Late Jordan artists James Irza Arnold and Albert Heppenstall Arnold - father and son - worked in different mediums.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Jordan historian Jack Horner stands in front of artworks by James Irza Arnold and Albert Heppenstall Arnold. The works will be on display today at the Jordan Museum.
Jordan historian Jack Horner stands in front of artworks by James Irza Arnold and Albert Heppenstall Arnold. The works will be on display today at the Jordan Museum.
James etched New York City landmarks like St. Paul's Chapel and City Hall into copper plates and printed them in ink. Albert, or “Hep,” as his friends called him, drew the faces of Jordan Fall Festival-goers and local landscapes in pencil and pastel.
Though their styles and subjects differed, the Arnolds' art links together aesthetically because of a shared discipline: They were both architects.
“You can tell that they did things alike, only in different mediums,” said Jordan-Elbridge historian Jack Horner.
Visitors can view that connection this weekend, when both Arnolds' work is featured in a Historical Art Display at the Jordan Museum.
James, his wife, Anna Caroline Mundlein, and their family moved to the Jordan area from Brooklyn during the Great Depression. While Mundlein raised Albert and his five siblings on a farm on Cooper Road, James continued working in Manhattan as an architect before specializing in pen-and-ink drafting. He also illustrated in magazines such as Pencil Point, of which he served as co-editor.
When business was slow, James spent his free time fashioning prints from copper etchings. His artistic process consisted of layering wax or varnish over the copper, carving the design into the layer and stripping away the unprotected copper with acid.
As he continued commuting back to Jordan when he could, James amassed a body of art work that reflected his twin homes.
His New York City series committed urban landmarks, churches and public buildings to copper plates for ink pressings.
The series is a favorite of James' grandson Hawley Arnold, of Jordan.
“He was recognized as a master in his medium and (the etchings) really show it,” Hawley said.
Contrasting the cityscapes of that series was James' Vanishing America collection, which captured scenes from Jordan like village watering troughs for horses, ferry boats on the Erie Canal and covered bridges.
Several of James' etchings sit in the home of his granddaughter Lida Perfetto, who practices photography on a semi-professional level in Croghan, NY.
“Grandpa's skill level is amazing; it shows that he was a trained architect,” she said.
James would commit to rural life when he retired to the family farm in the 1950s. He spent his later years tending his vegetable garden and fruit trees, and canning their produce, until he passed away in 1965.
“I always remembered him wearing a three-piece suit in his professional life,” Perfetto said. “Then he became a dungarees, working-in-the-garden-type guy.”
Albert studied his father's professional field at Syracuse University and went on to design a new terminal at Hancock International Airport and the original Jordan-Elbridge High School. He spent a portion of his young adult years in Europe during World War II, depicting scenes from Luxembourg in his chosen painting medium of watercolor.
Near his home town of Jordan, Albert penciled landmarks like the Munro Collegiate Institute and the Jordan Academy. He regularly set up his sketching tools at the United Methodist Church's bazaars and the Jordan Fall Festival, where Albert rendered the faces of visitors.
“He drew five children of mine in chalk,” Horner said.
He continued, joking, “They look pretty realistic, but they had to sit too long so they have frowns on their faces.”
Albert took an active role in the Jordan community by working with the town planning board and advocating the preservation of Erie Canal locks. He also contributed a wall-size drawing of Elbridge, which includes a stage coach wheeling along Route 5, to its town hall.
Albert's dry sense of humor and affinity for practical jokes became familiar to close friends, but his selflessness was felt by most fellow members of the community. When the United Methodist Church moved locations and its organ was dissembled, Albert voluntarily painted all of the instrument's pipes.
In his art, Albert exhibited an appreciation for local history that extended to his interest in antiques and the American Revolution. Both his and his father's work has, in turn, entwined their stories in the history of their town, and this weekend's show will likely strengthen the tie.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Historical art display featuring the work of James Irza Arnold and Albert Heppenstall Arnold
When: 1 to 3 p.m. today
Where: Jordan Museum, 15 Mechanic St., Jordan
Cost: Free
To learn more: Visit the site www.jordanny.com
Though their styles and subjects differed, the Arnolds' art links together aesthetically because of a shared discipline: They were both architects.
“You can tell that they did things alike, only in different mediums,” said Jordan-Elbridge historian Jack Horner.
Visitors can view that connection this weekend, when both Arnolds' work is featured in a Historical Art Display at the Jordan Museum.
James, his wife, Anna Caroline Mundlein, and their family moved to the Jordan area from Brooklyn during the Great Depression. While Mundlein raised Albert and his five siblings on a farm on Cooper Road, James continued working in Manhattan as an architect before specializing in pen-and-ink drafting. He also illustrated in magazines such as Pencil Point, of which he served as co-editor.
When business was slow, James spent his free time fashioning prints from copper etchings. His artistic process consisted of layering wax or varnish over the copper, carving the design into the layer and stripping away the unprotected copper with acid.
As he continued commuting back to Jordan when he could, James amassed a body of art work that reflected his twin homes.
His New York City series committed urban landmarks, churches and public buildings to copper plates for ink pressings.
The series is a favorite of James' grandson Hawley Arnold, of Jordan.
“He was recognized as a master in his medium and (the etchings) really show it,” Hawley said.
Contrasting the cityscapes of that series was James' Vanishing America collection, which captured scenes from Jordan like village watering troughs for horses, ferry boats on the Erie Canal and covered bridges.
Several of James' etchings sit in the home of his granddaughter Lida Perfetto, who practices photography on a semi-professional level in Croghan, NY.
“Grandpa's skill level is amazing; it shows that he was a trained architect,” she said.
James would commit to rural life when he retired to the family farm in the 1950s. He spent his later years tending his vegetable garden and fruit trees, and canning their produce, until he passed away in 1965.
“I always remembered him wearing a three-piece suit in his professional life,” Perfetto said. “Then he became a dungarees, working-in-the-garden-type guy.”
Albert studied his father's professional field at Syracuse University and went on to design a new terminal at Hancock International Airport and the original Jordan-Elbridge High School. He spent a portion of his young adult years in Europe during World War II, depicting scenes from Luxembourg in his chosen painting medium of watercolor.
Near his home town of Jordan, Albert penciled landmarks like the Munro Collegiate Institute and the Jordan Academy. He regularly set up his sketching tools at the United Methodist Church's bazaars and the Jordan Fall Festival, where Albert rendered the faces of visitors.
“He drew five children of mine in chalk,” Horner said.
He continued, joking, “They look pretty realistic, but they had to sit too long so they have frowns on their faces.”
Albert took an active role in the Jordan community by working with the town planning board and advocating the preservation of Erie Canal locks. He also contributed a wall-size drawing of Elbridge, which includes a stage coach wheeling along Route 5, to its town hall.
Albert's dry sense of humor and affinity for practical jokes became familiar to close friends, but his selflessness was felt by most fellow members of the community. When the United Methodist Church moved locations and its organ was dissembled, Albert voluntarily painted all of the instrument's pipes.
In his art, Albert exhibited an appreciation for local history that extended to his interest in antiques and the American Revolution. Both his and his father's work has, in turn, entwined their stories in the history of their town, and this weekend's show will likely strengthen the tie.
Staff writer David Wilcox can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net
If you go
What: Historical art display featuring the work of James Irza Arnold and Albert Heppenstall Arnold
When: 1 to 3 p.m. today
Where: Jordan Museum, 15 Mechanic St., Jordan
Cost: Free
To learn more: Visit the site www.jordanny.com
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