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George Wittenberg passed away recently, a long time member of MSW and prolific artist in his later years. Following in his fathers' footsteps he chose architecture. Here in Little Rock we can see his work in the Stephens Building and the UALR Law School.  A recent article from Arkansas online has a beautiful article written after his passing that can be found here: George H Wittenberg III.

After a long and successful career in architecture he turned to painting. Mostly self-taught he painted primarily in watercolor. He joined MSW as a member in 2003 where he entered the Annual Juried Show when he collected first place on his first try. His work was accepted into the show a further 5 times.

George, described as a sweetheart and very charming, was passionate about Little Rock and has been very influential in the South of Main area of town, even coining the name SoMa after SOHO in New York. He lived and worked in this area. He, together with UALR created A South Main Urban Plan. The mission of SoMa is to promote and enhance the economic development, public relations, historic integrity and quality of life for the citizens of the neighborhood.

Travel and art took hold on him later and he spent at least 15 years traveling and sending watercolor postcards back to himself as he traveled. From France to Italy, Greece to Mexico 
he sketched and pained, sometimes up to 18 cards in a day as he captured memories of his travels. His book "Postcards from Little Rock" features many views that will be familiar to local residents. 

He wrote: This postcard art series grew out of two of my favorite activities--drawing and traveling. I have always drawn, usually on vacation when I have the time and concentration. As an adult, I read about a graphic artist  who drew and sent the images as postcards back to himself. I liked the concept and decided to do the same on my next trip. Each image represents a personal moment of experiencing a unique space--the view from the Mexico hotel room, the historic houses in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye, the forms of the Chateau Chenoneaux crossing the river. Nothing sears a place in your memory like sitting and drawing it. Postcard art carries with it the interaction of many other persons besides the artist before it reaches home. I have never lost one "in the mail". taken from from the Arkansas Arts Council website - Link here.

As an artist he had exhibits in the Clinton Museum Store - Presidential Series: Selected postcards and large paintings, and this collection was also on displace at the Presidential Pavilion at the River Market. His postcard series garnered a special assignment of "Downtown Postcards" commissioned by the Trenton, New Jersey arts program to honor the historic architecture and places of downtown Trenton through drawings.