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patron sponsorship of an artist, or sponsoring an exhibit in your community
please contact info@bluegreengallery.org
Hiroshima Girl
Artist - World War II Activist
Orien Lowell Greenough – Through his daughters eyes . . .
My father was an artist and an activist. He became a conscientious objector during World War Two while serving with the Coast Guard. Once he realized the strength of his convictions he went AWOL, he turned himself in voluntarily but refused to carry a gun from that point. He was placed in military prison for this where he was counseled, luckily enough, by a Quaker who helped him understand the nature of pacifism. This became a lifelong commitment.
After the War he found his way to art school and realized his passion. He studied with Emil Bistrim the noted Southwestern artist and teacher, for several years, following him from Los Angeles to Taos, New Mexico and finally to Gaudalajara, Mexico.
During the 50’s Lowell became involved with anti-war activities, marching, protesting and campaigning against the violence of war. Some of my earliest memories are of riding in my stroller with ”Ban The Bomb” posters strapped to its side. We went to all anti-war marches as well as every civil rights march in LA County. During the Watts riots we brought food and necessities into Watts even though it was under martial law and dangerous.
The Viet Nam War fueled his commitment further and he was active in a multitude of events in protest. Most importantly he began painting and drawing about his convictions. There is a large body of work related to this including the “Metamorphosis of Edward Teller”, “Buried In Uniform”, “Hiroshima Girl” and “The Klansmen”. The anger and passion he felt about this most insane manifestation of man is apparent in the rawness of much of the work from this period.
His anti war commitment continued throughout his life. He and I marched against the first war and the second war in Iraq. By this time he was getting old and struggling to keep up with a march so we took to joining protesters on the corner in Studio City on Friday nights, my Father, holding an antiwar sign 60 years later.
Orien Lowell Greenough – Through his daughters eyes . . .
My father was an artist and an activist. He became a conscientious objector during World War Two while serving with the Coast Guard. Once he realized the strength of his convictions he went AWOL, he turned himself in voluntarily but refused to carry a gun from that point. He was placed in military prison for this where he was counseled, luckily enough, by a Quaker who helped him understand the nature of pacifism. This became a lifelong commitment.
After the War he found his way to art school and realized his passion. He studied with Emil Bistrim the noted Southwestern artist and teacher, for several years, following him from Los Angeles to Taos, New Mexico and finally to Gaudalajara, Mexico.
During the 50’s Lowell became involved with anti-war activities, marching, protesting and campaigning against the violence of war. Some of my earliest memories are of riding in my stroller with ”Ban The Bomb” posters strapped to its side. We went to all anti-war marches as well as every civil rights march in LA County. During the Watts riots we brought food and necessities into Watts even though it was under martial law and dangerous.
The Viet Nam War fueled his commitment further and he was active in a multitude of events in protest. Most importantly he began painting and drawing about his convictions. There is a large body of work related to this including the “Metamorphosis of Edward Teller”, “Buried In Uniform”, “Hiroshima Girl” and “The Klansmen”. The anger and passion he felt about this most insane manifestation of man is apparent in the rawness of much of the work from this period.
His anti war commitment continued throughout his life. He and I marched against the first war and the second war in Iraq. By this time he was getting old and struggling to keep up with a march so we took to joining protesters on the corner in Studio City on Friday nights, my Father, holding an antiwar sign 60 years later.
"Hiroshima Girl" pencil drawing
pictured above 10"x14"
"The Klansman" pencil drawing
pictured right - 8"x12"
(a study for the
"The Klansman"
oil on canvas 6'x8'
in the collection of the artist)
pictured above 10"x14"
"The Klansman" pencil drawing
pictured right - 8"x12"
(a study for the
"The Klansman"
oil on canvas 6'x8'
in the collection of the artist)
