Textile, Pioneer Pathways

Anton Refregier, the Russian-born artist best known for his WPA murals depicting American history, created Pioneer Pathways for the collection of eight Riverdale Fabrics that bore his design’s name. Refregier’s Americana-inspired design was produced in several colorways, including blue-green (5826.2.2016).

This taupe version of Pioneer Pathways was featured prominently in the April 1952 issue of Living for Young Homemakers, in which a spread entitled “A living room planned for a fair-haired working wife” declared that “a carefully considered color scheme and wisely chosen furniture create a room that reflects both its owner’s delicate coloring and her brisk, positive approach to living.” (1)

A red version is included in the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art’s traveling exhibition, “Art for Every Home: Associated American Artists, 1934-2000.”

Another example of Refregier’s textile design, Open Sesame (1994-38-10), is currently in the museum’s collection

(1) Gail Windisch, Sylvan Cole Jr., and Karen J. Herbaugh, Art for Every Home: Associated American Artists, 1934-2000 (Manhattan: Marianna Kistler Beach Museum, Kansas State University, 2016): 191.

Textile, Pioneer Pathways; Designed by Anton Refregier (American, b. Russia (1905–1979) (American, b. Russia (1905–1979)); Produced by Associated American Artists (United States); cotton; H x W: 111.8 × 118.1 cm (44 in. × 46 1/2 in.); American Textile History Museum Collection, gift of Paulette Simpson; 2016-35-63