.sinaichapel.org <http://www.sinaichapel.org>, 1501 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94115.