richardson rome winters in kansas city

In 1929 Richardson Rome came to work for John H. Bender at the Alden Galleries in Kansas City, MO. He worked the winter months of 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1932 as a lecturer and manager. In the fall of 1933 Rome stepped down. That year Alden Galleries published High Country: An Artist's Colorado, a collection of fifteen block prints by Rome. He held an associate membership with the Kansas City Society of Artists. He was one among several that had a studio at 1718 Holly Street in Kansas City.

Here is what J. H. Bender said about Richardson Rome in his monthly publication Fine Prints, Vol. 3, No. 3, February, 1934, pp.66-74.  Double click on image or text to see it larger.

(Fine Prints, Vol. 3, No. 4, February 1934, p.66-75, courtesy of the

Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed December 4, 2010. High Country: An Artist's Colorado, courtesy of  Nicholas Angelo Fine Art, http://nicholasangelo.com/dynapage/IP6153.htm, 4089 Ute Highway (Highway 66), Lyons, Colorado, (303) 823-0607. Minnesota Prints And Printmakers, 1900-1945 by Robert Crump, Minnesota Historical Society, p.157, accessed November 18, 2010.   Old Estes by Dave Tanton, http://www.oldestes.com/Rome%20-%20Come%20Up%20and%20See%20My%20Etchings.htm, accessed November 18, 2010)

1937 listing

This just in. Double click to see enlarged.

If you recognize a name, send me a comment. Thank you.

KM (courtesy of 1937-1938 American Art Directory, page 280, purchased, accessed December 22, 2010)

Ethel Greenough Holmes, Kansas City painter

Close up on her signature

Lovely Fall Wooded Landscape                                               Oil Painting by Ethel Greenough Holmes

Mrs Massey Holmes was the School Committee Chairman for the Fine Arts Institute, when it was located at 1020 McGee Street in Kansas City, Missouri. She was listed as a painter in the 1917 American Art Directory, Volume 14, page 515. As a Kansas City arts patron, Ethel once encouraged her friend, Birger Sandzen, to paint a famous Colorado mountain peak. She purchased a smaller canvas for herself before commissioning an enlarged version she intended to give to the Nelson-Adkins Museum.  The presentation of “The Great Peak” to the Nelson in 1938 was quite an affair, and was attended by Sandzen himself and noted Regionalists John Steuart Curry, Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton, among others. (Click on http://themuseumfreak.wordpress.com/category/nature/ Scroll down to view the Aug.17th entry) 

(Article by M.K. Powell, courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, Mo, accessed December 4, 2010)

Roy Wetherill, landscape painter

 Roy Wetherill was born in 1881 in New Jersey and for many years sailed at sea in the merchant marine and under many flags. After moving to Kansas City, he was a member of the Kansas City Society of Artists and was affiliated with the Kansas City Art Institute as a student and instructor. Double click on images to see them larger.

Boats At Pier by Roy Wetherill, print

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 (printed leaflet courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library,14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, 38276 Vertical Files Special Collection Finding Aid : SC 63, Box 6, Folder 27, accessed December 4, 2010)

1934 November - Kansas City Art Institute - Missouri

The Lighton Studios opened in October 1930. Artists met at 1718 Holly Street to talk about art. A few years later, in 1933, the Kansas City Art Institute began their Fireside Evenings. As a result, many folks gathered around tea to chat about art and listen to speakers. It was natural for the Institute to host an annual exhibition for Lighton's group.

 

(May 1934, Bulletin of the Kansas City Art Institute,courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collection, Kansas City Public Library,14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed June 24th, 2010)

headquarters for kansas city society of artists

Historic Map: Plate 021, Atlas 1925 Kansas City Stock Yards (left), Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (center), West Bluff neighborhoods, where Holly Street runs north and south (right), just south of Kersey Coates drive. Double click on maps for larger image.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Kansas City, Vol. 1, 1895-1907, Page 033. North central part of early Kansas City in West Bottoms showing railroad lines, streets, and buildings. Holly Street runs along the top of the map. 

The original hotel faced Holly Street in the front and Allen Avenue in the back. 
Set on top of the West Bluffs, the 1930 Lighton Studios

housed artist studios and an hand-painted Tea Room. (maps courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed November 12th, 2010. Exterior photo of Lighton Studio courtesy of Linda Lighton of Kansas City, Missouri)

(1933 City Directory for 17th and Holly Street courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO,accessed October 12th, 2010)

( 1933 listed tenants at 1718 Holly Street)

October 19, 1930 Kansas City Journal-Post, page 6

Seated in the reception room from left to right are Jane Wade, Gertrude W. Lighton, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Hurst, and Mrs. Kelly. A floral painting by Gertrude entitled "Flowers" graces the wall behind them. That painting was in the 1923 Midwestern Artist's Exhibition at the Kansas City Art Institute. Double click on photo and newspaper articles for larger images.(Photos courtesy of Linda Lighton of Kansas City, Missouri)

  "Work in process occupies one easel. On another stands an impressionistic portrait of her daughter, Gertrude..." (LEFT) (Pastel on paper, courtesy of Linda Lighton of Kansas City, MO)  

 "The Lighton Tea Room is small an intimate...."

                                                                          

(Tea Room interior photos and Emmett Craig photo courtesy of Linda Lighton of Kansas City.

sculptor Emmett Craig

October 19,1930 Kansas City Journal-Post article courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO accessed October 12th, 2010)