1933 COLOR BLOCK PRINT & ORIGINAL DRAWING GRAND CANYON BY FRANK REDLINGER TEXAS CENTENNIAL ARTIST (1909-1936) Start Price USD 1,089.00 Current Price USD 1,089.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, May 15, 2008 End Time Thursday, May 22, 2008 Location Hill Country , Texas See more about '1933 COLOR BLOCK PRINT & ORIGINAL DRAWING GRAND CANYON' Description A tour-de-force in color block printing, this work show Frank Redlinger at his best.  Multiple blocks and impressions (one for color) were required to complete this print.  In is evident Redlinger made adjustments in the final composition, both widening the print and recomposing the clouds.  The original drawing and block print are professionally framed as one unit using UV glass and acid free paper.      Frank Redlinger (1909-1936) was born "David Francis Redlinger. Jr." December 17, 1909 in Stamford, Texas.  Frank was named after his father, which later proved to be the source of much confusion in the art world, leading all current art publications to list his date of birth and death as that of his father, Frank Redlinger Sr., who was born in the 1800s and died in the 1950s. Cowboys and western themes fascinated Redlinger.  Early pictures often show him dressed in cowboy garb complete with gun and coboy hat.  Frank graduated from high school in Abilene, Texas in 1929.  At the age of nineteen, he was already an accomplished artist, sculptor, and musician. In late summer of 1929, Frank set out to seek his fortune making the long trip from Abilene to Los Angeles, California, to begin studies at the studio of Franz Geritz.  It was under the tutelage of Geritz that he would further develop his talent for western art while also absorbing Geritz' great talent for linoleum-block printing.  Geritz and Redlinger became fast friends and shared a gallery together in Los Angeles at 2272 West 25th St. often showing their work together in local art exhibitions such as the Artists' Fiesta in September of 1931 (hosted by Bullock's of Los Angeles), Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, Los Angelos Museum of Fine Arts, Los Angeles Public Library, Museum of Fine Arts in Pomona, and even as far east as the Art Alliance of Philadelphia. The 1930's were a grand and exciting time to be an artist in the golden age of Hollywood.  Redlinger and Geritz were often commissioned to do portraits of movie stars.  In 1934, Redlinger even got the commission to illustrate a small book skiing, entitled On Skis Over the Mountains, written for the Sierra Club by Dr. Walter Mosauer, coach of the ski team at the University of California in Los Angeles.  Redlinger developed personal relationships with a handful of actors such as Alan Ladd and his wife Sue Carol, Nick Stuart, Dixie Lee (aka Mrs. Bing Crosby), and others.  It was a time when is was considered chic in Hollywood to befriend the local starving artists, making sure they were invited to social functions and introduced around to other celebrities. Although Redlinger was beginning to make a name for himself in California, he was still relatively unknown in his home state of Texas.  His sister, Mary Catherine, persuaded Frank to allow her to exhibit some of his western art soap sculptures  in Texas museums and schools to show children what could be done with a common art medium such as soap.  These exihibitions were a great success.  In 1935, his sister contacted him to tell him about the upcomeing Texas Centennial Exhibition in Dallas featuring Texas artists.  Redlinger, acting upon her prompting, submitted four of his block prints for consideration to be shown at the Texas Centennial Art Exhibition slated to be held from June to November, 1936 at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts.  The committee chose Redlinger's work, entitled Back Lot, (which I have the original drawing of this print) which was listed on page 87 of the event's program.  Redlinger traveled back to Texas that winter after receiving word that his work had been chosen as one of only two Abilene artist selected for exhibition.  Unfortunately, Redlinger never got a chance to see his work exhibited at the Texas Centennial celebration.  He died of pneumonia in March of that year, a few weeks before the exhibit opened. This Biography courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas, Texas.   Approximate size of the color block print is 15-3/4" X 10-3/4", Approximate size of the original drawing is 10-3/4" X 8-1/2".   Overall size of frame is 33" X 27"  We have 40 or so original drawings, block prints, and the only surviving plaster sculpture by Frank Redlinger in our inventory.  Questions and comments are welcome. Excellent addition to your collection.     Thanks for looking and hope to talk to you soon, Dale  Place a Bid!