John+Bloom

Original Author: Matthew Morrison, ENG340 FL10 Revision Author
 * John Bloom**

During the time of the Great Depression, a new form of art began springing up throughout the rural Midwest. This new Depression-era art movement rose as an attempt to shun the rapidly growing city life and advancement of technologies, and instead switch the focus to images of true American rural life. This new art movement was known as Regionalism, and was appreciated for its reassuring images of the American heartland (Artinthepicture.com). Regionalist artists were different from other artist of this time; they “[interpreted the] physiography, industry, and psychology of their hometown, and that the competition of these preceding elements [created] American culture” (Artinthepicture.com). As Regionalism began to take its hold in the art world, many artists started to emerge and found much success with this new genre. Artists such as Grant Wood emerged, who gained fame for his painting “American Gothic”, and many others such as Thomas Hart Benton and John Stewart Curry (Artinthepicture.com). But, one artist in particular who came out of this new art movement was special. Why? Because he grew up in the Quad Cities back yard and soon became a very successful Regionalism artist. This artist was John Bloom, and his artwork was directly influenced by the area that surrounded the Quad Cities.

John Vincent Bloom was born on March 27, 1906 to John V. and Caroline (Hansman) Bloom Sr. in De Witt, Iowa (Quad City Times). John Bloom began his art career when he moved to Davenport, Iowa to attended St. Ambrose University, and also study at the Tri-City Art League School in 1924. After two years, John Bloom left St. Ambrose and enrolled into the Art Institute of Chicago in 1926. While there, John Bloom taught first year drawing and competition classes. He graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1930, which was right at the beginning of the rise of the Regionalism movement. That same year Grant Wood produced “American Gothic”, which became an instant world sensation (John Bloom Art). Bloom won an art contest with an oil painting entitled “Burial” in 1932 at the Iowa State Fair. After that, John Bloom’s work soon attracted Grant Wood, and upon a special invitation by Wood himself, John Bloom joined Wood’s new art colony; the Stone City Art Colony Grant Wood’s Stone City Art Colony was an institute that aimed to advance the new Regionalist philosophy. While there, John Bloom shared Wood’s colony quarters, which was a painted ice wagon. Bloom struggled to stay in the art colony though; he was unable to pay the tuition that the school required. In order to stay, Bloom worked as the colonies groundskeeper. John Bloom also met his future wife while at the Art Colony, a young sculptress by the name of Isabel Scherer. The couple would later marry in 1935. (Raine).

John Bloom’s career began to take off during his time at the Art Colony. Bloom was hired by Wood to help in designing and painting murals for the Des Moines Public Library. Bloom was also associated with the student painter group working under Wood at the Iowa State University library; while there, Bloom was a key part in painting two of the Parks Library murals. The two pieces were “Breaking the Prairie Sod” and “When Tillage Begins, Other Arts Follow”. By 1936, Bloom was a well established artist and began receiving commissions for several different murals. In 1937, Bloom received the commission for the De Witt Post Office. The mural that he made for this project was titled “Shucking Corn”. This piece was soon followed by the federal mural commission for the Tipton Post Office, entitled “Cattle,” which was finished in 1940 (Raine).

During these major mural commissions, Bloom settled down in Davenport, Iowa with his wife Isabel. While in Davenport, Bloom began working as an industrial designer for H. Wood Miller Company. Bloom was hired by the Rock Island Arsenal as a commercial artist for the Army Corps of Engineering. Bloom also did side jobs; he painted houses and renovated houses to help support his growing family. During this time Bloom also pursued his interest in lithography. Bloom continued to work as a commercial artist until his retirement in 1969 (Raine).

John Bloom enjoyed his retirement, and during that time he reconnected with his passion for art. It was not until the 1980’s that Bloom was rediscovered by an art gallery owner by the name of David Losasso in the Village of East Davenport. In the early 80’s, Losasso opened the Mississippi Fine Arts Gallery, a place that Bloom would frequently visit. It was the encouragement of David Losasso that led to John Bloom’s re-emergence into the art community. In 1984, Losasso held a solo art exhibit for John Bloom which contained both new and old pieces. Losasso helped Bloom get mural commissions for various different buildings, including the Davenport Bank and Trust Company. Bloom also began making prints of his original drawings, and Bloom soon became a famous area artist once again. Bloom’s renewal of success continued all the way up until his death on May 21, 2002, at age 96 (John Bloom Art).

John Bloom’s art was quite interesting. He worked with many different types of art, ranging from oil mural paintings, lithographs, prints, drawing, and sculptures. Bloom’s inspiration came from his surroundings of rural communities and his personal experiences within this setting. He depicted images of the rural lifestyle; images that featured people maintaining their everyday lives during such difficult times, which showed his commitment to the Regionalist movement. Bloom strived to create unique American artwork. Bloom was a master of lines; an article from the River Cities’ Reader sums up his style perfectly,

“Drawing directly from everyday life, he transformed his observations with a skillful economy and nuance that can only come from long experience and total observation. Even in his lithographic printmaking, his subtle and beautifully lighted tones were created by a multitude of lines. In his paintings, his linear preparations paid off in a painting style that grew progressively lighter, almost effortless” (River Cities' Reader).

His style is all his own, which has made his artwork unique compared to the other artist that were a part of the Regionalist movement.

John Bloom was an important figure in the art community. He was a direct link to an interesting part of our country’s history, and his artwork has stood the test of time. He was an artist who lived through the Great Depression, was a member of a radical new art movement, and key figure in the creation of many famous Regionalist pieces. John Bloom was fascinated with the world around him, and depicted that fascination in his artwork.

Artinthepicture.com. __What Is Regionalism.__ 2010. 3 December 2010 [] John Bloom Art. __Bio.__ 2009. 3 December 2010 <[]>. Quad City Times. __John Bloom.__ 24 May 2002. 3 December 2010 <[]>. Raine, Kristy. __John V. Bloom.__ October 2003. 3 December 2010 <[]>. River Cities' Reader. __A Local American Treasure: John Bloom at the Augustana College Art Museum, Through November 10.__ 31 October 2007. 3 December 2010 <[]>.
 * Works Cited**

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