Fish in a Tub, polaroid, collage, acrylic, 3”x 3” 1985
Leslie Bloomfield (1913-1968), watercolor on paper, 23”x 16” 1940
© 2016, Los Angeles
This book is part of my tribute to my mother, the artist Belle Osipow (1916-2015). As an artist myself, I found my mother’s unflagging creative spirit a lifelong inspiration, and now I have inherited a vast quantity of her creative work—75 years worth of paintings, prints (silk-screens, lithographs, etchings), enamel on copper objects, ceramics, papier maché figurines, collages, Xeroxes, photographs, political cartoons (made during WW2), greeting cards, newsletters, magazine illustrations, exhibition announcements, and articles.* Born in Bayonne, New Jersey to Russian immigrant parents, her family soon after settled in Los Angeles. She began to mature as an artist in the 1950’s, when the Los Angeles art establishment was not especially friendly to women, and raising three children made finding studio time more challenging. My father, however, generously encouraged my mother to pursue her art career, and, having already received her BA from UCLA, she further pursued her art education over the course of several years, attending Chinouard, Otis, and Art Center. Later she attended the drawing and ceramic studios at the Municipal Art Gallery, and, in the 1960’s, took silkscreen courses at Immaculate Heart College. The Los Angeles Art Association, the Los Angeles Printmakers Society, and the National Watercolor Society all welcomed her as a member, and by the 70’s her work was being exhibited in hundreds of shows, both nationally and internationally. In a solo exhibit at the Brand Library in Glendale, California in 1978 she showed over 90 pieces in different media. From 1981-1991 she and five other female artists ran a small gallery called “Contemporary Images” in Sherman Oaks, California. They showcased both fine art and craft. Excited by the introduction of the color Xerox machine in the early 1970’s my mother composed collages on the platen and also made multi-paneled images; in the 80’s she created drawn/ photographic hybrids with Polaroids. Her printmaking techniques ranged from drawing detailed compositions to flattening and inking objects that were then run through the press. At the age of 90 my mother moved to the newly opened Burbank Senior Arts Colony, where she lived independently for five years. She taught collage classes until the age of 95. Fifty of her pieces are on permanent display at the BSAC. —Lisa Bloomfield *Given the opportunity to reflect and appreciate, and moved to share many of my favorite pieces, I have produced two other small books besides this one. The first is a selection of her altered Polaroids, the other a selection of her travel sketches (Blurb.com).
1940’s
Lowry Road, oil on canvas, 28”x 22” 1939
Sewing (Annie Osipow), oil on canvas, 36.5”x 25” 1939
Abraham Osipow, oil on canvas, 21”x 27” 1943
Annie Osipow, oil on canvas, 20”x 24” 1943
facing pages: from Youth Prints, Junior Division, Los Angeles Jewish Community Council; art editor and illustrator from 1940-1944
NYC (Honeymoon View), watercolor on paper, 14.75”x 21.5” 1945
San Pedro Harbor, watercolor on paper, 21.5”x 27” 1946
watercolor on paper, 23.25”x 14.5” 1949
Les, ink wash on rag paper, 12”x 15” 1949
1950’s During the mid 1950’s while working in her home studio and taking care of three children, my mother favored ceramics, linoleum block printing and enamel on copper. Her work tended to be utilitarian or related to “home” (a tiled coffee table, ceramic bowls and candlesticks, decorative plates and portraits, and illustrations for our school newsletters).
Top: new year’s card, linoleum block print, 5”x 7” 1958; Apple Tree, enamel on copper, wood, burlap, paint, 12”x 15” 1958. Bottom: ceramic tile coffee table, maple, 29”x 59”x 15.5” 1951.
ceramic plater, 14”
enamel on copper plates, 10” Matt at the Piano, enamel on copper, 1960, 10”x 7” 1960
1960’s
collages on paper, 17.5”x 23” 1966
Profile, pencil on paper, 15”x 20”
Clown, ink on paper, 24”x 16.5”
acrylic on paper, 33”x 27”
Reader, acrylic on paper, 33”x 27”
Intimate Interiors, acrylic on paper, 24”x 30” ink on paper, 17.25”x 23”
Back Stage, watercolor on paper, 14”x 24”
Night Patterns, watercolor on paper with texture, 19”x 24”
Three Bulls, watercolor wash on paper, 20”x 24” 1964
My Country ‘Tis, acrylic on masonite, 28”x 37” 1969 Collection of the New York Historical Society, NYC
We Protest, acrylic on paper, 26�x 20� 1971
In related work, my mother provided illustrations for Center Magazine produced by the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Santa Barbara, CA. from 1975 - 1985.
1963 - 1970 Silkscreen
Bon Appetit, silkscreen on paper, 24”x 20”
Autumn, silkscreen on paper, 16.25”x 20.5” 1964
Time is the Target, silkscreen on paper, 17.75”x 15.25” 1965
Ova the Waves, silkscreen on paper, 22.25”x 19.25” 1967
1970s
Surviving Remnants, acrylic on paper, collage with objects, 29”x 23” 1979
Home Video, acrylic and collage on paper, 18.5”x 24”
Clio, acrylic on paper, 28”x 32” 1976
Cactus, watercolor and collage on paper, 28�x 21.5�
Forbidden Fruit, watercolor and collage on paper, 19�x 27.25�
Kite Flight, collage, acrylic, airbrush, objects on paper, 20”x 28”
1970’s Collographs The plates for these prints, made from materials my mother assembled, were inked and run through the etching press, producing these deeply embossed collographs.
Ms and His, collograph on paper, 19.5�x 27.5�
Pink Grapefruit, collograph, 19.5”x 27.5”
Fragile, collograph, string, press-on letters, 27.75�x 19.5�
Potatoes, collograph on rag paper, 20�x 24�
Loose Ends, collograph on rag paper, 16”x 19.5”
Strike One, collograph on rag paper, 27�x 20�
A Stitch in Time, collograph on rag paper, 17.5�x 27.25�
String Sculpture, collograph, 23.5”x 19.5”
Kimono #1, collograph, 19.5”x 27.5”
Kimono #2, collograph, 19.5”x 27.5”
Kimono #3, collograph, 19.5”x 27.5”
Money to Burn, collograph with applied color, 23.5�x 17�
Rembrandt to Cezanne, collograph with etching on rag paper, 15.5�x 25�
1970’s - 1980’s Etchings
from Foxtail Suite, etching on rag paper, 17.5”x 23.5”
World’s Highest Standard, etching, 21”x 11”
Gelati Eis, photo etching, applied color, 13.5”x 10.5” 1976
from series: Fit to be Tied, collograph and etching, 14”x 14”
Carmen, etching, 24”x 30” 1984
View from the Top, photo etching and water color, 29.5”x 15”
Piscene Pyramid, drypoint etching, 11”x 14.5”
1970’s - 2010 Xerox collages
Les’ Tallis, multipanel color xerox with pouchoir, 41”x 28” 1983
My mother’s experiments with printmaking led her to explore papermaking in addition to pieces comprised of multiple xeroxes.
Coat of Arms, color xerox, 11 panels, 55”x 32” 1977
Concert Hall, collage, assembled xeroxes, 56”x 14” 1988
Mind’s Eye, color xerox, 8 panels, 31”x 19” 1980
handmade paper, xerox, 20”x 23”
Wind Song, handmade paper, collage, watercolor, 28�x 34�
Kite 10, handmade paper, collage, wood, 16�x 19�
Kite 11, handmade paper, collage, objects, 24�x 29.5�
Woven Image #1, rag paper, watercolor, fabric, 31�x 29.5�
A River Runs Through It, acrylic on paper, fabric, 31”x 28”
Other Objects
Nuns at an Exhibition, enamel on copper, wood, 15”x 16”x 8” 1970
Mon Dieu, papier maché, wood, 18”x 11” 1965
Transparent Bathroom, styrofoam, acrylic, paper, plexiglass, 13”x 9”x 7” 1980 Idiot Box, papier maché, 17”x 15”x 8” 1965 collection of Steven Volpin
Portraits of the Artist
Exhibition History During the 1950’s - 1960’s the Los Feliz Jewish Community Center had a rather robust exhibition program hosting exhibitions which attracted artists and viewers to it’s yearly art exhibition fundraisers and to it’s thematic curated shows. Likewise Barnsdall Municipal Art Gallery’s theme and juried exhibitions drew serious L.A. artists as it continues to do today. During this time there were very few venues for artists unaffiliated with galleries to exhibit work. The Los Angeles Printmaking Society founded in the early 1960’s sponsored workshops, lectures and exhibitions. My mother was on the board of this organization for many years and exhibited her work frequently from the 1960’s until 2010. LAPS continues to organize travelling exhibitions throughout the country and exhibition exchanges with printmakers internationally. Travelling shows continue to be featured in universities, museums and colleges throughout the country and abroad. Early on the Brand Library Art Galleries in Glendale offered art classes, sponsored many exhibitions for LAPS, and hosted ongoing invitational and juried exhibitions. My mother had a large solo show there in 1978 and participated in almost every one of the yearly Brand juried shows from 1980 to 2005, often receiving recognition with purchase awards and jurors’ commendations. The Burbank Art Center sponsored LAPS exhibitions as well as work by local artists and exhibitions organized by the Burbank Fine Arts Federation. Again my mother was an avid participant in exhibitions from 1992 to 2010. Selected Exhibitions 1940-50: Artists of Los Angeles and Vicinity, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1940; California Watercolor Society, 23rd Annual Exhibition, Los Angeles County Art Museum; 61st annual exhibition: oil, tempera, sculpture, San Francisco Museum of Art, 1941; 5th Annual Watercolor Exhibition San Francisco Museum of Art, 1941; 1950-60 (information not available);1960-70: California Craftsmen, 2nd Biennial, Oakland Museum of Art, 1962; Hale Galleries-enamel on copper panels (north La Cienega), Los Angeles CA., Los Feliz Jewish Community Center exhibitions, LA, CA. (1960-1990’s); Los Angeles Art Association: Directions 1964; Cerritos College Art Gallery, 1966; California Watercolor Society, 50th exhibition, award 1969; 1970-80: Art of Paper, Cal Poly University, Pomona, CA; Women USA, Laguna Beach Museum of Art; Intaglio Prints: St. Jives by the Sea, Venice, CA; Master Prints - Innovative Printmaking, Marilyn Pink Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.; Solo Show: Wexler-Weiss Gallery, Encino, CA. String Images; LAPS 4th National Exhibition, Downey Art Museum, 1977 (catalogue); Solo Show: Brand Library Art Center Gallery. Glendale, CA; 1980-90: Printmaking Processes & Innovations: Orange County Museum, Fullerton, CA; Innovative Printmaking, Marilyn Pink Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Pratt Graphic Center, NYC; 3-Person Show: Intimate Glimpses - Altered Realities, Platt Gallery, University of Judaism; Miniature Print Biennial: John Szoke Gallery, NY, NY, travelling; Korean Printmakers/Los Angeles Printmaking Society Exchange (Los Angeles, Seoul, Paris); UK Print connection: Barbican Center, London (traveling); Contemporary Printmaking: California State University, Chico, CA; Humor in Art: Contemporary Images Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA; Photo-
Link: BC Space, Laguna Beach, CA; Solo Show: String Images, mixed media prints, University of Judaism, Platt Gallery, 1983, LA, CA; Winter Show VI, Art Rental Gallery, Los Angeles County Art Museum, 1983; Frames Transformed, Xerography and Altered Polaroids, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery, 1982; Thinking Eye Gallery: Inspiration Furniture, 1988; Ink and Clay, Cal Poly University, Pomona, 1989 (award); National Copier Art Exhibition, Pratt Graphics Center, and New York State Museum, 1984; 1990-2000: The American Printmaker: San Diego State University (travelling nationally and internationally); Cal-Print: Occidental College, LA, CA; Solo Show: University of Judaism, Platt Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; LAPS twelfth annual Print Exhibition, Palos Verdes, CA (awards); Miniature Works, Los Angeles Art Association, LA, CA; Works on Paper, Municipal Gallery, LA, CA; Color And Spirit, Portland University, Portland, OR; Mini Print Exhibition, Napa Art Center (award); Solo Show: Contemporary Images Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA; The Print and the Paper, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA; International Miniature Print Biennial, Susan Tellery Gallery, NYC, (travelling); Solo Show: The Voyeur, Los Angeles Art Association, LA, CA; Social Justice, Jewish Community Centers Assoc., (travelling); 60 Square Inches, miniature prints, Purdue University (award); International Graphic Arts Foundation, Darien, Connecticut (2 year travelling exhibition 85-87); John Szoke Gallery, NYC, 1988; Pacific Prints, travelling, 1991; Juniper Gallery, Napa CA, 1993 Miniprint exhibition; Purdue University Galleries 1994 miniature print exhibition; Connecticut Graphics Arts center 1997, 98, 99 (award), 2001; 2000-2010: LAPS 2000,Brand Library juried member exhibition (award); Sixty Square Inches, 13th Biennial Small Print Exhibition, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN.; Earth Matters, LAPS National Exhibition, Burbank,CA.; Parkside Small Print Exhibition: University of Wisconsin, Kinosha, WI.; The Chai Show, Platt Gallery, University of Judaism, Bel Air, CA; War Stories, A Shenere Velt Gallery, LA, CA; Artists in the Collection, 25 Anniversary, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN; Mirror Image, Southern California Printmaking, LAX Airport; New York Society of Etchers, NYC; Venice Art Walk, Venice, CA; Portraits, A Shenere Velt Gallery, LA, CA; Brand 34 - Works on Paper, Glendale, CA; Los Angeles Printmaking Society, Creative Art Center, Burbank, CA; Ink and Idea, LAPS, Platt Gallery, University of Judaism, 2006; Burbank Senior Arts Colony, 2000-2006 art exhibitions, Burbank, CA; Purdue University Galleries 60 Miniature Print Show, 2002; Marquis Gallery, NY 2004; LAPS: Mothers of Invention-Generations, 2000 LA, CA; Members exhibitions LA Valley College 2000; Graphic Comment 2001, 2003, 2004 (National Arts Club, NY) LAPS 2006. AWARDS: multiple purchase awards through LAPS, LAAA, Brand Art Galleries, Experimental Painting Award, National Watercolor Society (1980) SELECTED COLLECTIONS: New York Historical Society, NYC; Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco, CA; Home Savings Ahmanson Collection, LA, CA; Cultural Center for Youth, Jerusalem, Israel; University of Kerala, India; Temple Israel, Los Angeles, CA.; California State University, Chico, Turner Print Gallery, Purdue University; numerous private collections national and international. SELECTED REPRODUCTIONS, REVIEWS: Center Magazine: (Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions 1975-1985; Office copier debuts as newest artists’ tool, J. Tariton, Times Union, Albany NY 1984; Icons of the Past and Present, Woodard, Los Angeles, Times, 1993; Artweek, 1996 LAPS at the Lankershim Arts Center; Empowering the Neighborhoods: the LA Art Partners Program, Lydia Ringwald; Studying the Finer Print, L.A. Times, N.Kapitanoff; New Mexico Photographers Magazine, 1996; LA Times 10/98 Woodard, Trends in Printmaking; LA Times, Humor in Art 7/98 Woodard; LA times 10/98 Woodard, Urban Dread; Pressing Concerns, LA Times, Woodard, 3/99; Dreaming Up Art, Burbank Union, article on Belle Osipow in 2006 LAPS exhibition; LA Times, Art Gallery to Close, Photo of Belle Osipow as spokesperson; Verdugo Monthly, 10/2006: Cover Art from Kimono Series, Burbank, CA. The Art of Getting Older. OTHER VENUES: With exhibitions travelling nationally and internationally: University of Colorado, Memphis State University, Florida State, Tallahassee, University of Iowa; Mills College, Oakland; Pacificulture Asia Museum, Shakti Gallery, Long Beach, CA; Gallery of Multicultural Arts Institute, San Diego, University of Hawaii, Hilo; Barbican, London UK, Occidental College, LA, CA.