Florence Elizabeth Riefle Bahr
Personal Information
Born: 1909
Died: 1998
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
Dickenson College 1 year 1927; Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) Costume Design Diploma 1930, Fine Arts Diploma 1931, BFA Painting 1962, MFA Education & Printmaking 1967; Catonsville Community College classes in German & Biology 1959
"In discussing her painting, "Homage to Matin Luther King," she said, "I heard the news on the radio, and I felt like the world was coming to an end. I went up to my studio and poured my anguish and sorrow into the canvas. Homage came straight out of my heart." (Wikipedia); "But isn't this the most marvelous age of all to be in -- its golden opportunities! May we be given the insight to make the most of what we have available to all." (msa.maryland.gov); "
— Florence Elizabeth Riefle Bahr
Professional Life
Field of Study: Artist
Institution/Corporation: Maryland State Archives
Degrees & Memberships: Member: National Association of Women Painters & Sculptors
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1936 Baltimore Museum of Art Print Club Purchase Prize; 1952 Baltimore Museum of Art All Maryland Show; 1968 Maryland Institute Alumni F. Weber Award; 1968 Maryland Arts Council Selection, Second Annual Maryland Artists Today traveling show; 1969 Loyola College Baltimore Outdoor Show Purchase Prize; 1971 Second place prize in watercolors in the Constellation Art Contest; 1999 Posthumously inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame; 1931 James Young Memorial Prize; 1936 Baltimore Museum of Art Print club Purchase Prize
Achievements: did portraits of children, adults & nature studies; had over 300 sketchbooks in pen & ink; 1960s & 70s was a human & civil rights activist involved in improving children's rights (volunteered at Black Panther Breakfast Program for Children), women's rights, anti-war & anti-nuclear demonstrations & the abolishment of African Apartheid; championed anyone who stood up for the poor
she donated her painting, Homage to Martin Luther King, to the NAACP & it hangs in their headquarters, it depicts MLK giving his I Have a Dream speech
created illustrations for children's books
painted a mural for the Johns Hopkins Hospital's Harriet Lane Home for children under the WPA Program
began exhibiting her art in the 1930s
is the 1st woman artist recognized by Maryland's Women's Hall of Fame
often said she & her husband (another artist) would rather paint than eat
liked horseback riding, hiking & swimming
died in a house fire which also damaged many of her sketches & they were salvaged by staff & curators from the Maryland State Archives where they are now housed & can only be viewed after obtaining permission due to their damaged state
was arrested at a May Day anti-war demonstration at the Pentagon&sketched important events during the 20th century like the March on Washington, political trials,, demonstrations & marches along with portraits of people
donated over 300 sketchbooks of her works to the Maryland State Archives before her death
worked in multiple media & often incorporated natural elements she found like pebbles, shells & feathers in her work
did sketches, oil & watercolor paintings, lithographs, sculptures, book illustrations, collages & constructions of found materials
her art is held in private & public collections in Europe, Japan, & the US
collected antique dolls & did over 200 watercolor paintings of dolls
opened a museum in Ellicott City MD called Humpty Dumpty Museum of Dolls & Toys & was an antique dealer in the same city