Designer/Maker:
Barney Reid - took his masters thesis in lithography at the
State University of Iowa. Reid moved to San Diego about 1950, after
teaching at ASU from 1946-49, and went into business selling screen-printed
fabrics. Renowned for his enamel work, he was a consummate craftsman,
and worked in metal, clay, wood, marble and other media. A member
of the Allied Craftsmen and the San Diego Art Guild, Reid was employed
as a graphic designer by the U. S. Navy. From the late 70's until
his demise, he worked in printmaking almost exclusively.
Description:
Hand screened fabric swatch sample. This was produced during
the brief period when Reid had just moved to San Diego and was enjoying
success with his new screen printed fabric business based in the old
Convair plant on Pacific Coast Highway. About this endeavor Reid has
said: “…I was pretty proud of that. We put out yardage
and table linen. Our work was in all the class places - Gump's in
San Francisco was a good customer, Armin Richter in La Jolla, Bullock's
Wilshire, The Broadway in Honolulu. We even were in specialty shops
in Florida and Cuba.” Reid's business was abruptly terminated
with the loss of his lease at Convair during the Korean War. In this
short time during the early 1950's, Barney created many fascinating
textile designs and it is rare to find any of these brilliant examples.
This fabric came from the estate of Barney and Sue Reid and has been
folded up, away from any light damage for more than 50 years!
