All the World's a Stage...
The Life of Flora Reeder
Deep in the heart of 'Panther City' lies the Fort Worth Cultural District. The area is known as a popular destination for anyone interested in the arts, as it offers a wide variety of art museums and cultural events. However, this has not always been the case and prior to the mid-twentieth century, Fort Worthians would have had to travel outside of the city limits for arts and recreation. In the 1940's, new artistic outlets were introduced, the city's art scene began to flourish. One New York native played a pivotal role in the introduction of cultural education of the city's younger generation.
Flora Blanc Reeder is best known for her many contributions to the arts in Fort Worth, Texas. As an original member of the Fort Worth Circle, Flora helped create a cultural and creative scene for her community. In 1945, Flora and her husband, Dickson Reeder opened The original Reeder School for Children's Theater. Enlisting the help of their artist friends, the Reeders successfully operated the school for thirteen years. In addition to her work at the school, Flora was a painter, author, director, and teacher. She was the driving force behind the school's success and inspired multiple generations of children to explore the arts.
Flora's passion and artistry is evident in all of her works and her legacy lives on in archives and galleries across the United States. This online exhibition provides a small glimpse into Flora's beautiful life.
Flora Blanc Reeder was born in New York City on November 14, 1916. Flora’s parents, Martha Elliot King and Edward Blanc, were highly educated and socially connected. As children, Elliot and Edward attended European boarding schools to receive their formal education. With a seventeen-year age difference, the couple decided to marry in 1906 when Elliot was twenty-years-old and Edward was already an established Harvard-educated lawyer.
The Blancs had three children, Elliot Octavie, Peter, and Flora, the youngest. From a very young age, Flora and her older siblings were encouraged to express their creativity through artistic outlets. The family’s upscale townhome was often filled with artists, performers, and musicians, and Elliot’s taste for the arts played a major role in her children’s upbringing.
Flora and Dickson inspired generations of children through their work at The Reeder School. Flora’s passion for the arts led her to push boundaries and create cultural spaces for women and children in her community. The Reeder School productions continue to live on in the archives of the University of Texas at Arlington. Flora and Dickson’s artwork can be found in archives and art museums across the United States, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. In the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, their pantings and etchings are held in places such as the David Dike Fine Art Gallery in Dallas and The Fort Museum of Modern Art.
Flora Blanc Reeder was born in New York City on November 14, 1916. Flora’s parents, Martha Elliot King and Edward Blanc, were highly educated and socially connected. As children, Elliot and Edward attended European boarding schools to receive their formal education. With a seventeen-year age difference, the couple decided to marry in 1906 when Elliot was twenty-years-old and Edward was already an established Harvard-educated lawyer.