Contemporary Woodcuts 1932 - Traveling Exhibition

Alfred Fowler learned about the wood blocks of Richardson Rome through the Alden Galleries and John Bender. When Fowler assembled the first exhibition of Contemporary Woodcuts in 1932, Rome's work was included, along with wood blocks by Fred Geary.

In his introduction to Prints 1490-1995, The Collections of the Nelson-Adkins Museum, curator George L. McKenna spoke about the traveling exhibits arranged by the Woodcut Society, "In addition, the Society sponsored traveling exhibitions, opening in Kansas City, in 1932, 1933, 1935, and 1936, of woodcuts by contemporary American and European artists. Participants submitted two impressions of each of their prints, one for circulation and one for a permanent collection. The latter, comprising 212 examples, was presented to the (Nelson-Adkins) Museum between 1935 and 1939, forming the nucleus of our holdings of modern woodcuts." (The Collections of the Nelson-Adkins Museum of Art: Prints, 1460-1995 by George L. McKenna, 1996, pg.xi, courtesy of Carrollton Public Library, 1 North Folger Street, Carrollton, Missouri, United States, accessed December 31, 2010)


In his publication The Story of The Woodcut Society (1934) John Bender noted, while the commissioned prints by the Society were important, "its annual exhibitions are of considerable importance to the arts of the woodcut in general. Woodcuts designed or cut during the calendar year are eligible and the shows are called Exhibitions of Contemporary Woodcuts to indicate that they include current prints only. The exhibition for the 1932 traveled for a year and a half and was viewed by thousands of people in a dozen of our cities. The exhibition for 1933 is now being shown under the auspices of the College Art Association. No prizes are offered, but it is thought that the artists benefit greatly by having their prints brought to the attention of so many people and a considerable number of sales usually result. All inquiries for the purchase of prints are referred directly to the artists themselves and no commission is charged, since the Society has nothing to do with the matter after referring it to the artist who work is involved." (excerpt from The Story of The Woodcut Society, October 1934, p. 9, edited by John Bender and published by the Alden Galleries, 1026 Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri, courtesy of the Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO, accessed December 4, 2010. Colored type has been added by me.)

popularity - team work - Alden Galleries - Art Institute

The Alden Galleries brought popularity back to Kansas City. People were talking about etchings that once only New Yorkers had been privileged to see. Homes were opening up to Levon West, Albrecht Durer, Daumier, Frank Brangwyn, James McNeil Whistler, Samuel Palmer, Margaret Kirmse, Anders Zorn, Charles Meryon, Joseph Pennell, Piransi, and Francesco Goya. No longer were exquisite works restricted to the Eastern galleries alone. The popularity of one such exhibition was a case in point. It was the largest number of people....ever gathered together at one time in Kansas City.....to view a one man art exhibition...Over two thousand people thronged to see the etchings, water colors, and oils by Frank W. Benson at the Art Institute. The Alden Galleries played a big part in bringing the best works to the city.

Bender pointed out in his Fine Prints publication that the teamwork of a few helped make the event successful for many. Mr. Holland of the Art Institute gave of his time, Mrs. M.K. Powell of the Kansas City Star gave wise counsel, and Mrs. Charles M. Bush provided music between film showings.

At every opportunity Bender made his audience curious. Were you one of those who saw the film of Mr. Benson making an etching? You will be interested to know that we have "one of his original copper plates." All you will have to do...in order to complete your knowledge of the process of etching...will be to come in...and examine "the actual plate." You will want to do this, while the picture is still fresh in your mind!!  (What a tease.)

(Fine Prints, February 1932, Vol.1, No. 3, pp. 4-8, courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed December 4, 2010. Egon & Joan Teichert Fine Prints, http://www.eteichertfineprints.com/searchartist.php?inartist=Frank W. Benson, accessed December 29, 2010.) 

passing on curiousity - john bender

John Bender was a connoisseur like Alfred Fowler. "One who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge."  As such, he gained much pleasure from learning how an etching or an engraving was created, what kind of metal plate was used, how the ink was prepared, the type of papers used for printing, and the different impressions that could be made from the same plate. He acquired reference books. Some of which were difficult to find. His library had a number of out-of-print volumes.

 

Bender was curious and more than eager to pass on this contagious attribute to ordinary folks like you and I. Through small booklets you could hold in your hand, 4 3/4 by 6 inches, you were given access to an exciting world. 

From 1931 to 1936, Bender made it his quest to entertain and spread curiosity through his monthly volume called Fine Prints. Double click on text sections to see it larger.

For more on Levon West, click HERE.

On occasion Bender used humor.

 

(definition on connoisseur, www.Merriam-Webster.com, accessed December 23, 2010. Fine Prints, December 1931, pg 2-6, February 1932, pg.22, courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed December 4, 2010. Private Holdings, http://privatelibraryholdings.com/id84.html, accessed November 19, 2010. C.A. Seward, 1884 - 1939, http://www.casewardprintmaker.com/artists_letters/Levon_West_lttrs_2_2_2.html, accessed December 26, 2010)

K.C.S.O.A.

Art matron Gertrude Woolf Lighton refurbished a property on the West Bluffs to provide a permanent headquarters for the Kansas City Society of Artists. Her involvement with the arts went all the way back to the 1896 Paint Club, under George Van Millet.  Among others, two collegues, Alfred Houghton Clark

and author Floy Campbell, were given exhibits. Through her connections with John H. Bender of the Alden Galleries, she was able to add wood block artist Richardson Rome, to the art colony's roster. Double click on image to enlarge.

  Through her patronage of the Art Institute she made it possible for women artists to work out of inexpensive studios and exhibit at 1718 Holly Street as well.

Fred Geary found himself drawn into this community. "It was fourteen years before much thought could be given to advancement in other directions. Yet being thirty-five years old would in no way deter him from finer accomplishment. Definite impulses of the early 1930s beckoned to a new horizon in artistic goals and associations. He (Geary) was treasurer of The Kansas City Society of Artists, about 1933, and showed genuine interest in the organizations's activities."  Ernest H. Deines, 1946

(G.W. Lighton history courtesy of J D Mooney of Kansas City, MO, interviewed September 11, 2010. Photo of G.W. Lighton and history courtesy Linda Lighton of Kansas City, MO, interviewed October 3, 2010. Kansas City, Missouri: its history and its people 1808-1908 by Carrie Westlake Whitney, page 601, Google Books, accessed October 17, 2010. Fred Geary, Missouri Wood Engraver by E.H. Deines, 1946, unpublished, page three, courtesy of Ms. Jane Metz and the Carrollton Public Library, Carrollton, MO, accessed January 10, 2010. Kansas City's Historic Hyde Park, 4012 Holmes Street, accessed December 16, 2010. Private Library Holding, http://privatelibraryholdings.com/id84.html, accessed November 19, 2010. Minnesota Prints And Printmakers, 1900-1945 by Robert Crump, Minnesota Historical Society, accessed November 18, 2010. The Literary World: A Monthly Review Of Current Literature, Volume 30 by Samuel R. Crocker, Edward Abbott, Madeline Vaughan Abbott Bushnell ("Mrs. C.E. Bushnell,") Nicholas Paine Gilman, Bliss Carman, Herbert Copeland, page 410, accessed December 15, 2010)