Local Author To Hold Book Signing At Pomegranate Festival

Moapa Valley artist and author, Jana Ward, will be presenting her most recent book, Artist Lost/Heiress Denied for the first time at the Pomegranate Art Festival this weekend.

Ward’s story behind the book is nearly as intriguing as the book itself. It began more than 25 years ago near Ward’s home, which was then in Seattle. She was scanning through items at a yard sale when she noticed a battered artist portfolio full of paintings, drawings and sketches.

“A quick look was enough for me to see that the art was done by a serious artist,” Ward said. “So holding $40 in my hand, I asked the price of the portfolio. The young lady in charge looked at my hand and replied, ‘$40’! I said, ‘Done!’.”

The works were signed by a single artist “Furth.” And a glued sticker on the outside of the portfolio read: “Hertha Furth; Chicago, IL”. These clues were the beginning of a research project for Ward which lasted for decades.

Hertha Furth was reportedly born in 1907, to a Jewish family in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of a well-known Viennese doctor. Like many great artists, Her passion for art began when she was very young. She had illustrated a book and been included in a national art magazine at a young age. In her adult years, she became a respected American Jewish woman artist in the early to mid 20th century.

Artist Lost/Heiress Denied contains color images of artwork that was contained in the found portfolio.
The title of Ward’s book is reflective of Hertha’s disappearance from both the art world and history in general. It is also indicative of the Nazi confiscation of the Furth family fortune and the pursuit of its restitution after the war.

Because of Furth’s artistic ability and her historically compelling story, Ward is currently working with UNLV Art History professor Robert Tracy on the possibility of exhibiting the Hertha Furth Art Collection.

Ward will be offering signed copies of her fascinating new book at her festival booth in the southwest corner of the Fine Arts Building.