Reynold Henry Weidenaar (1915-1985) was an artist from Grand Rapids, Michigan, recognized nationally as well as locally for his technical virtuosity as a draftsman and printmaker. He embraced the subject matter and realism of American Regionalist art, though his depictions of the American Scene reflect a uniquely personal, often satirical perspective. Weidenaar is especially known for his mezzotint prints, particularly those of architectural subjects, such as the construction of the Mackinac Bridge.

Biography

November 17, 1915 - Reynold Henry Weidenaar was born to Dirk Weidenaar and Effie Kuiper Weidenaar in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

1927 - He and his mother Effie and sister Jeanne begin to spell their last name Weidener (see Grand Rapids City Directory 1927).

1930s - Attends Christian High School and Ottawa Hills High School in Grand Rapids.

1935-1936 - Attends David Wolcott Kendall School of Art (now Kendall College of Art and Design), for a one-year period, plus four terms of evening classes.

June 1938 – Wins first prize in painting for Kansas City Art Institute National High School Competition.

June 1938 – Graduates from George A. Davis Vocational and Technical High School, Grand Rapids.

September 1938– May 1940 - Studies at Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri. His instructors include Thomas Hart Benton and John de Martelly.

May 1940 – Spends one week in Chicago receiving instruction in etching and printing techniques from Bertha Jaques and James Swann.

March 1941 – His etchings Evening Storm and Marketplace II are acquired by the Library of Congress, chosen from the Society of American Etchers Exhibition in New York.

October 1941 – Solo exhibition of etchings at the Grand Rapids Art Gallery.

March 2–31, 1941 – Solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum, Division of Graphic Arts.

May 1943 – Changes spelling of his name back to Weidenaar.

April 1944– Awarded John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship Award.

June 1944 - Marries Ilse Eerdmans.

November 1944 – Travels in Mexico with his wife, on Guggenheim Fellowship, three-month period.

September 1948 – His article on the mezzotint technique is published in American Artist.

October 1948 – Awarded Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Scholarship.

April 1949 – Elected Associate member (designated as A.N.A.) of National Academy of Design, New York.

1954 - Begins painting watercolors.

1956 - Joins faculty at Kendall School of Design (continuing through 1975).

Fall 1959 – Travels to Italy. Begins fresco work at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, continues through 1965.

March 1965 - Elected full Academician, National Academy of Design, New York.

1966 - Divorced.

January 1966 - One man show of watercolors at the Grand Rapids Art Gallery.

1970 - Authors and illustrates book on West Michigan, Our Changing Landscape.

1980 - Co-authors and illustrates A Sketchbook of Michigan, with Anne Zeller.

1981 - Solo exhibition at Martin Sumers Graphics, New York.

November 1983 – Retrospective exhibition at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, “Reynold Weidenaar: Dutch Master of Grand Rapids.”

November 1983 - Retrospective exhibition at Hefner’s Art Gallery, Grand Rapids.

1985 - Dies of cardiac arrest at age 69.