Edward Laning | |
|---|---|
 Edward Laning, 1937 (Archives of American Art collection) | |
| Born | April 26, 1906 Petersburg, Illinois, United States |
| Died | May 1981 |
| Education | Art Institute of Chicago,University of Chicago,Art Students League |
| Known for | Painting |
| Notable work | "The Story of the Recorded Word" |
| Spouse | Mary Fife Laning |
Edward Laning (1906–1981) was an American painter.
Laning was born in 1906 inPetersburg, Illinois.
He studied at theArt Institute of Chicago (1923–1924) and theUniversity of Chicago, (1925–1927). He also studied at theArt Students League withMax Weber,Boardman Robinson,John Sloan andKenneth Hayes Miller (1927–1930).
In 1931, Laning's work formed part of the first major show at the newly formedWhitney Museum of American Art.[1] He painted murals for theWorks Progress Administration during theGreat Depression[1] as well as apost office mural inRockingham, North Carolina (1937).[2] In 1935, he painted theEllis Island murals (chosen over Japanese-American artistHideo Noda):
It was a great relief to PWA, to the College Art Association, to ArchitectsHarvey Wiley Corbett andChester Holmes Aldrich and to Edward Laning last week to learn that Commissioner of Immigration & NaturalizationRudolph Reimer at Ellis Island had finally approved Artist Laning's designs for murals for the dining hall at New York's immigrant station. Cheered, Muralist Laning and his two assistants,James Rutledge andAlbert Soroka, hustled to get his cartoons on tempera and gesso panels as soon as possible.[3]
In 1937, he painted murals in theNew York Public Library, including his most famous work,The Story of the Recorded Word.[1]
In 1980, Laning came toOgden, Utah, to personally oversee the installation of his two 50-foot by 12-foot murals in the Grand Lobby of the historic Ogden Railway Station. The northern side depicts the Union Pacific company coming from Omaha, Nebraska, and the southern side depicts the Central Pacific coming from Sacramento, California. TheNational Academy of Design of New York City granted $100,000 to Union Station as his commission.
Laning taught art at the Art Students League (1932–33, 1945–50, 1952), and theKansas City Art Institute.[4] He was a member of theAmerican Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers and theNational Academy of Design. He served as president of theNational Society of Mural Painters from 1970 to 1974.[5]
Laning died in 1981 in New York, survived by his wife, artistMary Fife Laning.[1]
Laning's works have been displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago (1945), theCarnegie Institute (1945), and theVirginia Museum of Fine Arts (1944–45).[4] His works can be viewed at theMetropolitan Museum of Art, theWhitney Museum of American Art, and theRichmond Professional Institute. In addition, his works can be seen at the New York Public Library and U.S. post offices inRockingham, North Carolina andBowling Green, Kentucky. In assessing his works, the Smithsonian Institution writes:
In his work, Laning expressed his disenchantment with the political and social uncertainties of post-Depression America and his perception of the degradation of American values; in several paintings he used fire as a symbol of impending societal destruction.[6]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theBureau of Reclamation.
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