Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY – Staff
John A. Spelman III, teacher and artist-in-residence, 1937-1941
Blocks for Prints (At PMSS)
1938 Calendar. November. [1938_calendar_011_mod.jpg]
TAGS: John A. Spelman III, linoleum blocks, linoleum block proofs, Scott Husby, Hoven Minnesota, archival boxes
JOHN A. SPELMAN III Blocks for Prints (At PMSS)
An incomplete listing of proofs taken from linoleum blocks was produced by the artist John A. Spelman III who taught art at Pine Mountain Settlement School in the late 1930s and early 1940s. No attempt to group or associate the proofs with the publication has been made at this time, though many have been linked to published works found in calendars, cards, and other Pine Mountain Settlement School projects.
The assigned number identifies the proof with its block. All of the John A. Spelman blocks have been inventoried, have been given an accession number, and have been carefully enclosed in archival housings. This labor-intensive archival work was completed by retired curator Scott Husby. Scott, formerly of Princeton University and Yale, generously gave of his time and expertise for Pine Mountain and for John A. Spelman III over the course of many weeks and months, working both on-site and at his home in Minnesota. Scott became interested in the work of the artist as they shared common geography in Hoven, Minnesota.
Scott Husby and Tracey Cullen came to the Settlement School in 2018 to study the collection of work by Spelman with the hope of publishing Spelman’s work in Minnesota and in Kentucky.
Their work will result in a publication and exhibit later in the Fall of 2021, an endeavor delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and now nearing completion (April 2021).
An example of the intricate and expert work completed by Husby may be seen in the photographs below. PENDING
GALLERY: Boxes by Scott Hussey for Linoleum Blocks Carved by John A. Spelman III
[Gallery] PENDING
LISTING of Proofs From Linoleum Blocks
1 001 John Spelman Chapel drawing linoleum block print proof 1 5″ x 3″
2 002 John Spelman Cabin linoleum block proof 3 4″ x 4″
3 003 John Spelman Cabin and Shed [poor copy] linoleum block proof 1 8″ x 6″
4 004 John Spelman Corn Shocks with Pumpkins and Cabin linoleum block proof 4 4.5″ x 4″
5 005 John Spelman Small, Tall Tree and Hill linoleum block proof 4 3.5″ x 3″
6 006 John Spelman Large Pinecone linoleum block proof 4 9.25″ x 7″
7 007 John Spelman Mary and Jesus linoleum block proof 2 5.25″ x 4″
8 008 John Spelman Small Pinecone linoleum block proof 2 2.25″ x 2″
9 009 John Spelman Chapel Interior linoleum block proof 2 7.5″ x 5″
10 010 John Spelman Cabin with Bare Tree to Left linoleum block proof 2 6″ x 4″
11 011 John Spelman Wagon with Mule and figure Seated From Back linoleum block proof 2 4″ x 3.5″
12 012 John Spelman Corn Shock with Pumpkins linoleum block proof 2 4.5″ x 4.5″
13 013 John Spelman Man With Two Maple-Sugar Pails linoleum block proof 5 4.5″ x 4″
14 014 John Spelman Man Seated on Porch with Hat Looking at Moon [Sun?] linoleum block proof 2 4.5″ x 4″
15 015 John Spelman Cabin with Evergreens to Left and Bare Tree to Right linoleum block proof 2 6.25″ x 5.25″
16 016 John Spelman Two Dogwood Blossoms linoleum block proof 2 3″ x 2.5″
17 017 John Spelman Very Small Cityscape with Skyscraper linoleum block proof 2 2.25″ x 1.25″
18 018 John Spelman Large Barn with Silo linoleum block proof 3 8.5″ x 7.25″
19 019 John Spelman Man with Plow and Mule linoleum block proof 2 4.25″ x 4″
20 020 John Spelman Very Small, Tall Cabin with Fence to Right linoleum block proof 7 3.5″ x 2.5″
21 021 John Spelman Low Cabin with Evergreens on Each Side linoleum block proof 5 4.25″ x 3.25″
22 022 John Spelman Cabin With Radiating Sky and Cloud linoleum block proof 2 6.5″ x 5.25″
23 023 John Spelman See #13 linoleum block proof
24 024 John Spelman Christmas Scene with Shepherds, Bethlehem and Star linoleum block proof 2 5.5″ x 4″
25 025 John Spelman Dead Tree with Snow and Cabins Background linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 4.5″
26 026 John Spelman 4 Folk Dancers linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 4″
27 027 John Spelman River with Rocks to Left and Evergreens to Right linoleum block proof 2 7.25″ x 6.25″
28 028 John Spelman Handkerchief Dancer linoleum block proof 2 7″ x 5.5″
29 029 Mary Rogers Two Dancer Couples with May-Day 1944 Between linoleum block proof 2 8.5″ x 5.5″
30 030 John Spelman Cabin with 3 Fence Posts to Right and 3 to Left linoleum block proof 1 7″ x 4.25″
31 031 John Spelman Cabin with Mound of Trees at Top Left linoleum block proof 2 8″ x 5.5″
32 032 John Spelman Man Chopping Wood linoleum block proof 3 5″ x 4″
33 033 John Spelman Cabin with Martin-House on Pole and Fence in Front linoleum block proof 2 6″ x 5.5″
34 034 John Spelman Large Chapel with Dead Tree in Front linoleum block proof 2 6.5″ x 7.5″
35 035 Mary Rogers Small, Three Dancers linoleum block proof 2 3″ x 2″
36 036 John Spelman Small Barn with Door Open and Trees to Left linoleum block proof 2 6″ x 4″
37 037 John Spelman Two Candles and Holly linoleum block proof 1 4.5″ x 3.25″
38 038 Mary Rogers Thanksgiving Turkey and Two Shocks of Corn linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3.5″
39 039 John Spelman Small Chapel with Dead Tree in Front [same as #34] linoleum block proof 3 4″ x 3.75″
40 040 John Spelman May Pole Dancers linoleum block proof 2 4.75″ x 4.75″
41 041 John Spelman Very Small Cabin Scene linoleum block proof 2 3.5″ x 2″
42 042 John Spelman Black Landscape with Chimney and Collapsed Roof linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 2″
43 043 John Spelman Woman Hoeing on Hillside linoleum block proof 2 4″ x 4″
44 044 John Spelman Small Landscape with 3 Trees linoleum block proof 2 4″ x 2.5″
45 045 John Spelman Chapel Front with Snow on Trees linoleum block proof 1 6.25″ x 4.5″
46 046 John Spelman Clouds, Fir Trees, Half Cabin on Far Right linoleum block proof 2 3.5″ x 3″
47 047 John Spelman L-Square and Hammer linoleum block proof 2 3.75″ x 3.5″
48 048 John Spelman Mop, Broom and Pail linoleum block proof 2 2″ x 2″
49 049 John Spelman Small Shacks by Curving Railroad linoleum block proof 1 6″ x 3″
50 050 John Spelman Mule, Cows and Chicken and Cabin linoleum block proof 1 4.75″ x 4″
51 051 Spelman Small Print of Elegant House on Hill linoleum block proof 1 2.5″ x 2.5″
52 052 Spelman Small Proof Print of Drawing of Cabin with One Fence Post to Far Left linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 3.25″
53 053 Spelman Wagon on Hill with Cabins to Right linoleum block proof 3 4.5″ x 4″
54 054 Spelman Cat and Mouse linoleum block proof 3 3.5″ x 1″
55 055 Spelman Single Dogwood linoleum block proof 3 3″ x 3″
56 056 Unknown Wiseman on Camel linoleum block proof 3 2″ x 2″
57 057 Spelman Small Cabin with Pickett Fence and Small Tree to Right linoleum block proof 3 6″ x 2″
58 058 Spelman Small Mountain Landscape linoleum block proof 3 5.5″ x 2.75″
59 059 Spelman Columned House with Cupola linoleum block proof 3 2.5″ x 1.5″
60 060 Spelman Duck, Linear drawing linoleum block proof 3 2″ x 1.25″
61 061 Spelman The Pine Cone [Title] linoleum block proof 3 5″ x 1″
62 062 Unknown Misc. Sheet of Clip Art, maybe one cabin is Spelman linoleum block proof 2 12″ x 9″
63 063 Spelman Very Small Tall Cabin with Long Picket Fence in Front linoleum block proof 2 4″ x 2″
64 064 Spelman “This Book is Given to the Pine Mountain …, April 17, 1942…” linoleum block proof 2 4.5″ x4.75″
65 065 Unknown Aunt Sal’s Cabin, artist unknown linoleum block proof 2 3″ x 2.5″
66 066 Unknown Far House withSmoke Coming From Chimney linoleum block proof 2 3″ x 2″
67 067 Spelman Small Print of Tall Column House with Mountains linoleum block proof 2 3″ x 2″
68 068 Rogers “As Joseph Was a-walking He Heard an Angel Sing…music” linoleum block proof 1 4.25″ x 4″
69 069 Spelman “As Joseph Was a-walking He Heard an Angel Sing…Child and Star linoleum block proof 1 6″ x 4″
70 070 Spelman Proof of drawing: View down Valley with Part of Fence to Right linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 4.5″
71 071 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin and Shed with Circular Picket Fence, Mountains and Cabin, Behind linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 4.5″
72 072 Rogers Proof of drawing: Cabin and Small Shed with Dead Tree in Front, Mountains Behind linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 4.5″
73 073 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin with Broken Fence and New Tree in Front to Left linoleum block proof 1 5″ x 4.5″
74 074 Spelman Proof of drawing: Dogwood Limb with Blooms linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3″
75 075 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin On Side of Hill with Cabin in Distance linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3″
76 076 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cluster of Cabins with Mountains Behind linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3″
77 077 Spelman Proof of drawing: The Gourd Vine with Blossoms linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3″
78 078 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin With Sagging Barn Next to It linoleum block proof 2 5″ x 3″
79 079 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin and Shed with Four Martin Boxes 1941 linoleum block proof 2 10″ x 8″
80 080 Spelman Proof of drawing: Old Log 1941 linoleum block proof 2 10″ x 8″
81 081 Spelman Proof of drawing: Cabin With Winding Road andTall Trees 1941 linoleum block proof 2 10″ x 8″
82 082 Spelman Proof of drawing: Clusters of Cabins with Saddled Horse in Front 1941 linoleum block proof 2 10″ x 8”
83 083 Spelman linoleum block proof
84 084 Spelman ?
SEE:
JOHN A. SPELMAN III Staff – Biography
JOHN A. SPELMAN III Correspondence Set 1 Staff Record PASSWORD PROTECTED
JOHN A. SPELMAN III Correspondence Set 2
JOHN A. SPELMAN III and Family Correspondence Set 3 PASSWORD PROTECTED
JOHN A. SPELMAN III Misc. Block Proofs and Prints
BARBARA SPELMAN Staff – Biography
BARBARA SPELMAN Correspondence
PMSS Calendar 1938
PMSS Calendar 1940
