Theodore Conrath

Last updated
Theodore Conrath
Ted Conrath 1994.jpg
Conrath in studio, 1994
BornJune 6, 1920
Hebron, North Dakota
DiedJanuary 4, 1995

Theodore "Ted" Conrath (June 6, 1920 - January 4, 1995) was a painter, sculptor, and teacher. [1] In 1949, he illustrated a book of poetry by Madeline Mason, The Cage of Years, which is in collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art . [2] The New York Times commented, "the symbolic illustrations by Theodore Conrath only lack color to remind us of Blake." [3] The work earned Conrath full membership into the National Arts Club, where he was active until 1954.

Life and career

Born in Hebron, North Dakota to German immigrants, Conrath discovered art at age nine, despite having a significant physical handicap. A fall as a baby onto a hot stove left the first two fingers of his right hand severely scarred and fused together. [4] He would later say in a 1938 interview with the Bismarck Tribune that this proved to be an advantage as he used those fingers together to move paint across the canvas; "in many ways it's been a blessing." At 17, he sculpted a bust of governor William Langer, which was exhibited at the State Capitol in Bismarck, [5] and in 1938, his copy of Heinrich Hofmann's "Christ in Gethsemane" was published in Boy's Life magazine. Through the help of teacher and painter, Zoe Beiler, Conrath earned a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago, but was unable to accept it when his National Guard unit was enlisted to fight in World War II. [6]

Conrath fought in the 164th Regiment [7] at the Battle of Guadalcanal. This was the first Army unit to ever fight alongside the Marines in battle, which earned them the nickname, "the 164th Marines." [8] On November 23, 1942, amid fierce jungle fighting, he witnessed his childhood friend, Hermann Diede, die from sniper fire. [9] After the war, he moved to New York City and through the G.I. Bill studied at the Art Students League under William Barnett and John Groth. In 1962, the Key Gallery in Manhattan granted him a solo exhibition of his art. After that, his work fell into obscurity. [10]

In 2018, 17 pieces of Conrath's work were discovered in a thrift store in Tarrytown, New York. [11] His record of membership at the National Arts Club, which had been lost, was restored and ten of the paintings were displayed in their Marquis Gallery from October, 2019 to January, 2020 in an exhibition titled, Discovery and Restoration: Ted Conrath. [12]

In November 2021, the historical journal, the "Eberbacher Geschichtsblatt," published an in-depth exploration of Conrath's life and work. It traced his roots back to Eberbach, Germany, and examined the wealth of artistic talent on both sides of his family, including cousin Hanna Spohr and grandfather Emil Krauth, who long resided in the small Imperial Free City. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enchanted Highway</span> Tourist attraction in North Dakota

The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world's largest scrap metal sculptures constructed by Gary Greff at intervals along a 32-mile (51 km) stretch of a two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota.

Jim Kusler was the former Secretary of State of North Dakota from 1989 to 1992. He farms near Beulah, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obert A. Olson</span> North Dakotan politician (1882–1938)

Obert A. Olson was a North Dakota public servant and politician with the Republican Party. Olson served as a state legislator, State Treasurer (1919-1920), and mayor of Bismarck (1937-1938).

Larry Watson is an American author of novels, poetry and short stories.

George J. Keiser was an American politician in the state of North Dakota. He was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 47th district. A Republican, he was first elected in 1992. Keiser attended the University of Utah and earned a Ph.D., later becoming a businessman. He also served in the United States Army. From 1988 to 1992 he was Commissioner of the City of Bismarck.

Myron H. Atkinson Jr. was an American politician who was a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives. As a Republican, he represented the 32nd district from 1969 to 1976. He was born in Bismarck, North Dakota and attended Bismarck Junior College and the University of North Dakota, where he received his law degree (JD). He was admitted to the North Dakota bar in 1951.

Donald Vigesaa is an American politician. He is a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 29th District, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Balkowitsch</span> American photographer

Shane Balkowitsch is an American wet plate photographer from Bismarck, North Dakota. Balkowitsch was given the name "Maa'ishda tehxixi Agu'agshi" by Calvin Grinnell of the Hidatsa-Mandan-Arikara Nation on October 28, 2018. The subject of his photos is the human condition. Since 2012 he has photographed over 4,700 individuals, including various celebrities and historical figures. Balkowitsch is a self-taught photographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, concurrently with other federal and statewide elections, including the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Republican Governor Doug Burgum and Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford were both re-elected to a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 North Dakota elections</span>

North Dakota held two statewide elections in 2018: a primary election on Tuesday, June 12, and a general election on Tuesday, November 6. In addition, each township elected officers on Tuesday, March 20, and each school district held their elections on a date of their choosing between April 1 and June 30.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 North Dakota Secretary of State election</span>

The 2018 North Dakota Secretary of State election occurred on November 6, 2018, to elect the North Dakota Secretary of State, concurrently with various other state and local elections. Six-time incumbent Republican Secretary of State Alvin Jaeger was eligible to run for re-election to a seventh term in office, but withdrew from his party's primary after failing to receive the endorsement. When the primary winner withdrew from the general election race, Jaeger and fellow Republican Michael Coachman each gathered and turned in signatures to run as independent candidates. Libertarian Party candidate Roland Riemers failed to get enough primary election votes to make the general election ballot both in an initial count and in a court-ordered recount. Democratic-NPL state representative Joshua Boschee was the only candidate who advanced from the primary and the only candidate that had his party listed on the general election ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota</span> Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, United States

The COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The state reported its first case on March 11, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library</span> Presidential library and museum

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is a planned museum focused on the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. It is to be constructed at a site to the west of Medora, North Dakota, near Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which preserves sites associated with Roosevelt's travel in North Dakota between 1883 and 1887. A site in the Badlands of Medora was selected in 2020, as well as the design architect Snøhetta and the architect of record JLG Architects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George W. Harrison</span> American politician (1867–1931)

George W. Harrison (1867–1931) was a prominent journalist, newspaper editor and publisher, and North Dakota Republican Party politician who served as the fourth insurance commissioner of North Dakota from 1899 to 1900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Larsen</span> American politician (1976–2023)

Douglas Allen Larsen was an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the North Dakota Senate, representing the 34th district from 2020 until his death in 2023.

Sweet Briar Public School District 17 is a school district headquartered in the Sweet Briar community, in unincorporated Morton County, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffery Magrum</span> American politician

Jeffery J. Magrum is an American businessman, plumber, and politician serving as a member of the North Dakota Senate from the 8th district. He previously served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 28th district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric P. Quain</span> American physician and surgeon (1870 – 1962)

Eric Peer Quain was a prominent physician and surgeon in Bismarck, North Dakota, and co-founder of the Quain and Ramstad Clinic.

Robb Eckert is an American politician. He served as a Republican member for the 47th district of the North Dakota House of Representatives.

Sean D. Cleary is an American economist and politician serving as a member of the North Dakota Senate from the 35th District.

References

  1. ↑ "Ted Conrath - Biography". www.askart.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  2. ↑ Conrath, Theodore. "The Cage of Years". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  3. ↑ Tinker, C. b (1951-02-18). "With a Note Of Solemnity; Author's Query". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  4. ↑ Conrath, Caroline (2013). Dakota Originals: Stories of My Family. S. Holewa. ISBN   978-0-615-77235-6.
  5. ↑ "Bismarck Tribune Newspaper Archives, May 13, 1938, p. 1". NewspaperArchive.com. 1938-05-13. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. ↑ Conrath, Caroline (2013). Dakota Originals: Stories of My Family. S. Holewa. ISBN   978-0-615-77235-6.
  7. ↑ "Ted Conrath by barracks, Camp Claiborne, L.A., 1940s". www.digitalhorizonsonline.org. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  8. ↑ "164th Infantry". 2-1-196th.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  9. ↑ "Hermann Diede in a military uniform, 1940s". www.digitalhorizonsonline.org. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  10. ↑ DURA, JACK (March 2019). "Long-lost North Dakota artist restored to National Arts Club in New York". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  11. ↑ DURA, JACK (March 2019). "Long-lost North Dakota artist restored to National Arts Club in New York". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  12. ↑ "Theodore Conrath | Artist Profile with Bio". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  13. ↑ "Eberbach on the Hudson: An artist's Journey Home". Eberbacher Geschichtsblatt.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.