The art of L. Maude Kronquist: Desert in Bloom

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

This Desert in Bloom watercolor was probably done during her trip to Mexico. In Fitz-Hugh Collection.

L. Maude Johnston Kronquist

L Maude Johnston was born April 5, 1897 on the family farm by Ogantz, Michigan. Her grandfather Olaf Johnson on her fathers side, and both her mothers parents: Anders and Axeline Andersson, parents Hilma and Andrew Johnson, and 4 uncles and 4 aunts emigrated from Sweden and homesteaded the land, logging and farming. Maude grew up on this family farm. She was the fifth of 9 children, 7 of which lived into adulthood. The L in her signature was for Lelia, but she always went by Maude since Lelia was also the name of a deceased older baby sister.

She married Emil Kronquist and in 1925 they gave birth to their only child: Ann Marie Kronquist. They eventually settled in Ishpeming, MI where she lived until her death in Feb. 1973 at the age of 75. Her daughter Ann married Ernie Fitz-Hugh and Maude had two grandchildren: Lynn and Fay. She also had many nieces and nephews.

Maude's art was quite varied in medium and like a true artist she enjoyed exploring and creating in many different styles and mediums. Her most common works were watercolor: landscapes, still lifes and abstract paintings. She did some oil works. She also did freestyle pottery and statues. She was known to use stones and driftwood to create whimsical statues. She could create interesting clothing (some of which she wore) and hangings using fabric and yarn stitching. Maude's home itself was a work of art with various characters painted on her doors and cupboards! After retirement Emil was very much her support person, making most of her frames - some from reclaimed wood, and using his knowledge of geology to mix special glazes for her pottery, and chauffeuring her around to set up her exhibits.

Mostly self-taught, she did study briefly with Aarre Lahti, Aaron Bohrod, and Dan Lutz as well as studying at the Insitute de Allende in St. Miguel Mexico. The trip to Mexico being one of the most exciting events of her life. She was a charter member of the Lake Superior Art Institute. During the Great Depression, during the early years of her marriage, she was employed by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) to give marionette shows thru the Detroit Recreation dept. These were made out of paper mache and are still owned by her granddaughters.

At the time of her death her works were in collections in 10 states, Mexico and Canada. She had won awards in the Arrowhead show of the Duluth Art Institute, the Michigan Watercolor society, and her work was hung in The Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters in Alma, MI. She also won awards at the Upper Peninsula State Fair, the Lake Superior Creative Arts Society, and the US Open Art Show at Suomi College in Hancock, MI. A collection of her works hung in the Bell Hospital and in the public library in Ishpeming. She also taught art classes out of her home.

The vast majority of the works of art shown here are owned by various members of her extended family.

The art of L. Maude Kronquist

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Desert in Bloom

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