this old house, once owned by Alma Lesch, directly across the street from her studio home, was demolished over twenty years ago the artist reconsidered the costs for its restoration...the scallop woodwork on the early 20th century "American Gothic" was an inspiration for the textile motif used in her major corporate commission "Lay of the Land: Kentucky" 1983. Of course Alma's "Southern Gothic" fabric portraits are her trademark works.

Alma Wallace Lesch database

Alma Wallace Lesch database

 


"Sallie" fabric portrait
private collection

 


Alma Wallace Lesch 1917-1999

 

 


detail of large tapestry commission from 1983 now in Owensboro, Kentucky

 

 


detail of scallop pattern inspired by the old twentieth century wooden trimmed house owned by the artist in Shepherdsville which could be seen from her home and studio directly across the street, a home she lived and worked in for fifty years

Commission for the Meidinger Tower Fourth Ave and Walnut Sts, Louisville
12' x 14' weight 94 pounds
August 1983

In the spring of '93 the owners of the Meidinger Tower gave this piece to the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, KY







perhaps the largest commissioned tapestry executed by Alma Wallace Lesch during a prolific period in the early 1980s

 


close up of lush fabrics used in "Lay of the Land: Kentucky" 1983

Alma Wallace Lesch database

Alma Wallace Lesch database

 


"Lay of the Land: Kentucky" 1983 Alma Lesch tapestry
commissioned by Meidinger Tower, in collection of Owensboro Art Museum

 


proposal sketch with tapestry in progress winter of 1983

 

 


detail of tapestry with safety pins before finishing work

 


called "Lay of the Land: Kentucky" this 1983 in-process photo details part of the large commission delivered to Meidinger Tower, Louisville

 


tapestry is now in the collection of the Owensboro Museum of Art, Kentucky