In January of 1934 works by Jim Edd Spencer and Fred Geary toured the country with the American Block Prints exhibition out of Wichita, Kansas. Both were members of the Kansas City Society of Artists. Both were on the roster at the Lighton Studio at 1718 Holly Street. (Double click on images to see enlarged.)
Granary 1 by Jim Edd Spencer, linoleum cut, 9 by 7 inches
Storehouse (Granary 2) by Jim Edd Spencer, linoleum cut, 9 by 7 inches.(courtesy of the Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO, accessed December 4, 2010)
The Steamboat Bixby by Fred Geary, woodcut, 6 1/8 by 9 1/2 inches.(courtesy of the Fred Geary Collection, The State Historical Society of Missouri, 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, MO, accessed October 8, 2011)
Old Maple Tree by Fred Geary, woodcut, 4 by 5 3/4 inches. (Woodcut size information courtesy of The Collections of the Nelson-Adkins Museum of Art: Prints, 1460-1995 by George L. McKenna, 1996, pg.268-273, courtesy of Carrollton Public Library, 1 North Folger Street, Carrollton, Missouri, United States, accessed Jan 7, 2011, image courtesy of Carrollton Public Library, 1 North Folger Street, Carrollton, Missouri, United States, accessed Jan 7, 2011)
Both Steamboat Bixby by Geary and Storehouse by Spencer were among the 91 entries chosen for the 1934 Midwestern Artist's Exhibition held at the Kansas City Art Institute, February 4 - 28th. Accepted works came from nine states, including Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, and New Mexico. (Listing from "Midwestern Artists Exhibition, Kansas City: Kansas City Art Institute, 1920-1942," Mines, Cynthia, courtesy of Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, 14 West 10th St, Kansas City, MO, accessed June 24th, 2010)
More on American Block Prints under the Wichita Art Association HERE. This national exhibition began in 1928 by invitation and under the guidance of Coy Avon Seward. (courtesy of C.A. Seward Printmaker, http://www.casewardprintmaker.com/C.A._Seward_1884-1939/Arts_Advocate.html, accessed Nov 11, 2011)
