"The Other Swedes"
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends ~
<> Their Legacy Art Community <>
Artist Lester Raymer
~ Remembering him as the renowned virtuoso artist and "behind the scenes" community supporter
~ Celebrating Them ~
~ The Lindsborg Swedes, Their Neighbors & Friends ~
<> Their Legacy Art Community <>
Artist Lester Raymer
~ Remembering him as the renowned virtuoso artist and "behind the scenes" community supporter
Artist Lester Raymer
(1907-1991)
(1907-1991)
Courtesy of the Raymer Society
Perhaps American artist Lester Raymer's most notable painting that he created for the Swedish Lindsborg community was that of the King of Sweden on a white stallion flanked in the background by the Swedish Pavilion and the Bethany Lutheran Church. This was painted in anticipation of the scheduled visit of His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, to Lindsborg on April 17, 1976.
Raymer, of English/German descent, was born in 1907 in the farming community of Alva, Oklahoma. In his early childhood, he started drawing and experimenting with a wide variety of art forms. Raymer graduated from the Chicago Art Institute in 1935 and returned to his family farm where he produced his art from his studio there until 1945, when he married artist Ramona Weddle, a Swede from Lindsborg. She also graduated from the Chicago Art Institute in 1934. After returning to Lindsborg, Ramona taught physical education at Bethany College in the 1942/1943 school year. She also served as the Delta Phi Delta art fraternity Counsellor in the 1944/1945 school year, the same time Lester Raymer was the painting instructor at Bethany College. They would live together in the Red Barn Studio, a house and studio that he built in Lindsborg until his death in 1991, a year before Ramona’s death.
Raymer, of English/German descent, was born in 1907 in the farming community of Alva, Oklahoma. In his early childhood, he started drawing and experimenting with a wide variety of art forms. Raymer graduated from the Chicago Art Institute in 1935 and returned to his family farm where he produced his art from his studio there until 1945, when he married artist Ramona Weddle, a Swede from Lindsborg. She also graduated from the Chicago Art Institute in 1934. After returning to Lindsborg, Ramona taught physical education at Bethany College in the 1942/1943 school year. She also served as the Delta Phi Delta art fraternity Counsellor in the 1944/1945 school year, the same time Lester Raymer was the painting instructor at Bethany College. They would live together in the Red Barn Studio, a house and studio that he built in Lindsborg until his death in 1991, a year before Ramona’s death.
His Majesty, Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden
by
Artist Lester Raymer
for the
1976 King's visit
[Artist Lester Raymer's portrait of the monarch was of perfection and magnificent!!]
by
Artist Lester Raymer
for the
1976 King's visit
[Artist Lester Raymer's portrait of the monarch was of perfection and magnificent!!]
In short, Lester Raymer was a gifted prolific artist in countless mediums. His reputation would spread throughout America's art world, and, as a result, he would win many awards during his career.
Raymer's works reflect his interest in religious symbolism, folk art, and circus themes as well as reflecting the influences of the great masters, especially Spanish and Italian artists. In the 1960s, his religious works won awards that gained him liturgical commissions from churches in Kansas, Illinois, and Texas.
He was a private person, so he did very little self-promotion. It had been said that he would say: "My paintings do all the talking."
Raymer was a "behind the scenes" supporter of Lindsborg, contributing his gifts to the cultural endeavors and Swedish traditions found there, especially in preparation for Svensk Hyllningsfest, the biennial tribute to the Swedish pioneers.
Raymer's works reflect his interest in religious symbolism, folk art, and circus themes as well as reflecting the influences of the great masters, especially Spanish and Italian artists. In the 1960s, his religious works won awards that gained him liturgical commissions from churches in Kansas, Illinois, and Texas.
He was a private person, so he did very little self-promotion. It had been said that he would say: "My paintings do all the talking."
Raymer was a "behind the scenes" supporter of Lindsborg, contributing his gifts to the cultural endeavors and Swedish traditions found there, especially in preparation for Svensk Hyllningsfest, the biennial tribute to the Swedish pioneers.
- The 1976 Swedish King's Visit to Lindsborg -
Source: The Bethany Magazine, Spring Issue 1976, Editor A. John Pearson, Assistant Estred Johnson Schwantes. Cover photo by Jim Turner of Jim Turner Photography
In 1988, the Raymer Society for the Arts was established by friends and supporters of Lester and Ramona Raymer. Rick Nelson, who owned the Konstverk Gallery that promoted Raymer’s work, was instrumental in forming the Society and was the first director. The Red Barn Studio Museum was restored and opened with regular hours in September of 1997.
The Museum is committed to showcasing Raymer's art works, while it supports visiting artists in the Artist-in- Residence (AIR) program, along with providing occasional on-site art class programs, and holding biannual art auctions. In 2012, the Red Barn Studio was listed in the Register of Historic Kansas Places.
Mrs. Marsha Howe, a Bethany College graduate, has been the Museum's second director since 2001 and has done an outstanding job in promoting Raymer's art! Her daughter, Ms. Emily Howe, will take over this position in 2024, while Mrs. Howe continues to work for the Museum in cataloging over 2,500 pieces of Raymer's art, which are located all over the world.
I am most grateful to Mrs. Howe who has been helpful in providing additional information on Artist Lester Raymer for his section in SWEDES. For more information, go directly to the Red Barn Studio Museum website HERE.
Other information sources I have used have been from Kansapedia HERE, and AskART HERE.
In 1988, the Raymer Society for the Arts was established by friends and supporters of Lester and Ramona Raymer. Rick Nelson, who owned the Konstverk Gallery that promoted Raymer’s work, was instrumental in forming the Society and was the first director. The Red Barn Studio Museum was restored and opened with regular hours in September of 1997.
The Museum is committed to showcasing Raymer's art works, while it supports visiting artists in the Artist-in- Residence (AIR) program, along with providing occasional on-site art class programs, and holding biannual art auctions. In 2012, the Red Barn Studio was listed in the Register of Historic Kansas Places.
Mrs. Marsha Howe, a Bethany College graduate, has been the Museum's second director since 2001 and has done an outstanding job in promoting Raymer's art! Her daughter, Ms. Emily Howe, will take over this position in 2024, while Mrs. Howe continues to work for the Museum in cataloging over 2,500 pieces of Raymer's art, which are located all over the world.
I am most grateful to Mrs. Howe who has been helpful in providing additional information on Artist Lester Raymer for his section in SWEDES. For more information, go directly to the Red Barn Studio Museum website HERE.
Other information sources I have used have been from Kansapedia HERE, and AskART HERE.
This section has been shown to Ms. Marsha Howe, Director of the Raymer Society for the Arts, for approval as of 6-14-24.
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