Ray V Stapp Signed print Bethany Church Linocut woodblock on tissue paper fashion (rice paper) Lindsborg Bethany College Birger Sandzen Student.

Born in Norton Kansas, 1913; died Denver, CO, 2000.

Ray Stapp was well known as a painter, who specialized in still lifes, as a teacher, and as a printmaker.
He earned a BFA at Bethany College, Lindsborg as a student of Birger Sandzén, later a MA at Columbia University, NY in 1952, and a D.Ed. at Pennsylvania State University in 1963.

From 1939-the mid 40s, he taught in Beloit and Muskegon, MI then returned in 1949 to Bethany College as an assistant professor of art. In 1956 he moved to Edinboro State College, PA. After retirement, he moved to Denver, CO.
Ray Stapp was quite fond of his Teacher Birger Sandzen and spoke of him often. It has been mentioned that one of Birger's favorite 75th birthday presents was a watercolor by Ray Stapp.

This fashion print of Bethany Church is from the early 50's. We can date it as such both because this was time Ray spent in Lindsborg, but also by the size of the tree in the foreground (pine tree in lower right) . When I was a child in the 80's I climbed that tree to near level with the top of the steeple on the church. In this print the tree is at most 8 feet tall.

Framed this print is 13 inches tall and 10 wide. the print itself is 5 1/4 x4. it is signed and titled in pencil by the artist.
I left it exactly as I got it because history matters on some of these things. It was framed in Lindsborg (stamp shown on back of frame}
The cardboard on the back appears to have gotten wet at some point, but nothing shows on the print itself.