Woodcuts

IN NOVEMBER 2006, Flora’s son Joel discovered in his garage attic a large box of his father’s original woodcuts and copper engravings, dating from around 1940 to 1960. The 15 or so blocks and plates appeared to be well-preserved, and included several works for which prints had not previously been found.

Captain Tooker (1946)
woodcut (plywood)

Vintage print
(titled, signed and dated) found in archives

One month later, Flora biographer Irwin Chusid brought three large woodcuts (Railroad Town, 1951; Serenade, ca. 1947; and Captain Tooker, 1946), and three copper plates (Trio, 1947; An Air of Panic, 1943; and an untitled work, ca. 1950) to the studios of YEE-HAW INDUSTRIAL LETTERPRESS, in Knoxville TN. He spent several days working with owners Kevin Bradley and Julie Belcher and printmaker Bryan Baker determining the durability of the blocks for print production. They were found to be in excellent condition.

Three dozen archival-quality trial proofs of the woodcuts were printed (in various colors, on two different papers), numbered and stamped. At the University of Tennessee, which has one of the finest printmaking programs in the U.S., faculty member Jessica Meyer produced test lithographs of the copper plates. Two numbered and authenticated limited editions (of 50 each) were produced: Railroad Town (1950) and Jugglers (1957). Prints are available from JimFlora.com. We also have a limited quantity of numbered and authenticated trial proofs of Serenade, pictured below. Please inquire if interested.

Snapshots from the printing sessions are below. The prints look far better than these snapshots might indicate. Sadly, Yee-Haw ceased operation a few years later and we have no plans to produce any additional prints from these blocks.