Painting

Object number2015.51.33

Artist Aaronel deRoy Gruber (1918 - 2011)

Date1965

OriginPittsburgh, PA

MediumCanvas/Paint/Plastic/Wood/Paper/Adhesive/Ink

Credit LineGift of Terry Gruber

DescriptionFramed black and white painting. Painting features alternating vertical bands of black figures on white background and white figures on black background. The figures were made using Bill Ding wood toys. The frame is black plastic.Dimensions58.625 x 37.438 x 1.25 in. (148.9 x 95.1 x 3.2 cm)
SignedThe artist's signature in blue ink is on the back of the canvas at top, left of center "Aaronel de Roy Gruber / 1965".
InscriptionsThe top right corner has red illegible writing on the wood with a white paper label over it with black text "TR 1313.3 Jason Gal. (Gruber)".

At the top of the vertical stretcher there is a white paper tag stapled to the stretcher, a yellow paper adhesive label, and two white paper adhesive labels both mounted sideways.
The white paper tag has handwritten in blue ink "083".
The yellow paper label has black printed text "LOT NO. / G-609 / 090 / CAMP CURTIN / TRANSFER, INC."
Both white paper adhesive labels have blue printed text and black typewritten text "SHERATON REF. # A 545 ["545" is typed over as to obscure this number] 5145 / Imp. JASON GALLERY / Entry # 603557 / Broker PENSON & CO / Ref. # 48547 / Piece # Page".

At center of vertical wood stretcher is a white paper adhesive label with red handwritten text "108".
MarksHandwritten in red ink across the left horizontal stretcher bar is "AARONEL D. GRUBER" and across the right horizontal stretcher bar is "PITTSBURGH, PA. U.S.A".
Historical NotesAaronel used her children's toys "Bill Ding" to create this painting, this also inspired her to start collection antique toys. A collection she added to for the rest of her life. Aaronel deRoy Gruber was a 1940 graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) who majored in costume design. Gruber started out as a painter dedicated to the Abstract Expressionist movement that dominated the mid-20th century and later, beginning in the 1960s, got involved in sculpture working in steel, Uvex, and Plexiglas. In the late 1980s she got involved in photography. Gruber continued working up until her death in 2011. Donor Terry Gruber is the son of Aaronel deRoy Gruber and Irving Gruber.

Related institution Camp Curtin Transfer, Inc.

Related institution Jason Gallery

Related institution Penson and Company

Related institution Carnegie Mellon University

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On View

On view