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Local artist Paul Henschke, touching up
Lorain's Civil War Soldier in Washington Park, 1960 |
One of the memories that my siblings and I share from the 1960s is the summer that we took art classes on Saturday morning with local artist
Paul Henschke.
I've written about this a few times. At the beginning of the course we met in a classroom at the old St. Mary's High School to work on our drawing. Then we shifted to outdoor sketching at different park locations, including Century Park, Lakeview Park and Washington Park. Mr. Henschke would circulate around the class, checking our progress and offering suggestions. I remember that it was difficult to understand him with his thick German accent.
I still suspect that sending us to the classes was Mom's idea, part of her plan to keep us from being glued to the TV set on Saturday morning, watching cartoons.
Anyway, Mr. Henschke enjoyed a fine career as an artist, and as an instructor for the Lorain Parks Department. He must have had a good agent, because he seemed to be in the Journal with some regularity, in photos showing him instructing students in Lorain or Elyria, or donating paintings. He also wrote the occasional Letter to the Editor, advocating better support of the arts on a local level and promoting park access for children.
Here is a selection of articles featuring Mr. Henschke beginning with the earliest I could find. All are from the Journal unless noted.
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| August 2, 1961 |
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| March 12, 1962 |
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| May 25, 1962 |
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May 30, 1963
(Mr. Henschke later crafted a whole new head for the statue in 1965.) |
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| June 21, 1963 |
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| Oct. 5, 1963 (Chronicle Telegram) |
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| April 2, 1964 |
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| May 29, 1965 (Chronicle-Telegram) |
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| July 31, 1965 |
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| March 31, 1966 |
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| April 30, 1966 |
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| July 22, 1966 |
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| August 4, 1966 |
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| April 12, 1967 |
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| June 26, 1968 |
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| October 1, 1968 (That's my younger brother in the middle) |
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| Nov. 7, 1969 |
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| Sept. 22, 1970 |
This 1970 article is my favorite. It includes Mr. Henschke's philosophy of how to stay young, and is a nice look back at his life and career.
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| October 4, 1970 |
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| July 13, 1978 |
I wasn't a part of Mr. Henschke's art classes , but I do remember the plethora of activities and classes provided by the City for youth back in the day; I wonder what there is for the boys and girls of today...
ReplyDeleteNice tribute to an interesting man. Thanks, Dan!
ReplyDeleteMy brother and I also took Mr.Henschke’s classes - I remember trying hard to create the waves we observed at Century Park ( maybe you were there Dan)! He was such a kind and patient instructor. We also took classes at a little building off East Erie Ave. nea the bridge, which were taught by Keith McConnell. I think I recall it was a summer job while Keith attended college. The classes ended after just a couple sessions because he was drafted. I looked him up - Keith then became a combat artist - as well as going on to other achievements in the art world. You’re right, Alan - there were always so many activities for youth at the parks, YMCA, “summer movies” etc.
ReplyDelete"...they can't develop their talent her and the adults -- well culture means very little to them."
ReplyDeleteOuch!
A nice set of articles, Dan. Thanks!
When I was in kindergarten, we had finger painting classes. One day the teacher said that we would get to show our “paintings” to the 6th grade students. We all finished our finger painting masterpieces and were excited to go for our exhibition. Then the teacher looked at my creation and said “Dale, I think you should stay behind.” At that moment all of my artistic potential drained out of me. Had I been the adult that I am today, I would have replied something like “Are you f—-ing kidding me?! It’s f—-ing FINGER PAINTING!!” But I was just five years old so I just sat there in my sad silence and disbelief.
ReplyDeleteI should mention that this all happened in Bucyrus, not Lorain.
I had a similar experience, only with arithmetic, where everyone was allowed to go to recess, but I kept inside because I "wasn't working hard enough" on my times tables. Took me decades to figure out I was actually pretty good at math, once I got past my Dyscalculia (Number Dyslexia) which wasn't a thing in the 1960s.
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