Edie McKee Harper facts for kids

Edie McKee Harper (born March 29, 1922 – died January 10, 2010) was a talented American artist. She was also a photographer and worked to protect wildlife. Edie created art for 60 years. She used many different materials. These included sculptures, paintings, fabrics, jewelry, and prints.

Early Life and Art School

Edith Riley K. "Edie" McKee Harper was born on March 29, 1922. Her hometown was Kansas City, Kansas. Edie was an only child. Her family moved often when she was young. They finally settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. This happened after her father got a job with Procter & Gamble. Edie finished Wyoming High School in 1939.

After high school, Edie went to the Art Academy of Cincinnati. There, she learned about printmaking. She also studied color theory. In 1940, she met her future husband, Charley Harper. He was also an artist. They met on their very first day at the Art Academy.

Edie's Role in World War II

During World War II, Edie helped with the war effort. She worked as a photographer for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While Charley Harper was in the Army, Edie took pictures. She photographed important structures at home. These included hydro dams and cement samples. Edie also developed the film in the lab. Her war photographs were highly praised. They were even shown in an exhibition in Cincinnati in 1961.

After the war, Edie and Charley finished their studies. They both graduated from the Art Academy in 1947. Soon after, they got married. They later had a son named Brett Harper, who also became an artist.

A Honeymoon of Art and Nature

The Harpers went on a six-month honeymoon. They drove across America, camping along the way. They created artworks of the places they visited. One special place was the Grand Canyon. This trip sparked their lifelong interest in wildlife. Both artists focused on nature in their art from then on.

Edie's Artistic Career

After the war, Edie continued her photography. But she also explored many other art forms. She worked with pottery, textiles, jewelry, and sculpture. She also created paintings and lithographs (a type of print).

Edie Harper had a unique artistic style. She created many beautiful works. Some of her art is very well-known.

Notable Artworks

Edie Harper's art includes many different types of pieces. She made black and white photographs from World War II. She also created colorful acrylic paintings of cats. She even made art inspired by stories from the New and Old Testaments.

Here are some of Edie's famous works:

• Little Red Riding Hood (1940s)
• Maestro (around 1945) - an oil painting
• 1947 self-portrait
• Woodland Fauna (1947–1948) - a mural
• Untitled (123) (around 1950) - an oil painting
• Noazark (1975)
• Third Kind
• Matador
• Little David
• Nine Tails

Art Exhibitions

Edie Harper's art has been shown in many places. Here are some of her art shows:

• Solo photograph exhibition in 1961 at the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati.
• "Cincinnati modern art & design at mid-century" in 2002 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
• "Minimal Realism: Charley and Edie Harper" in August 2007 at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
• "Harper Ever After" in 2013 at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
• "Modern Cat" in June 2016 at the Cincinnati Art Museum.
• "E is for Edie" at The Carnegie, which was her first solo show looking back at her whole career.