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Glen Alps
A tribute to a friend and mentor.
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Glen Earl Alps, June 20, 1914 - November 3, 1996
Glen Alps was born in Loveland Colorado on June 20, 1914. He was one of the foremost printmakers in the United States and as a Professor of Art at he University of Washington, he gained widespread recognition as the artist who developed the Collagraph Printmaking Technique. I saw him as a man who loved to experiment with all kinds of mediums including painting and sculpture, many of which can be seen on display in Seattle. He was the number one fan of the color yellow and he described the color like this:
"The catalytic power of yellow. Something that's been in my mind a good deal is the phenomenon of the rainbow. In the rainbow, we find yellow as the middle hue, a color that is both primary and secondary, the most interior of all colors. In my intense study of color, I've been aware of the catalytic energy and power of yellow, realizing that yellow is an organizer of combinations, an accelerator of action, a life-giving substance of color usage. Necessarily, it's an important color in my work."
I first met Mr. Alps in September of 1983. As a student at the University of Washington, I had heard about the gravelly voiced printmaker that many of the undergraduates and graduate students were in fear of. Instead of meeting a grumpy old professor, I found one of the most kind and deeply spirited people I would ever know. Not only did he teach me the art of printmaking that autumn, he taught me to look at life differently.
It was easy to learn from Glen Alps. His method of teaching was one he called "Unconditional Freedom." He gave us students one assignment, mostly to display our technical knowledge and then set us free to work on our own. We all discovered little things about printmaking like the way two different types of ink will repel each other and create textures and unique colors. Proud students would display their work to him, thinking they had discovered a new finding. Mr. Alps would engage and encourage us to experiment more never telling us that our "discoveries" were mastered by him decades before.
Early on, Glen Alps showed an interest in my art. I would spend hours crouched over a lithograph stone and he would come by and watch without saying a word. In the winter quarter of school he asked me if I would come to his studio and help him with some projects. I was delighted and honored to be chosen and rode with him after class to the studio. I didn't know at the time but as he swung open the large barn-like doors to the studio, a new life and friendship was opening up to me. I would spend as much time at the studio as I could, between my job and school. When summer came I was able to spend more time with him and discovered a friendship that I still think about everyday. Mostly I remember the times we stopped our work to take a break. Sitting in the gallery of his studio we would drink coffee eat donuts and just talk about life and art. Sometimes his wife Ruby would visit during these times and join us.
I felt at times like the Alps' son or grandson especially when I went to their home for dinner. Of course I was not surprised to see that their house was the only yellow one on the block. Both Glen and Ruby were fans of the U of W Huskies women basketball team and went to most of their home games but Ruby was the real sports fan. During the Olympics of 1984 they invited me over to watch the 1500 meter and 800 meter finals. I was an avid runner at the time and they had come to a couple of my meets to watch me run. I was amazed at the intensity in which Ruby absorbed every little detail of the races. She knew I was a Sebastian Coe fan and cheered him along with me. During the 800 meter final she blurted out "look at that Cruz cruise" as Joaqium Cruz ran across the finish line to win his first Gold Medal. It was one of those quotes that I will remember forever.
In late December of 1995 Ruby passed on. Glen was heartbroken and I will always be in awe of the way he described her on the morning of her passing. "She looked so beautiful" he said, "like an angel sleeping with her arms crossed over her heart." As I looked into his eyes I could see love he had for her. It seemed to glitter off his face and sing in his voice. The studio and our lives were not the same after that and on November 3, 1996 Glen Alps joined his sweet dear Ruby. In many ways it was not a surprise to me. The greatness of his love for her was so easy for me to see and when she died it was like some of the colors had slipped out from his soul.
I miss my teacher, my mentor and my friends. To Glen and Ruby, I wish you Peace, Joy and All my Love,
Chris.
"Moon Sequence" 1976 Collagraph by Glen Alps 19.5"X19.5"