R. FREEMAN WORTHLEY (American, 1904-1978) Titled "NATIVITY" RARE SERIGRAPH BY FAMOUS ARTIST PENCIL SIGNED A beautiful creation by this talented, famous and important artist. Frame has lots of nicks. There is a small crease at the very lower right corner. Size With Frame 17" x 15" Picture 12" x 10" Born in Chicago on July 16, 1905, R. Freeman Worthley spent his youth on a farm in San Diego, California. In WW II he saw action as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Anxious to follow his passion, he resigned from the Navy and gained a full scholarship to the Jepson Art Institute in Los Angeles. Worthley received a B.A. degree from the Jepson Art Institute, and an M.F.A. from the Otis Art Institute, where he learned etching, engraving, screen-printing and painting. He had an interest in Abstract Expressionism and loved to mix forms and techniques. His work covered a wide spectrum of expression, from his series of rhythmic black white etchings of workers during the Depression to the gestural, abstract serigraphs of the 1950’s. Worthley married fellow printmaker Ginger Osgood (1918 – 2000) and together they founded the Western Serigraph Institute. He served as its President for 20 years and promoted over 400 circulating exhibitions. Worthley was appointed by the Governor to be a member of the Steering Committee which formed the California Arts Commission. He was and was president of the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and of the Thousand Oaks Art Association. He is most closely associated with California and the Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks area. A California modernist, he specialized in etchings, serigraphs and paintings, and his work is included in number public collections, including the Library of Congress, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts, and the St. Louis Museum of Art. He was the founder of the Western Serigraph Institute, and served as president for 20 years. He helped to promote serigraphy as a fine art through over 400 circulating exhibits. He was also a member of the steering committee which formed the California Arts Commission, and was president of the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and of the Thousand Oaks Art Association.