Howard D. Becker
Howard D. Becker | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 21, 1914 |
| Died | (aged -1996–-1995) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Pratt Institute, |
| Known for | painting, watercolor |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 6th Port Headquarters, Transportation Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II: European theatre of World War II |
| Awards | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Meritorious Service Medal |
Howard Daniel Becker (1914 in Albany, New York, United States – 1995 in Pennsylvania, US) was an American painter and watercolorist. He served in World War II in 6th Port Headquarters as documentary artist, assigned by Col. R. Hunter Clarkson, painting and sketching the history]] of the occupation and reconstruction of the Port of Marseille. His watercolor painting "Assembly Plant", Cazes, Morocco, 1946, appears in "Soldiers Serving the Nation," a book of the works of artists in the field during World War II, drawn from The US Army Art Collection edited by General Gordon R. Sullivan, U.S. Army Chief of Staff. Several of Becker's pieces were retained by the Historical Properties Section in Washington, D.C..[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Howard D. Becker was born in Albany, New York in 1914.[1] He graduated from the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, New York in 1935.
World War II
Becker was drafted April 26, 1941. He reported to Camp Blanding, Florida with the 57th Quartermaster Regiment.[1] While in at Camp Blanding, Beckers watercolor "Convoy In Dixie" was exhibited as part of a soldiers' art show in the Society of Four Arts library, and purchased by Frederick Gunster, president of the Four Arts, and his wife.[4]
In April 1943, Becker left for North Africa with the 6th Port Headquarters, with the rank of corporal, technician 5th grade.
Commander R. Hunter Clarkson assigned Becker to the unit as an artist, commissioning him to paint port activities and scenes of Army life. May 3, 1944, he arrived in Naples, Italy followed by the south of France on September 4th, where he continued painting the restoration of the port of Marseille and Army scenes. In May 1945, he visited an American camp where he created an exhibition of German art from selected artists from the German prisoners.[5]
Exhibitions of Becker's work included an exhibition at Oran, Cpl Becker’s watercolors on Oran and its environs, the property of the U.S. Army, were displayed for the civilian population of Oran as a gesture of goodwill.[6][7]
Becker was discharged October 7, 1945 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.[2]
Career
Returning from the war, Becker lived at the Taos art colony and travelled through the Southwest where he painted and held art exhibitions.[8] Becker set up residence in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he painted historical scenes, old farms, covered bridges, and country churches. Becker's work has been shown in exhibitions, including The Wayne County Historical Society.
Recognition
The 6th Port was Awarded the Meritorious Service Plaque for Superior Performance In Control and Execution of its Port Missions, 1945
Alliance of UDH rewarded Becker posthumously in 1997 his outstanding contributions to the preservation and appreciation of the Heritage of the Upper Delaware Valley.
Honesdale Historical Society Museum opened with a retrospective exhibition of 40 selected works.
Three of Becker's oil paintings were exhibited at the prestigious, totally dedicated to "Architecture in the State Landscape" exhibition, and presented by Governor and Mrs. Edward G. Rendell in their Governor's Residence, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Exhibitions
The World War II Art of Howard D. Becker, Torrey Building, Pennsylvania, 1995
The Artistic Vision of Howard D. Becker, Wayne County Historical Society, Honesdale[1][9][10]
Personal life
Becker was married to Elsa Garratt Becker, an artist who illustrated for Highlights for Children Magazine. They had one son, Peter.[11]
References
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Artists from Chicago]]
[[Category:School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:American muralists]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:American watercolorists]]
[[Category:Federal Art Project artists]]
- ^ a b c d Di-Stasio, Thomas M. (31 May 1995). "Army-art exhibit carries on a legacy, Soldier's World War II works displayed". The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania). p. 23. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ a b Sullivan, General Gordon R. (1995). Soldiers Serving The Nation. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 178. ISBN 0-16-045496-4.
- ^ ""Do what you think is right" says Honesdale artist Becker". Honesdale Wayne Independent. 10 Nov 1979. p. 11. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "Six Pictures Sold From Art Exhibit". Palm Beach Post. 8 Apr 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "Art Exhibition Draws Flood of GI Entries". Southern France Stars And Stripes. 2 Jul 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "GI's Watercolors To Be Exhibited". Oran Stars and Stripes. 24 Mar 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "Study Of Children Under Fascism Wins Art Prize". Mediterranean Stars And Stripes. 23 Nov 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "Howard D. Becker, '35, in one-man show at Santa Fe Museum". The Art Educators’ Column. 11 Oct 2013. pp. 4–26. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "Lifestyles, Places To Go & Things To Do In Northeastern Pennsylvania". The Times-Tribune. 1 Jul 2012. pp. G3. Retrieved 9 Nov 2022.
- ^ "The Artistic Vision of Howard Becker :: Wayne County Historical Society". www.waynehistorypa.com. Retrieved 2022-11-09.
- ^ "Becker named Wayne County Historian". The River Reporter. Retrieved 2022-11-09.