The Red Barn Studio Museum is curating an exhibition inspired by the Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. Lester’s affinity for St. Francis had him returning to the imagery throughout his career time and time again. He often wrote to his close friend Milford Greer about the latest St. Francis taking shape in his studio, painting him, sculpting him, and refining the way he depicts the saint.
The Red Barn Studio is seeking works by Lester Raymer: paintings, prints, or sculptures depicting either St. Francis or an animal. We don’t have any concrete sources that trace Lester’s fascination with St. Francis, and we may never know for certain the roots of his interest. But perhaps what Lester saw in St. Francis was not simply the patron saint of animals, but someone who quietly dedicated his life to a cause larger than himself. For Francis, embracing a life of poverty and rebuilding the church literally and spiritually, and for Lester, a calling to make art and to explore his spirituality through the work he created.
This special exhibition will be on view in the South Studio from Sunday, November 8th through Sunday, November 29th during regular business hours. Guests attending the Red Barn Studio Museum’s annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser will be the first to preview the exhibition before it opens to the public.
If you have a Lester Raymer that depicts St. Francis or an animal and are interested in lending it for this special exhibition, please contact the Red Barn Studio Museum at 785-227-2217 or email raymer@redbarnstudio.org. We would love to hear from you. We hope to collect these works during the second week of October, allowing time to research and prepare them for exhibition.
