The art of Ruth Grotenrath and Schomer Lichtner

October 16, 2007

The Oscar Rennebohm Library is currently hosting an exhibit of paintings, sculptures, sketchbooks, and photographs by Ruth Grotenrath and Schomer Lichtner.

painting

Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988) was married to Schomer Lichtner (1905-2006) in 1934. Ruth began as a classic regionalist and then worked into modernism and abstraction influenced by Japanese art and culture. Many of Ruth's works were of floral still lifes. She was influenced by the styles of Matisse and Van Gogh, as can be seen in her painting "Bulbs, Bowls" on the left.

Schomer Lichtner was well known for his whimsical cows and ballerinas, such as his "Ballerina Dancing on Cow" sculpture below. The late James Auer, art critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel referred to Lichtner as the artist laureate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the official artist of the Milwaukee Ballet.

Ruth Grotenrath and Schomer Lichtner began their careers by creating numerous murals for the WPA (Work Projects Administration), primarily post offices. sculpture A wonderful example can be seen in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin post office. Lichtner also painted murals for industry and private clients. Schomer was a printmaker and produced block prints, lithographs, and serigraph prints. His casein (paint made from dairy products) and acrylic paintings are of the rural Wisconsin landscape and farm animals. He became interested in cows when he and Ruth spent summers near Holy Hill in Washington County.

Ruth Grotenrath and Schomer Lichtner took common, everyday objects we often take for granted, and made them into extraordinary, lively, colorful, high-spirited art.

The items in this exhibit are on loan from the Kohler Foundation and will be on display throughout the Fall 2007 semester.

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