Judith Schermer (born on February 19, 1941) is a Detroit-born, Philadelphia-based painter who also wrote and illustrated for children during the 1970s and 1980s.

Judith Schermer
Born (1941-02-19) February 19, 1941 (age 83)[1]: 184 
Detroit[1]: 184 
Occupation(s)Painter;[2] former children's author/illustrator[1]
Years activec. 1973–2000s[1]: 185 [2][3]
Children2 daughters[1]: 184 
Parents
Relatives1 sister[4]

Life and career

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Schermer was born on February 19, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan.[1]: 184  Her father, Minnesota-born George Schermer,[5] worked in human and urban relations;[1]: 184 [4] her mother Bernice had jobs in real estate and teaching.[1]: 184  She attended the Universities of Colorado and Pennsylvania in 1964, and Chicago during 1965–67, returning to the Pennsylvania facilities in 1970–72.[1] She was also a member of the Philadelphia Art Alliance.[1]: 184 

Schermer studied anthropology in college,[3] but later chose to pursue a career in painting and illustration.[1]: 185 [3] Self-taught in that field, she used oils and acrylics in her artwork.[1]: 185  Between c. 1973 and 1983, she illustrated titles by other writers;[3][6] by 1979, she also illustrated Mouse in House, her first and only book as an author.[1]: 185 [3]

In 1995, the rundown state of the Philadelphia Naval Home (situated close to her residence) inspired Schermer to create a painting called Burgeoning.[7] Entering the 2000s, her works were exhibited at the city's Third Street Gallery.[2]

Critical analysis

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As The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote in March 2000, "Schermer's [evocation of] lines, angles and shadows [in depictions of buildings]... results in crisply defined patterns of the kind that Charles Sheeler made famous. ... [Her] small-scale [art is] understated in every particular, but not so matter-of-fact that they seem as ordinary as her raw material."[8] Her works, according to the Philadelphia Daily News, "capture a contemporary moment reminiscent of early DeChirico paintings, when forms seem suspended in time."[9]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Commire, Anne, ed. (1983). "Schermer, Judith (Denise) 1941–". Something About the Author. Vol. 30. Gale Research. pp. 184–185. ISBN 0-8103-0055-9. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c Sozanski, Edward J. (October 22, 2004). "Museums • Galleries — Art: Into the trees". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. W22. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e Eby, Eleanor (July 15, 1979). "Children's corner: Field and mouse: Picture books". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 15-I. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Urban Relations Consultant George Schermer, 78, Dies". The Washington Post. June 5, 1989. p. D04. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ a b Loyd, Linda (June 5, 1989). "Obituary: George Schermer, Housing Activist". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E.10. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ a b Cuddigan, Maureen; Hanson, Mary Beth (1988). "Emotions and Feelings: Jealousy". Growing Pains: Helping Children Deal with Everyday Problems Through Reading. American Library Association (ALA). p. 47. ISBN 0-8389-0469-6. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ Dove, Pheralyn (December 15, 1995). "In Abington show, a celebration of artistry and community". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. N5. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Sozanski, Edward J. (March 31, 2000). "Museums • Galleries — Art: Architectural patterns". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. W42. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Fabbri, Anne R. (March 3, 2000). "Bright Idea: Shed the Darkness and Gloom of Winter – Gallery-Hop by Daylight". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 76. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via ProQuest.
  10. ^ Monson, Dianne L., ed. (1985). "Contemporary Realistic Fiction: Stories About Everyday Life: Picture Books". Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K - Grade 6 (PDF). National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). p. 160. ISBN 0-8141-0076-7. Retrieved July 15, 2023 – via ERIC.ed.gov  .