JOAN MANNING

20th Century Master of Erotic Art

​Joan A. Manning (1934–2023) was a California-born artist, mother, and community arts leader whose life bridged Hollywood, Imperial Valley, San Diego, Idyllwild, Sedona, and Palm Desert. She married Harold “Doug” Harvey in 1950 (he later entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame as a Major League Baseball umpire), and they had a son, Douglas Lee Harvey (1952–2011). She later married Wallace Gerald “Wally” Heard of El Centro; together they had three children: Darcy (male; passed at age 4 from a brain tumor), Lance, and Morgan (who later chose to take his mother’s maiden name and is known as Morgan Manning). In midlife Joan returned to higher education—Imperial Valley College, San Diego State University, and USC–Idyllwild—studied with Françoise Gilot and Dr. Jonas Salk, and launched a decorated art career: Director of Fine Arts at the Imperial Valley Expo (1977–1978), Best in Show awards, featured in 20th Century Masters of Erotic Art (1980), PBS appearance (1986), and owner of The Art Spirit Gallery (Sedona, opened 1992). She developed “Psychological & Physiological Healing Paintings” and later “Angel Power” Healing Artforms. In later years she lived in Palm Desert, where for approximately fourteen years she was cared for daily by her son, Morgan Manning. She passed peacefully on July 17, 2023 FROM PARKINSON'S DISEASE.