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Living Art in My Time
Angela Thiel Silcox was born and attended
schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received the degree of Bachelor
of Science in Applied Art from The University of Cincinnati, in
Cincinnati, Ohio. After several years as Art Educator in the
greater Cincinnati, Ohio area schools, she left to work with the
military in l943 as part of the American Red Cross. Here she
offered Arts and Crafts activity as recreation to soldiers
confined to Hospitals in Sharon PA, Fort Story VA, Fort Lee, VA,
and the convalescent section of Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
Washington DC. She worked with amputees and returning prisoners
of war from WW2. After four years with the American Red Cross
she returned as Art Educator to schools in her home area. The
following year she assumed summer duty with the Girl Scouts of
America at their summer camp located in Pleasantville, NY, known
as Camp Edith Macy Girl Scout National Training School.
Remaining in the New York City area for seven
years, she was employed as Art Educator in a private school on
Long Island and one year with the public schools of White Plains
in Westchester County, New York. During this time she attended
Columbia University in New York City and received her Masters
degree in Fine Arts and Fine Art Education. It was time to leave
the N.Y. area.
She arrived in Texas in the early days when Fort
Hood, Texas was being formed as a major Army post. This was at
the time departments were being staffed. Her work was to develop
a program to give the military constructive activity during
their off duty time. Upon her arrival at Ft Hood, she found in
operation a Hobby Shop offering leather craft materials and
model airplane kits for sale. In a separate facility there was a
woodworking shop. To this beginning was added Art and Hand Craft
instruction with a sales store which provided materials to
complete the projects. This program grew and soon was renamed
“Skill Development Activities” housed in thirteen different
facilities with a staff of experienced instructors holding
degrees.
Over the years her training and experience
enabled the program to grow and to provide assistance to others.
She was sent on temporary duty to Ft Chaffee Arkansas, to
establish another beginning program for the military. Following
the death of President Kennedy in l963, this facility closed.
Some years later her husband Albert, an
Electronic Engineer whom she married shortly after her arrival
to Fort Hood, became ill and passed on. The Vietnam War was in
progress and troop strength was building. She was offered the
position as Staff Arts and Crafts Director with Headquarters,
1st Logistical Command in Saigon and was sent to Vietnam.. Her
tour was from February l967 until April 1968. She was recognized
for her service during the war and the “Tet Offensive” with
a medal for civilian service issued by the Secretary of the
Army. Her return to Texas and Ft Hood continued until her
retirement. The art, craft, and skill areas of Fort Hood, Texas
were consolidated after her retirement and housed in one
facility operating as the “Apache” Art and Craft Center.
While hand art skills were developing at Ft Hood, the Killeen
Chamber of Commerce authorized the establishment of a civic art
guild. Originally known as the KIOOD civic art guild to
consolidate personnel from the army post, the name was changed
to the KILLEEN CIVIC ART GUILD which is in operation today. |
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The Early Years
As a little girl my first artistic ventures were
through a needle. My mother taught me to embroider. I remember
making French knots and lazy daisy stitches and striving for
uniform running stitches for my apron. To complete the apron I
had a little sewing machine that I would spin the wheel to make
it sew; sometimes with success.
On the walls of our home hung interesting prints
and paintings, some were photos and some were oils. During the
summer months our back porch was a gathering place for several
girls interested in needle craft. We would make outfits for our
Cupie Dolls. Then, every little girl had a Cupie Doll and wanted
to dress her. We used left over material for our outfits and
collected elegant pieces of fabric.
During the teenage years I learned to crochet
and to knit. This was the peak of the depression and I learned
to sew on my mother’s treadle sewing machine. Many dresses
were designed and completed because it was easier to sew then to
shop. Times were hard. Although my father was a doctor we had to
manage. No one needing medical help was turned away because of
inability to pay.
One day I noticed several balls of brown string
not being used. Immediately I found a pattern and started to
crochet a short sleeved blouse using the shell and chain stitch.
Success came with the completion of the short sleeved blouse and
a knitted blue sweater. Dresses needed for social events were
designed and sewn on the treadle sewing machine. Later the
machine was converted to use electricity.
I enrolled at the University of Cincinnati which
gave instruction in the use of color, and elements of design and
composition. It was here that I gained knowledge of art through
the centuries. Within the various cultures pottery was covered.
Along with these studies I had classes in Architecture, French,
Lettering, etc.
As I became acquainted with graphic methods and
other hand skills, I prepared for work as an artist. The methods
of formulating line, texture and color, were thoughtfully
applied according to trends of the time.
I enjoyed the challenge of abstract and cubistic
work. The work field provided opportunity to use my art training
in commercial areas and also art training gave wholesome use of
leisure time. Many hours were spent in companionship and
challenge among those persons interested in art and crafts.
In later years thru painting, and in accordance
with trends of the time, inner expression and non-objective art
became popular as opposed to duplicating scenes and copying
objects. This type of non-objective art is not to be understood
but to be enjoyed. Realism is better used in photography in
accordance with art techniques; however it is still used and
accepted as the artist’s expression. Art is for everyone and
should be enjoyed and appreciated for its own sake.
This exhibit covers work according to trends of
the time. The work displayed was completed beginning in the
middle of the 20th century up to the present time.
ATS
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