Ronald ginther
painter

1904-1969

Ronald Ginther depicted the experience of the Great Depression in more than 80 watercolor paintings.

Born in Oregon and raised by socialist parents, Ginther joined the movement Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) before the depression. This was known as a radical union that used revolutionary techniques at the time.

Ginther was a self taught artist who worked various jobs to make a living. When the economy collapsed, Ginther drifted around working and bumming to get by. He lived in different Hoovervilles and hobo camps that later became the subjects of his paintings.

Although Ginther was a cook by trade, he chose to use his energy to organizing a union that helped the unemployed laborers on Seattle's waterfront. During this time, he began to paint vibrant and colorful images of his own experiences of the depression.

Ronald Ginther gives us a new perspective to how the depression effected the cities and the choices we encounter through life.  (California Historical Quarterly, 1975).

(University of Washington, 2009-2012)

Follow this LINK to look at Ginther's watercolor paintings. Look at at least four and write the name and thoughts on the paper.

prezi presentation

Follow the visual slide as you explore the life and works of Ronald Ginther.

If the prezi doesn't load copy and past the following link into your internet browser:

http://prezi.com/stf_d4bzxldi/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

---

Ginther's Choice

Ronald Ginther experienced living on the streets in Hoovervilles and hobo camps during the depression. He chose to use empathy to help unemployed workers struggling in Seattle. This experience and reaching out to others gave him the inspiration to tell a story with paint. It is important we all make positive choices in our journey.

Questions to answer

1. When looking at Ginther's painting, what choices do you see for the subjects? Does Ginther represent the choice that he had taken in his own life? Explain in 2 sentences.

2. If you had lived through the Depression Era, would you have chose to relive this time through painting or other mediums of expression? Explain in 2 sentences.

---

Assignment Questions?

Want to do your project on a painter?

References
California Historical Quarterly. (1975). R.D. Ginther, Workingman artist and historian of skid row. California Historical Quarterly. 54(3). 263-271. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org
    /discover/10.2307/25157577?uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21106099553811
University of Washington. (2009-2012). Ronald Ginther Watercolors.Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/depress/Ronald_Ginther_watercolors.shtml