Arthur James Pierce, 95, of Kearney died Monday, June 20, 2011, at his home. Arthur was born Aug. 2, 1915, in Custer County to Asahel and Ethel (Cole) Pierce.
On Oct. 4, 1947, he married Hazel Beasley in Witt, Ill. She preceded him in death.
Survivors are: son, Stephen C. Pierce and his wife, Angela M., of Lincoln; daughters, Anne M. McCollister of Lincoln and Martha B. Pierce of Kearney; grandchildren, Kathleen P. Pierce, Jennifer L. Pierce, Alex A. McCollister and Megan M. McCollister; brother, Everett Browning and his wife, Laurel, of Peru; sister-in-law, Helen Browning of Grand Island; and nieces and nephews, Jeanne Salermo, Charles Garner, Brian Browning, Eugene Browning, Stanley Browning, Ann Browning and Barbara Browning.
Arthur was a young child when his parents settled a land claim in Lincoln County where he and his older sister, Alice Ethel, spent a few years living in a sod house. Later, his foster brothers, Ellsworth and Everett Browning, came to live with them when they moved to the Browning house located in the middle of the adjoining section.
Arthur joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II. He and Hazel settled in various communities in Nebraska before settling in Holdrege where Arthur started Pierce Sign Co. They eventually moved both company and family permanently to Kearney in 1967. He retired from the sign trade around 1981.
Arthur attended The University of Nebraska at Kearney, Curtis Agricultural College, the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University and participated in several calligraphy workshops in London, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois. He was an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska Arts Council and conducted countless workshops for children and adults over the years of his retirement.
Arthur was awarded honors for his calligraphy and civic contributions, most notably Nebraska Artist of Year in 2009, National Audubon Society William Dutcher Award in 1997, and the Kearney Freedom Award in 2000. Arthur was honored with one-man shows at Sheldon Art Gallery, Norfolk Arts Center, the Nebraska Governor's Mansion, Clark Library in Omaha, Wrightstone Gallery in McCook, Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, the Dawson County Museum and L. Shaw Gallery in Kearney.
After Arthur's retirement, he became best known for his calligraphic letterforms - beautiful writing - and no one can explain better why the pursuit was important to him, and ultimately, to us, than Arthur himself in his own words:
"The study and pursuit of the craft and art of calligraphy may be seen as an exercise in literacy as well as an increased appreciation of the calligraphic letterforms themselves. It seems important to me to strive, in doing a piece of work, to place my own interpretation on a writer's words, and at the same time avoid distorting the writer's message - perhaps as a musician interprets the work of a composer. I always hope that my visual presentation of a poem or quotation may encourage people to absorb the message who might not otherwise have done so. In that vein I quote, roughly, from two British scribes, under whom I took workshops: 'Make the letters be what they say.' - Ann Heckle - and 'You make an artistic statement by what you choose to copy.' - Donald Jackson, Scribe to Queen Elizabeth II. These two admonitions have influenced my decision making for years. I also find it stimulating to work with young people and children in schools. Many of them seem naturally drawn to the forms of good letters; it is a hope of mine that in a small way I may engender some enthusiasm for the written or printed word, and thus make a very modest contribution to the sustenance of one facet of our civilized society: the enjoyment of good writing, good books and good art." - Arthur Pierce
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Alice E. Garner; and brother, Ellsworth Browning.
Published in Kearney Hub on June 21, 2011
On Oct. 4, 1947, he married Hazel Beasley in Witt, Ill. She preceded him in death.
Survivors are: son, Stephen C. Pierce and his wife, Angela M., of Lincoln; daughters, Anne M. McCollister of Lincoln and Martha B. Pierce of Kearney; grandchildren, Kathleen P. Pierce, Jennifer L. Pierce, Alex A. McCollister and Megan M. McCollister; brother, Everett Browning and his wife, Laurel, of Peru; sister-in-law, Helen Browning of Grand Island; and nieces and nephews, Jeanne Salermo, Charles Garner, Brian Browning, Eugene Browning, Stanley Browning, Ann Browning and Barbara Browning.
Arthur was a young child when his parents settled a land claim in Lincoln County where he and his older sister, Alice Ethel, spent a few years living in a sod house. Later, his foster brothers, Ellsworth and Everett Browning, came to live with them when they moved to the Browning house located in the middle of the adjoining section.
Arthur joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II. He and Hazel settled in various communities in Nebraska before settling in Holdrege where Arthur started Pierce Sign Co. They eventually moved both company and family permanently to Kearney in 1967. He retired from the sign trade around 1981.
Arthur attended The University of Nebraska at Kearney, Curtis Agricultural College, the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University and participated in several calligraphy workshops in London, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois. He was an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska Arts Council and conducted countless workshops for children and adults over the years of his retirement.
Arthur was awarded honors for his calligraphy and civic contributions, most notably Nebraska Artist of Year in 2009, National Audubon Society William Dutcher Award in 1997, and the Kearney Freedom Award in 2000. Arthur was honored with one-man shows at Sheldon Art Gallery, Norfolk Arts Center, the Nebraska Governor's Mansion, Clark Library in Omaha, Wrightstone Gallery in McCook, Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, the Dawson County Museum and L. Shaw Gallery in Kearney.
After Arthur's retirement, he became best known for his calligraphic letterforms - beautiful writing - and no one can explain better why the pursuit was important to him, and ultimately, to us, than Arthur himself in his own words:
"The study and pursuit of the craft and art of calligraphy may be seen as an exercise in literacy as well as an increased appreciation of the calligraphic letterforms themselves. It seems important to me to strive, in doing a piece of work, to place my own interpretation on a writer's words, and at the same time avoid distorting the writer's message - perhaps as a musician interprets the work of a composer. I always hope that my visual presentation of a poem or quotation may encourage people to absorb the message who might not otherwise have done so. In that vein I quote, roughly, from two British scribes, under whom I took workshops: 'Make the letters be what they say.' - Ann Heckle - and 'You make an artistic statement by what you choose to copy.' - Donald Jackson, Scribe to Queen Elizabeth II. These two admonitions have influenced my decision making for years. I also find it stimulating to work with young people and children in schools. Many of them seem naturally drawn to the forms of good letters; it is a hope of mine that in a small way I may engender some enthusiasm for the written or printed word, and thus make a very modest contribution to the sustenance of one facet of our civilized society: the enjoyment of good writing, good books and good art." - Arthur Pierce
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Alice E. Garner; and brother, Ellsworth Browning.
Published in Kearney Hub on June 21, 2011
Arthur James Pierce, 95, of Kearney died Monday, June 20, 2011, at his home. Arthur was born Aug. 2, 1915, in Custer County to Asahel and Ethel (Cole) Pierce.
On Oct. 4, 1947, he married Hazel Beasley in Witt, Ill. She preceded him in death.
Survivors are: son, Stephen C. Pierce and his wife, Angela M., of Lincoln; daughters, Anne M. McCollister of Lincoln and Martha B. Pierce of Kearney; grandchildren, Kathleen P. Pierce, Jennifer L. Pierce, Alex A. McCollister and Megan M. McCollister; brother, Everett Browning and his wife, Laurel, of Peru; sister-in-law, Helen Browning of Grand Island; and nieces and nephews, Jeanne Salermo, Charles Garner, Brian Browning, Eugene Browning, Stanley Browning, Ann Browning and Barbara Browning.
Arthur was a young child when his parents settled a land claim in Lincoln County where he and his older sister, Alice Ethel, spent a few years living in a sod house. Later, his foster brothers, Ellsworth and Everett Browning, came to live with them when they moved to the Browning house located in the middle of the adjoining section.
Arthur joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II. He and Hazel settled in various communities in Nebraska before settling in Holdrege where Arthur started Pierce Sign Co. They eventually moved both company and family permanently to Kearney in 1967. He retired from the sign trade around 1981.
Arthur attended The University of Nebraska at Kearney, Curtis Agricultural College, the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University and participated in several calligraphy workshops in London, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois. He was an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska Arts Council and conducted countless workshops for children and adults over the years of his retirement.
Arthur was awarded honors for his calligraphy and civic contributions, most notably Nebraska Artist of Year in 2009, National Audubon Society William Dutcher Award in 1997, and the Kearney Freedom Award in 2000. Arthur was honored with one-man shows at Sheldon Art Gallery, Norfolk Arts Center, the Nebraska Governor's Mansion, Clark Library in Omaha, Wrightstone Gallery in McCook, Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, the Dawson County Museum and L. Shaw Gallery in Kearney.
After Arthur's retirement, he became best known for his calligraphic letterforms - beautiful writing - and no one can explain better why the pursuit was important to him, and ultimately, to us, than Arthur himself in his own words:
"The study and pursuit of the craft and art of calligraphy may be seen as an exercise in literacy as well as an increased appreciation of the calligraphic letterforms themselves. It seems important to me to strive, in doing a piece of work, to place my own interpretation on a writer's words, and at the same time avoid distorting the writer's message - perhaps as a musician interprets the work of a composer. I always hope that my visual presentation of a poem or quotation may encourage people to absorb the message who might not otherwise have done so. In that vein I quote, roughly, from two British scribes, under whom I took workshops: 'Make the letters be what they say.' - Ann Heckle - and 'You make an artistic statement by what you choose to copy.' - Donald Jackson, Scribe to Queen Elizabeth II. These two admonitions have influenced my decision making for years. I also find it stimulating to work with young people and children in schools. Many of them seem naturally drawn to the forms of good letters; it is a hope of mine that in a small way I may engender some enthusiasm for the written or printed word, and thus make a very modest contribution to the sustenance of one facet of our civilized society: the enjoyment of good writing, good books and good art." - Arthur Pierce
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Alice E. Garner; and brother, Ellsworth Browning.
Published in Kearney Hub on June 21, 2011
On Oct. 4, 1947, he married Hazel Beasley in Witt, Ill. She preceded him in death.
Survivors are: son, Stephen C. Pierce and his wife, Angela M., of Lincoln; daughters, Anne M. McCollister of Lincoln and Martha B. Pierce of Kearney; grandchildren, Kathleen P. Pierce, Jennifer L. Pierce, Alex A. McCollister and Megan M. McCollister; brother, Everett Browning and his wife, Laurel, of Peru; sister-in-law, Helen Browning of Grand Island; and nieces and nephews, Jeanne Salermo, Charles Garner, Brian Browning, Eugene Browning, Stanley Browning, Ann Browning and Barbara Browning.
Arthur was a young child when his parents settled a land claim in Lincoln County where he and his older sister, Alice Ethel, spent a few years living in a sod house. Later, his foster brothers, Ellsworth and Everett Browning, came to live with them when they moved to the Browning house located in the middle of the adjoining section.
Arthur joined the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II. He and Hazel settled in various communities in Nebraska before settling in Holdrege where Arthur started Pierce Sign Co. They eventually moved both company and family permanently to Kearney in 1967. He retired from the sign trade around 1981.
Arthur attended The University of Nebraska at Kearney, Curtis Agricultural College, the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University and participated in several calligraphy workshops in London, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois. He was an artist-in-residence for the Nebraska Arts Council and conducted countless workshops for children and adults over the years of his retirement.
Arthur was awarded honors for his calligraphy and civic contributions, most notably Nebraska Artist of Year in 2009, National Audubon Society William Dutcher Award in 1997, and the Kearney Freedom Award in 2000. Arthur was honored with one-man shows at Sheldon Art Gallery, Norfolk Arts Center, the Nebraska Governor's Mansion, Clark Library in Omaha, Wrightstone Gallery in McCook, Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, the Dawson County Museum and L. Shaw Gallery in Kearney.
After Arthur's retirement, he became best known for his calligraphic letterforms - beautiful writing - and no one can explain better why the pursuit was important to him, and ultimately, to us, than Arthur himself in his own words:
"The study and pursuit of the craft and art of calligraphy may be seen as an exercise in literacy as well as an increased appreciation of the calligraphic letterforms themselves. It seems important to me to strive, in doing a piece of work, to place my own interpretation on a writer's words, and at the same time avoid distorting the writer's message - perhaps as a musician interprets the work of a composer. I always hope that my visual presentation of a poem or quotation may encourage people to absorb the message who might not otherwise have done so. In that vein I quote, roughly, from two British scribes, under whom I took workshops: 'Make the letters be what they say.' - Ann Heckle - and 'You make an artistic statement by what you choose to copy.' - Donald Jackson, Scribe to Queen Elizabeth II. These two admonitions have influenced my decision making for years. I also find it stimulating to work with young people and children in schools. Many of them seem naturally drawn to the forms of good letters; it is a hope of mine that in a small way I may engender some enthusiasm for the written or printed word, and thus make a very modest contribution to the sustenance of one facet of our civilized society: the enjoyment of good writing, good books and good art." - Arthur Pierce
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Alice E. Garner; and brother, Ellsworth Browning.
Published in Kearney Hub on June 21, 2011
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