Sidney Simon

{{Infobox person

| name = Sidney Simon

| image = Worldwide-plaza-fountain-small.jpg

| alt = The Four Seasons Fountain on the public plaza located at One Worldwide Plaza, New York, New York

| caption = The Four Seasons Fountain Sculpture located at One Worldwide Plaza, New York, New York

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|5|21}}

| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1997|8|4|1917|5|21}}

| death_place = Truro, Massachusetts

| nationality = American

| other_names = Sid Simon

| education = Bachelor of fine Arts

| alma_mater = University of Pennsylvania

| occupation = Artist

| years_active = 1938–1997

| era = New York School (art)

| known_for = American official war artist

| notable_works = *U.S. and Japan WWII peace treaty signing aboard the U.S.S. Missouri

The Four Seasons Fountain Sculpture

| style = Painting, Sculpture

| movement =

| module = {{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| allegiance = United States of America

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1942–1946

| rank = Captain

| battles = South West Pacific Theatre of World War II

| awards = {{plainlist

| * Bronze Star

}}

Sidney A. Simon (May 21, 1917 – August 4, 1997) was an American painter, sculptor, muralist, art school co-founder, and American official war artist.

Early life

Sidney Simon was born May 21, 1917, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father was James Simon, a shoe store merchant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/148901986/?terms=James+Simon+shoe+store|title=Shoe Merchant Dies at Home Page 5 - The Pittsburgh Press at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 11, 2019}} In 1912, Simon's father emigrated from an area between Siedlce and Sokołów Podlaski in Poland, then under Russian rule. His mother was Minnie Lipman, who emigrated in 1913 with her family from Kalvarija, Lithuania, then under Russian rule.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/258170905/?terms=Lithuania+Soviet+War|title=15 May 1918, 5 - The Guardian at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 10, 2019}} James and Minnie Simon's marriage produced four children: Sidney A., Helen Judith, Leon Jacob, and David Irving. Minnie Lipman's father's Americanized name was "Max Lipman," shortened from his European name which was Avram Michael Lipmanovich. The 1930 U.S. Census states Simon's family to have resided at 2766 Beechwood Boulevard, in Squirrel Hill, an east-end Pittsburgh neighborhood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/156645514/person/102060577585/facts|title=1930 United States Federal Census|website=Ancestry.com |date=1930}} His interest in art began at an early age.

Education

Simon attended Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At an early age, his potential as an artist was already recognized by his teachers when several of his works toured with the National Scholastic Art Exhibit. One of Simon's sculptures, titled Mother Earth gained special recognition, earning Simon a one-year scholarship to the Dayton Art Institute and a John L. Porter Scholarship which afforded Simon two months of study at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University). In 1936, Taylor Allderdice High School honored Simon with a one-man show when they lined their halls with his works in the only one man show given to one student up until that time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/88911162/?terms=sidney%2Bsimon|title=Allerdice Boy'S Artworks Shown Paintings,' Sketches And Sculpture in Exhibit.|date=June 10, 1936|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=January 14, 2019}} After completing his secondary education, Simon attended the University of Pennsylvania from 1931 to 1936, where he earned a bachelor in fine arts. During this period, Simon also studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in addition to two years at The Barnes Foundation of Merion, Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/162492610/?terms=Barnes+Foundation+sidney+simon|title=Apr 6, 1956, Page 6 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://history.army.mil/html/books/epubs/art_of_the_american_soldier/army_of_am_soldier.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921035603/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/epubs/art_of_the_american_soldier/army_of_am_soldier.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2012|title=Art of the American Soldier|last=Klish|first=Renée|website=history.army.mil|date=June 11, 2019|page=280}} After World War II, Simon studied and attended classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, in Paris, France.

Military service

File:Formal Japan Surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri.jpg

Simon enlisted in the U.S. Army on November 11, 1942,U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010 eventually reaching the rank of captain. At age 25, then stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Simon's art talent was recognized and he was tasked with heading and developing a special service branch referred to as [the] Morale Division. This experimental art and design test pilot project led the way for other, similar morale projects throughout the military. Simon's Morale Division was tasked with improving the appeal of the recreation center with murals and other appointments.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/90013206/|title=July 7, 1942, Page 19 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at Newspapers.com|last=Hagy|first=Robert, R|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 3, 2019}} It was while Simon was stationed at Fort Belvoir that he met and worked with fellow soldier Willard W.Cummings, who was also part of this Morale Division art detail. Simon and Cummings would later co-found The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture along with two other artists,. From March 1943 – October 1945, Captain Simon served as an American official war artist and was assigned to General Douglas MacArthur's headquarters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/171463033/?terms=%22sidney+simon%22++MacArthur|title=May 26, 1946, Page 34 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 11, 2019}} Simon, along with three other artists of his art unit, covered major operations in New Guinea and the Philippines during the South West Pacific Theater of World War II operations. His duties included painting, drawing, and field reconnaissance intelligence. Simon was chosen to paint the formal surrender ceremony as witnessed September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay aboard battleship USS Missouri.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/theydrewfire/gallery/small/125.html| title= They Drew Fire – Combat Artists of World War II | website= PBS | access-date = February 7, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/163760492/?terms=sidney+Simon+new+City+will+exhibit|title=Jan 20, 1955, Page 6 - The Journal News at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/4685/images_of_post_world_war_ii_japan|title=Images of Post World War II Japan|website=army.mil|date=August 31, 2007 |access-date=March 11, 2019}} referred to as V-J Day, ending WWII.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/380705959/?terms=japs+have+surrendered+aboard+Missouri|title=Sep 2, 1945, 2 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 11, 2019}} This historical painting is reported to have hung in the White House. Simon was discharged and released on April 19, 1946.

Post-military career

In 1946, Simon, along with artists Willard W. Cummings (1915–1975), Henry Varnum Poor (1888–1971), and Charles Cutler (1914–1970), developed and founded The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture located in Madison, Maine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27582961/newspaper_clipping/|title=Skowhegan Art School Ready for 22d Season|last=Ayer|first=Carolyn|date=June 4, 1967|work=The Boston Sunday Globe|access-date=January 24, 2019|publication-date=June 4, 1967|page=163}} In addition to the Skowhegan School, Simon also served on the faculties of the Parsons School of Design, the Art Students League, the Brooklyn Museum Art School, Columbia University, Cooper Union, the New York Studio School, Sarah Lawrence College and the Castle Truro Center for the Arts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/08/arts/sidney-simon-sculptor-80-founded-school.html|title=Sidney Simon, Sculptor, 80; Founded School|last=Dobrzynski|first=Judith H.|date=August 8, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 2, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} One of his most noted public commissions is a fountain consisting of four females holding up a stylized globe of the earth, titled The Four Seasons and located central to a public plaza at One Worldwide Plaza in New York City.[https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/08/arts/sidney-simon-sculptor-80-founded-school.html?src=pm New York Times 1997 Aug 8] Simon obituary{{Cite web|url=http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=152085|title=NEW YORK {{!}} Worldwide Plaza {{!}} 778 FT / 237 M {{!}} 49 FLOORS {{!}} 1989 – SkyscraperPage Forum|website=forum.skyscraperpage.com|access-date=March 12, 2019}}

Personal life

Simon's first marriage, to Joan E. Lewisohn, produced five children: Mark Simon, Teru Simon, Rachel Simon, Nora Simon and Juno Simon Duenas. Lewisohn and Simon divorced in 1961.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/13/nyregion/their-art-is-an-extended-family-affair.html|title=Their Art Is an Extended Family Affair|last=Delatiner|first=Barbara|date=May 13, 1990|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 2, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} In 1968, Simon married Renee Adriance, in Manhattan, New York City; they had two children, Nick Simon and Tony Simon. Tony Simon performs as Blockhead.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/441268939/?terms=Sidney+Simon,+Sculptor,+80;+Founded+School|title=Aug 6, 1997, 59 - The Boston Globe at Newspapers.com|last=Tom|first=Long|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 13, 2019}}

Death

Sidney Simon died on August 4, 1997, at the age of 80 in Truro, Massachusetts, of congestive heart failure.

Notable works

Formal Surrender of Imperial Japan aboard the USS Missouri. Painting. {{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/63913924/?terms=simon|title=Mar 31, 1967, Page 24 - The Morning Herald at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|language=en|access-date=June 12, 2019}}
The Four Seasons Fountain, on the public plaza located at One Worldwide Plaza, New York, New York. – Sculpture. {{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/08/arts/sidney-simon-sculptor-80-founded-school.html|title=Sidney Simon, Sculptor, 80; Founded School|last=Dobrzynski|first=Judith H.|date=August 8, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}
South Solon Meetinghouse South Solon, Maine. – Mural Painting.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/505051755/?terms=%22South+Solon+Meeting+House%22+sidney+simon|title=Nov 11, 2012, T2 - The Record at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 10, 2019}}
The Family of Man Medallion. Designer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0126/42219580.pdf|title=Annual Presentation of the 11th Family of Man to President Gerald R. Ford|date=November 16, 1975|website=1975 Family of Man Awards Ceremonies|access-date=June 12, 2019}}

Professional associations

Listed in Who's Who in American Art since 1950.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/63913924/?terms=simon|title=Exhibition here by Sidney Simon to open Monday|date=March 31, 1967|work=The Morning Herald|access-date=January 14, 2019}}