Sidney Simon

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sidney Simon
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
DiedAugust 4, 1997(1997-08-04) (aged 80)
Truro, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Other namesSid Simon
EducationBachelor of fine Arts
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
OccupationArtist
Years active1938–1997
EraNew York School (art)
Known forAmerican official war artist
Notable work
  • U.S. and Japan WWII peace treaty signing aboard the U.S.S. Missouri
  • The Four Seasons Fountain Sculpture
StylePainting, Sculpture
Military career
Allegiance
South West Pacific Theatre of World War II
Awards
  • Bronze Star

Sidney A. Simon (May 21, 1917 – August 4, 1997) was an American painter, sculptor, muralist, art school co-founder, and American official war artist.

Early life

Sidney Simon was born May 21, 1917, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father was James Simon, a shoe store merchant.[1] In 1912, Simon's father emigrated from an area between Siedlce and Sokołów Podlaski in Poland, then under Russian rule. His mother was Minnie Lipman, who emigrated in 1913 with her family from Kalvarija, Lithuania, then under Russian rule.[2] James and Minnie Simon's marriage produced four children: Sidney A., Helen Judith, Leon Jacob, and David Irving. Minnie Lipman's father's Americanized name was "Max Lipman," shortened from his European name which was Avram Michael Lipmanovich. The 1930 U.S. Census states Simon's family to have resided at 2766 Beechwood Boulevard, in Squirrel Hill, an east-end Pittsburgh neighborhood.[3] His interest in art began at an early age.

Education

Simon attended

Merion, Pennsylvania.[5][6] After World War II, Simon studied and attended classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, in Paris, France.[6]

Military service

Watercolor painting by Sidney Simon of the formal Japanese Surrender as witnessed aboard the U.S.S. Missouri February 11, 1945 – in Tokyo Bay.

Simon enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 11, 1942,

South West Pacific Theater of World War II operations.[8] His duties included painting, drawing, and field reconnaissance intelligence. Simon was chosen to paint the formal surrender ceremony as witnessed September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay aboard battleship USS Missouri.[11][12][13] referred to as V-J Day, ending WWII.[14] This historical painting is reported to have hung in the White House.[12]
Simon was discharged and released on April 19, 1946.

Post-military career

In 1946, Simon, along with artists Willard W. Cummings (1915–1975), Henry Varnum Poor (1888–1971), and Charles Cutler (1914–1970), developed and founded The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture located in Madison, Maine.[9] In addition to the Skowhegan School, Simon also served on the faculties of the Parsons School of Design, the Art Students League, the Brooklyn Museum Art School, Columbia University, Cooper Union, the New York Studio School, Sarah Lawrence College and the Castle Truro Center for the Arts.[15] One of his most noted public commissions is a fountain consisting of four females holding up a stylized globe of the earth, titled The Four Seasons and located central to a public plaza at One Worldwide Plaza in New York City.[16][17]

Personal life

Simon's first marriage, to Joan E. Lewisohn, produced five children: Mark Simon, Teru Simon, Rachel Simon, Nora Simon and Juno Simon Duenas. Lewisohn and Simon divorced in 1961.[18] In 1968, Simon married Renee Adriance, in Manhattan, New York City; they had two children, Nick Simon and Tony Simon. Tony Simon performs as Blockhead.[19]

Death

Sidney Simon died on August 4, 1997, at the age of 80 in Truro, Massachusetts, of congestive heart failure.[16]

Notable works

Professional associations

References

  1. ^ "Shoe Merchant Dies at Home Page 5 - The Pittsburgh Press at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  2. ^ "15 May 1918, 5 - The Guardian at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "1930 United States Federal Census". Ancestry.com. 1930.
  4. ^ "Allerdice Boy'S Artworks Shown Paintings,' Sketches And Sculpture in Exhibit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 10, 1936. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "Apr 6, 1956, Page 6 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Klish, Renée (June 11, 2019). "Art of the American Soldier" (PDF). history.army.mil. p. 280.
  7. ^ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010
  8. ^ a b c Hagy, Robert, R. "July 7, 1942, Page 19 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 3, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b Ayer, Carolyn (June 4, 1967). "Skowhegan Art School Ready for 22d Season". The Boston Sunday Globe. p. 163. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "May 26, 1946, Page 34 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "They Drew Fire – Combat Artists of World War II". PBS. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  12. ^ a b c "Jan 20, 1955, Page 6 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  13. ^ "Images of Post World War II Japan". army.mil. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "Sep 2, 1945, 2 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  15. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  16. ^ a b New York Times 1997 Aug 8 Simon obituary
  17. ^ a b "NEW YORK | Worldwide Plaza | 778 FT / 237 M | 49 FLOORS | 1989 – SkyscraperPage Forum". forum.skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  18. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Tom, Long. "Aug 6, 1997, 59 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  20. ^ "Mar 31, 1967, Page 24 - The Morning Herald at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  21. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  22. ^ "Nov 11, 2012, T2 - The Record at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "Annual Presentation of the 11th Family of Man to President Gerald R. Ford" (PDF). 1975 Family of Man Awards Ceremonies. November 16, 1975. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  24. ^ "Exhibition here by Sidney Simon to open Monday". The Morning Herald. March 31, 1967. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sidney_Simon&oldid=1174381447"