A painting by Margaret Lefranc. Photo provided by Darla McCammon.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski
Guest Columnists

WARSAW — In Paris, Margaret Lefranc developed an interest in the modernists. She learned more about Marc, Kollwitz, Lehmbruck and other artists such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky. She was always in awe of the old masters, but her heart became enthralled by the modernists such as Lovis Corinth, who stimulated her greatly when she witnessed that talent on canvas.

Because of observing that talent, Lefranc began practicing the use of light and then became interested in even more contemporary developments. She honed these skills to develop two-dimensional surfaces of forms in a unique three-dimensional space. Diane Armitage, freelance writer and digital video artist, wrote about Lefranc and one of her successful self-portraits, stating, “Lefranc appears to have come into her own.”

Along with her self-studies, Lefranc studied at well-respected art academies such as Académie de la Grande Chaumière, the Russian Academy. Her teachers included Basil Tchoukaieff, Antoine Bourdelle and Charles Bissiere. With André Lhote, she learned how to apply paint to create flat, dryly handled planes of color, inspired by cubism. Her work continued to improve and was soon commanding high prices. She also exhibited at the infamous New York World’s Fair in 1939.

At this point, Lefranc created something unique and very unusual for a women to do: an artist colony. Her colony was called Hunter Colony and was fully immersive, allowing students to not only paint a still life of an apple but also to grow and harvest the apple orchard. She was able to provide shelter, food, music, books and an all-encompassing experience in which artists could immerse themselves. At this camp she also met her future husband, Richard Hofstadter.

Another startling act Lefranc performed during this time was to create an artist guild. She designed, funded, directed and opened the Art Guild located on the fifth floor of 37 W. 57th St. in New York. The guild was located in an extremely prominent spot a block from the Empire State Building, Times Square and looking out over Central Park. The development of the guild was so distinguishing that the creation now resides permanently in the annals of the Smithsonian’s permanent Archives of American Art.

During the advent of the war period, Lefranc’s personal and professional life took a somewhat bleak turn true to most experiencing the war. She continued to find respite at her colony; however, the darkness of the war was never far from mind. At the end of the war, she had filed for divorce and received an invitation to study out West with Alice Marriott, who had received a prestigious Rockefeller Foundation grant to study Indian potters of San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. While her relationship with her friend Marriott could at times be tumultuous, it also provided a fresh new perspective on life and scenery. In 1948, Lefranc received a Library of Congress award for her illustrations of pottery. Her consecutive awards for “Fifty Best Books of the Year” and “One Hundred Best Books of the Year” were bright spots in her experience out West. It is no surprise that Lefrac became good friends with Georgia O’Keeffe, who also experienced man troubles and was an innovative thinker as well as an exquisite artist. In addition, she was adopted by an Indian family during her stay.

Then in the late ’60s, as Lefranc’s relationship with Marriott deteriorated, as did Lefranc’s parents’ health, she moved to Florida. However, she continued to live out her life part of the year in Florida and the rest in New Mexico to keep up her friendship with O’Keeffe and Lefranc’s adopted Indian family. In 1998, Lefranc passed away but not before leaving her artistic legacy in the hands of longtime friend Sandra McKenzie, who painstakingly preserved her art, story and awards.

Upcoming Events

City Hall Exhibit: “The Pierceton Picker — Dave Taylor.” Enjoy the artwork Dave Taylor has curated through his years as an art enthusiast. The exhibit will change frequently, so visit often. Visit the exhibit between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Warsaw City Hall, downtown Warsaw.

Taproot Brewhouse & Co.: 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, Thunder Gourd Class; 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, Acrylic Painting Class on canvas; 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, Bob Ross Painting Class with certified instructor Laura Wildwoods. Call (260) 610-6644 to reserve your spot. Some classes have a cost for supplies. Food and beverages available during all classes.

Darla McCammon is an artist, columnist and author, and DeeAnna Muraski is executive director of Operation Read USA Inc. For information, call (574) 527-4044 or send an email to [email protected].