biography of Frances Elizabeth FAILING (1897-?)

Birth place: Canisteo, NY

Addresses: Indianapolis, IN (1947); St Petersburg, FL (1973)

Profession: Painter, educator

Studied: Pratt Inst., diploma; Western Reserve Univ., B.S.; Columbia Univ., M.A.; Butler Univ.; C. Martin; Hawthorne; Frank Wilcox.

Exhibited: Baylor Univ., 1928; Indiana Art Club, 1932-34, 1936; CM, 1934, 1936, 1937; PAFA, 1936; NAWA, 1936, 1937 (Leidy prize),1938, 1941; NYWCC, 1936; Grand Central Palace, 1936; Int. Watercolor Exhib., AIC, 1937; CGA, 1937; Kansas City AI, 1938; Coulter Gal., Cleveland, 1936; Lieber Gal., Indianapolis, 1936; Dallas Mus. FA, 1938; Mus. FA, Houston, 1939; Ball State Art Gal., Muncie, IN, 1937; Indiana Artists, John Herron Art Mus., Indianapolis, 1933-1951; Hoosier Salon, Chicago & Indianapolis, 1934-1947; Le Salon-148 Expos Beaux Arts, Grand Palais, Paris, France, 1935; Ninth Biennial Int. Exhib. Watercolors, Brooklyn Mus., 1937; Maricopa Fair, AZ, 1958 (first premium for watercolor) plus many solo shows in museums, galleries & univs. Awards: Indiana AA, 1934; purchase prize, Arizona State Fair, O'Brien Gallery Art, Scottsdale, AZ, 1956.

Member: Indiana Artists Club; NAWA; Mus. Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; Plymouth Art Club, England.

Work: Phoenix Public Library Gallery Awards Collection, AZ; John Herron Art Inst., Indianapolis, IN; Plymouth Art Club Collection, City Museum, England; Washington High School Library, Indianapolis.

Comments: Preferred media: watercolors, oils. Teaching: chairman art dept., Washington High School, Indianapolis, IN, 1927-1955; exchange instructor of art, Girls Grammar School, Farnham Surrey, England, 1934-1935; exchange instructor of art, Farmington High School, Honolulu, HI, 1949-1950; assistant professor of art, Arizona State Univ., 1956-1963.

Sources: WW73; WW47; Society of Women Artists (exhibition), Royal Inst. Galleries London, Jan, 1936; Anson B. Cutts, Watercolors by Frances Failing," Arizona Rep., Dec 30, 1956; Flora Lauter, "Active Indiana Artists"; Petteys, Dictionary of Women Artists.