The Beginnings

The Painted Screen Society was founded in 1985 by Folklorist Elaine Eff and Screen Painter Dee Herget at a time when dozens of artists were still active, but each worked independently, unaware that he or she was a part of a community of traditional artists. Although all were aware of their competition, few screen painters had ever met one another. In the 1980s they began to meet and exchange ideas. Originally conceived as a guild for screen painters, it was immediately evident that the art form had equally ardent supporters among present and former neighbors and far-flung Baltimoreans. The Society acts as a clearinghouse for information and classes, hosts workshops and demonstrations and community outreach efforts, facilitates networking and connecting artists to artists, customers to artists, and artists to resources.

Ebb and Flow

Every year, as sure as winter turned to spring, the screen painters found a ready audience in the local daily newspapers and occasional magazine stories. Whether a single photograph that said it all or a full blown feature story about a new or long established artist, the local media heralded the season. Homeowners were reminded to dust off and install their rowhouse Rembrandts or find a willing artist to renew or start from scratch. The popularity of painted screens reliably ebbed and flowed over the years. As long as the neighborhood demographics stuck, the demand for and reverence for screens continued. Ethnic enclaves set among churches, parochial schools and social centers held on. The arrival of air conditioners in these working class homes in the 1950s struck a body blow. The screens disappeared and windows shut tight. But as long as the painters were out on the streets seeking customers, the art form persisted.

On the Trail of Painted Screens

In 1974, Elaine Eff went to study folk art at the State University of NY at Oneonta's, Cooperstown Graduate Program in Cooperstown, NY. Her mother's parting words were, "Folk Art? Is that like the painted screens of Baltimore?" When the student of folklore and museum studies came upon a wooden framed screen--not from Baltimore--she set out for East Baltimore to unravel the mystery, meet the artists, dabblers and residents. Thus began a consmuming inquiry and an unintended mission to revive a slumbering art form.

The first stop was the Oktavec Art Shop where second generation screen painter Richard Oktavec carried on the tradition begun in 1913 by his father William. Their student, neighbor and quasi family member, Johnny Eck, held forth around the corner. The search turned up dozens of artists and dabblers, all of whom worked independently, some without compensation, and with little reference to the others--except as "the competition."

Exhibitions

In 1985, Baltimore's City Arts Festival Artscape hosted "Windowscapes", a significant early gathering of artists and their families, held in the Lyric Theater lobby.

A selection of screens travelled to the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum for the exhibition "Sitting Pretty, Looking Fine" curated with Berkeley Folk Art author and collector John Turner. Elaine Eff lectured at the museum and painter Dee Herget taught a workshop and demonstrated her technique. Despite a remarkable similarity in attached house types and sidewalk to front window proximity, we were sad to see that screens were not used in that city.

The Contemporary Museum, originally a nester without a home, featured the work of artist Allison Saar who chose screen painting and street Arabbers as the centerpieces of the exhibition "Catfish Dreamin.'" The installation artist used the Square at the Village of Cross Keys as exhibition space.

Documentary Film

While documenting the lives of the artists, it became clear that each one's story was rich enough to be a feature film. Vaudevillians, carnival pitch men, musicians, city workers, sign painters--all lifelong Baltimoreans-- had fascinating stories to share.

Aware of the iminent death of one of the elder painters, a film crew was dispatched in winter 1987 under the direction of then Baltimore City Folklorist Elaine Eff to capture his story. Armed with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council and the Maryland Humanities Council and private donors, seven more painters were interviewed for the film. Twenty hours of 16mm film was shot. The 28- minute documentry film "The Screen Painters" was completed in record time. It premiered to sold out crowds on June 7th and 8th in 1988 at Highlandtown's Patterson Theater (then closed but revitalized for the occasion) . It was the Painted Screen Society's first fundaiser, followed by a gala celebration at Haussner's Restaurant. The film has won several awards at film festivals and has been shown in English- speaking countries all around the globe.

To purchase the DVD and poster for the film click here.

Artists in the Schools

Classes have been regularly offered at sites around Baltimore and the surrounding region. The Society's classes were regularly hosted by the Canton Branch of The Enoch Pratt Free Library and The Hatton Senior Center in Canton. One day classes taught by Master artists are offered on demand and seasonally.

Painters have engaged youngsters of various ages at elementary schools around the region. They work closely with individual art instructors to create memorable experiences while sharing their knowledge and an occasional secret. Among the schools that have hosted successful programs are Hampstead Hill Elementary School in Higlandtown, Carroll Manor Elementary School and Battle Grove Elementary School both in Baltimore County and Fairfield Elementary School in Fairfield, PA.

How to DVD

In an effort to keep ahead of the growing demand for screen painting classes, in 1997 the 28-minute video "How to Paint a Baltimore Screen" was filmed and released. It's success has challenged the Society to seek new ways to count screen painters as they practice and teach around the country.

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