Maple Avenue Evening High School - Progress Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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The Revival of Blocl: Cutting. By FRANK GERITZ, in California Southland THE revival of wood block or linoleum block cutting and printing is so widespread throughout the civilized countries' that noted art critics claim The Golden Age of block printing is imminent if not already here. Truly so when we see such masters as Brangwyn, Soper, Vilbert and others embrace it and that it is being added to high school courses where instruc- tors can be secured. In this revival California is taking her part and, in the south has Benjamin Brown, Howell Brown, May Geartheart, Howard Willard and the writer as active creators in this medium. Two factors are responsible for the revival ,of block cutting, a process which, contrary to general belief, originated in the early part of the four- teenth century, preceding printing. One factor is that there is a demand by art lovers with limited purses, for fine things to collect. An original painting by a master is out of the question but a block print by the same man quite within reach. Then too with bungalow homes and apartments with limited wall spaces the block prints are found to be ideal spots of color. The other factor, perhaps the most essential and vital one, is that the block process with its insistent imposition of simplicity and limitation was the compromise and haven of refuge to the artists caught in the cross- current of abstractions, realism and impressionism and a cure for the an- aemic art which is the product of machine reproduction. The blocks, with their limitation, modified realism and abstractions into strong decorative forms. Then too, the deliberate, definite and virile results have a charm of their own as well as the fact that it is an individual and creative process. The finished print, through all its processes, designing, cutting and printing, is the inspiration and product of one man. Is A Versatile Medium It is a most Versatile medium, expressing with equal force in black and white or a full gamut of color. First there are the black and white Page Forty-eight

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Life Class in Maple Avenue School By FRANK GERITZ, Noted Artist ENTHUSIASTS have talked to me at length about Los Angeles as a culture and art center-all of which I indulged with an incredulous smile. Then I was told of the public Life Class of the Maple Avenue trade extension school and again doubted for, while such public classes are com- mon enough in Paris and other European cities, they are not so common in this country, and I was agreeably impressed with the fact that the board of education here had sanctioned them. On finding such a class an actuality I beamed with satisfaction and my incredulity in Los Angeles as an art center was displaced by a feeling of possible belief g for, with such an initiative-such seed planted-the em- bryonic artist as well as the embryonic art of the community has great op- portunity to break through the common ground and grow. The organization of this class is indeed highly commendable. It of- fers an opportunity to many to find and develop their latent talents who, otherwise, through lack of finances or other circumstances, would either have to deny themselves the opportunity or postpone it until too lateg for if delayed too long the spark of art expression that might have blazed forth into brilliant art creation either flickers out through lack of stimulus or is snuffed out through accumulating responsibilities. Drawing from life is the greatest test of a student's talent and is a vital need for most lines of art expression, figure or portrait painting, il- lustration or commercial art of any description. A or Having closely observed the art class of the Maple Avenue Schoolon several occasions I can say that the work is carried on with ability and enthusiasm. . . - .. ' e - Page 'Forty-seven

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blocks with lines or strong inassesg next' some black line ' blocks serve as key blocks to a set of color, blocks and serve to 'bind the coinl' position and' carry the drawingg the Japanese prints are made in this Way. Passion, a character sketch, block print Then there are color blocks in which 'masses of color and value play against one another Without any lines to bind them. It is interesting with K Q Page Forty-nine