"Still Life at Mount Bethel," an exhibit of artwork by the late Rosemary Horn Robinson, will be offered at the Mount Bethel Cemetery cottage, 700 Locust St., Columbia, on Friday, April 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available.
Robinson was born on June 22, 1927, and raised in Columbia. She attended Holy Trinity School and graduated from Columbia High School in 1945. She was a home economics major at Immaculata College. Her first job after graduating in 1949 was in the advertising department at Watt & Shand.
After a few years, she continued her career in commercial advertising with Apollo Advertising in York. She remained at the company until 1968. Commercial art in the 1950s and '60s involved all hand drawing, including the lettering. Pencil sketches were made on tracing paper as the ad was being developed, and acrylic painting or colored pencil drawing were used for the finished art. One of Robinson's favorite annual projects at Apollo Advertising was the Christmas toy catalog cover. She won a national award for her 1967 Christmas cover.
Outside of work, Robinson painted for personal enjoyment using oils and watercolors as well as colored pencils. She took oil painting classes from local artist Henry Libhart. She painted both still lifes and landscapes. In the 1970s, she taught art at St. Joseph's Academy and Holy Trinity School. She often found time to continue painting and drawing.
She was active in her church and community throughout her life. She always utilized her creative talent, whether designing stage sets for Columbia School of Ballet or creating posters for the Columbia Hospital Auxiliary fundraisers.
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