The only thing that makes me sad about this post is that Keith Haring lived to the age of 31 and did so much more work than I have at my age of 31. It really made me think twice when I saw his age of death, and I just hope that one day I can do amazing work such as he has.

You should probably recognize that last name, as in the Bertoia Chair. That’s right, Harry Bertoia (shown third from right in his diamond chair) lived in Pennsylvania for many years of his life and his family grew here in Barto, Pennsylvania. He was mostly known for his widely popular furniture, but was also a sculptor and university lecturer. He introduced wire rods into the furniture design scene in 1952 and worked with Charles Eames to develop his signature molded plywood chairs. How’s that for a resume?

I managed to grow up loving his chairs, but never really knew of him until I did some research. My uncle worked for a company that plastic-coated the wire rod chairs and my family had an entire set of the side chairs as well as a few of the kid-sized side chairs. Mom and Dad still have them today and although not in perfect condition, are still works of art.

Harry Bertoia was born in Italy and while visiting his brother in America, chose to stay and enrolled at Cass Technical High School where he studied art and design and learned to make handmade jewelry. In 1937 he received a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art where he met Charles and Ray Eames for the first time. In 1950, he moved to Pennsylvania, to establish a studio, and to work with Hans and Florence Knoll. (Florence was also a Cranbrook Academy of Art graduate). He designed five wire pieces that became known as the Bertoia Collection for Knoll. (shown above)

In 1957 Harry Bertoia devoted his time to his sculptural work and by stretching and bending metal, he made his sculptures able to respond to wind or to touch, creating different tones. With this discovery he performed in a number of concerts and even produced a series of nine albums. I was lucky enough to meet with his son, Val, who continues in artistic endeavors at the same studio where his father created many of his well known works of art.

Bonus Tidbit: Harry Bertoia designed and created wedding rings for Charles and Ray Eames.

N.C. Wyeth is a great American illustrator and painter who’s life began and ended in the month of October, so I thought it was fitting to feature his legacy in this month’s PA Spotlight. N.C. Wyeth came to Pennsylvania thanks to two of his friends who relocated for Howard Pyle’s School of Art. Howard Pyle was called the “father” of American illustration, and Wyeth immediately meshed with his methods and ideals.

His first commission was for the Saturday Evening Post in 1903, at the age of 21 he created a bucking bronco – in a moment where he referred to his work as ‘a true solid American subject’. After returning from a few trips out west, he married Carolyn and they settled in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in 1908. Commissions came in quickly and he hoped he would make enough money with his illustrations to be able to afford the luxury of painting. His hard work as an illustrator gave his family the financial freedom to follow their own artistic and scientific pursuits which was a good thing with five children who all went on with significant talents. But most was Andrew Wyeth, who also went on as a painter became one of the foremost American artists of the second half of the 20th century.

Around 1911, N.C. Wyeth moved away from Western subjects and on to illustrating classic literature but it wasn’t until the 1930′s when museums would purchase his paintings. Tragically, in 1945, he and his grandson were killed at a railroad passing, ending his career and life. This talented painter and father not only left outstanding art for future generations, but children and grandchildren who not only carry his name but carry outstanding talents of their own.

Andrew Wyeth – as stated above – became one of the foremost American artists of the second half of the 20th century. Andrew’s son, Jamie is also a painter and is currently exhibiting at the Brandywine River Museum with Seven Deadly Sins. Seven Deadly Sins features seabirds as dramatic sinners demonstrating their behavior as raucous scavengers.

Read more about the three generations of Wyeth artists.

Chip Kidd, a renowned designer came from a small town not far from me, Shillington in Pennsylvania. He now practices his design from the big apple of New York City and Connecticut where his work thrives, boasts and wows. He is probably more known for his work on book jacket design and most recently entered the music industry with a group known as artbreak.

Chip Kidd’s career could have ended at one pivotal moment in his life. A class assignment at Penn State was to design a book jacket for John Updike, where the teacher in turn suggested that book design would not be a good career choice for him. Thankfully this did not stop Kidd and he moved on to designing nearly 75 book jackets a year at Random House for Knopf. In 2001 he himself added author to his resume by releasing The Cheese Monkeys, a novel based on his experiences through college and the demands of sadistic art instructors. Recently in 2008, he released The Learners, a sequel to his first authored success.

Nowadays Chip is associate art director at Knopf where he continues to astound the design community with his book jackets and novel work. And in his spare time ( or what’s left of it ) he is an avid comic book geek, which I mean in an endearing way not a school bully way. He has made being a comic book fan cool taking it to the next level by working with Saul Ferris in developing Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan. How many comic book collectors can say that?

Chip Kidd never fails to mention where he comes from and that makes my admiration for him grow each time I hear or read an interview or re-read his story. Even though this town does not speak very much of him, I try to let other know that great people have come from this area and Chip Kidd will always be on that list.

My hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania isn’t home to many famous art types but we can boast of a few. One of those few is Keith Haring, an artist and social activist whose work responded to the street culture of New York City in the 1980′s.

Keith studied at the Ivy School of Professional Art in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City where he was inspired by graffiti. He first received recognition through his chalk drawings in the subways using bold lines and vivid colors. They were usually of active figures with strong messages about life and unity, a rising theme in the 80′s. Around 1982 he began forming a high-society social circle including Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, another openly-gay artist.

In the mid to late 80′s his work began to revolve around themes that were more socio-political such as AIDS awareness. In 1988 he was diagnosed with the deadly disease himself and in turn established the Keith Haring Foundation to generate activism and awareness. In 1990 he unfortunately passed from the HIV-AIDS related disease, but his legacy lives on through his foundation, friends and continuing exhibitions.

Andy Mouse

There is a new documentary by Christina Klausen about Keith Haring showcasing his life and work, titled “The Universe of Keith Haring”. From small boy in a conservative rural town in Pennsylvania to an activist-artist in New York City with a legacy that is as large as his life.

*Update

The Goggleworks in Reading, Pennsylvania will be screening the movie mentioned above,  May 1 – May 7 in honor of Keith Haring’s birthday. On May 4 there will be an after-film discussion with special guest, Kay Haring.

Charles Demuth was an American talent who was born and remained in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Most known for his work, Figure No. 5, a great indicator of Pop Art, Demuth was also credited for developing a painting style known as Precisionism, where American landscapes were depicted in precise, sharply defined, geometrical forms.

Charles Demuth’s life spanned from the early 1880′s until he passed in 1935 due to complications of diabetes. His career was peppered with praise from the New York Times, several museums and the love, respect, and company of fellow artists Georgia O’Keefe, Arthur Dove, Charles Duncan and many more.

The 1920′s launched his art from still life watercolors into the theme of industrial America using oils.

“America doesn’t really care – still, if one is really an artist and at the same time an American, just this not caring, even though it drives one mad, can be artistic material.”

- written to Stieglitz in 1927

He took what was familiar and made it famous with a painting technique that is celebrated in museums today. Although heavily influenced by his time in New York and Paris, he remained true to his hometown which later exiled him when he became bedridden and cut-off from the art world.

When posed with the question should one move to New York City or another design-savvy city? I say stay true to who you are and express what is familiar and with what has made you who you are.

Sources / More Information

The Demuth Foundation

Wikipedia

Mark Harden’s Artchive