This is a joyous and fun filled accordion by the well-known Milwaukee artist and teacher who died in 2006 at the age of 101. Lichtner and his artist wife Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988) were the city's power art couple for many decades with both of them having studied under Gustave Moeller at the Milwaukee State Teachers College and in the mid-1930s both were employed by the WPA (Works Progress Administration). In the Sheboygan post office at 522 N. 9th Street in Wisconsin, there's still a 1939 mural by LIchtner titled "Indian Life."
Lichtner's two consuming subjects were cows and ballerinas, and this accordion is dedicated to ballerinas, with two images of cows slipped in at the end. Lichtner was the official artist, and artist in residence of the Milwaukee Ballet. After his death the ballet created The Schomer Lichtner Scholarship "...in honor of longtime friend of the Milwaukee Ballet and local artist, Schomer Lichtner."
A big thank you to Annemarie Sawkins for passing on to me this cool accordion!
14 single-sided pages, individually 5.5" x 4.25" and when fully open 4' 11.5"
The inside flaps of the front cover
Back cover
I just love this book. So clean and whimsical!
ReplyDeletewhimsical is a good word to describe it!
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