Guide to the Abe Weiner Papers and Photographs, 1936-2011
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Abe Weiner Papers and Photographs
- Creator
- Weiner, Abe, 1917-1993
- Collection Number
- MSS#582
- Extent
- 1 linear feet (2 manuscript boxes)
- Date
- 1936-2011
- Abstract
- Abe Weiner was a Pittsburgh Surrealist painter and teacher. This collection consists of his artwork, exhibition and sales records, correspondence, newspaper clippings, awards and certificates, photographs and resumes.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
Abe Weiner (November 5, 1917- June 4, 1993) was a Pittsburgh painter and teacher. A native of Pittsburgh, he lived his entire life there and frequently used the city as the subject of his work. He graduated from the School of Fine Arts at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1941 with a degree in painting and design. After graduation he joined the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and remained a member for the rest of his life. His earliest works are in the 1930s post-Ashcan style favored by his teachers Samuel Rosenberg and Robert Gwathmey. However, early in his career his artistic vision radically shifted, and he switched to painting in the Surrealist style. Common themes in his work include nature, cityscapes and life, decay and rebirth.
He exhibited works at numerous galleries including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Tan Museum of Art (New York), the Herron Art Institute (Indianapolis), the Chicago Art Institute, the Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, D.C.), the Houston Museum of Art and the Butler Art Institute (Ohio). Weiner won numerous awards from the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Annual Exhibitions held at the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh including First Prize (1941 and 1976), Second Prize (1945), Popular Prize (1957) and the Martin Leisser School of Design Prize (1958). In addition, he won First Prize at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in 1968 and was named one of the "Fifty Most Promising Painters in the United States" by Life Magazine in 1950.
Weiner taught at the Ivy School of Professional Art from 1961-180 and held the position of Assistant Director there from 1961-1972. He also gave private lessons at his home studio, taught at the former Arts and Crafts Center (now the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Shadyside) from 1965-1993 and at the Irene Kaufmann Center (now the Jewish Community Center) from 1956-1960. In addition, he lectured at and judged many art exhibits in the Pittsburgh area including in Butler, Vandergrift, and at the Kittanning Art Association and the New Kensington Art show.
Weiner was devoted to his family, which consisted of his wife Anne, and their three children, Jonathan, Kim and Shari. Weiner continued working and exhibiting into his seventies. After a career spanning over fifty years, Weiner died from heart failure at the age of 75 on June 4, 1993.
Scope and Content Notes
The Abe Weiner papers and photographs are stored in two manuscript boxes and one oversized folder. The folders are divided by document type. These papers include artwork, awards and certificates, correspondence, a DVD, exhibit and sale records, exhibition catalogs, newspaper clippings and photographs of artwork, exhibited paintings and family. Within each folder the papers are arranged chronologically. The only exceptions are the exhibit and sales records folder, of which one segment is grouped by the creator, and the sketches, which have no discernible dates. The folder arrangement is alphabetical. The DVD was compiled by his family members after his death and features Weiner's paintings, family photographs and newspaper clippings about him.
Conditions Governing Access
No Restrictions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Kim Weiner on November 23, 2010.
Preferred Citation
Abe Weiner Papers and Photographs, 1936-2011, MSS#582, Rauh Jewish Archives, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Eden Orelove in February 2011.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
Samuel Rosenberg Papers, MSS#567
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Records, MSS# 399
Separated Materials
This collection contains the following separations:
MSO#582: One oversized folder of sketches.
2011.3: Nine numbered, signed prints, two small artworks and a box of art tools and paints have been separated to the Museum Division.
Subjects
- Weiner, Abe, 1917-1993
- Jewish artists--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Artists--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh