James F. Umland

James F. Umland, artist, teacher, beloved husband and father was born December 5, 1928, in Appleton, Wisconsin and died April 23, 2016, in Charleston, South Carolina. After attending schools in Wisconsin and Washington state, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Seoul, Korea, serving as a radio announcer. James subsequently enrolled at the University of Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. He later earned a Master's degree from New York University. He taught art in high schools and colleges in and around New York City until his retirement. In 2010, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina. James was part of the emerging conceptual art movement in New York in the sixties, and his career included exhibitions of his work at the Westerly Gallery, Brooklyn Museum of Art and MoMA. He conceived and hosted a radio program on invention for New York Public Radio WBAI-FM, interviewing creative trailblazers John Cage, Jacques D'Amboise, and Dave Brubeck. Though his teaching career provided for his large family, James was an artist first. His work hangs in homes from coast to coast, reminding friends and family of his intellectual and bold ideas, and of the many lively conversations he sparked with the question, 'What is art?' James is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Wilma Umland; his wife of 48 years, Charlotte Kappelmann Umland; one daughter, Rachel Umland; one son, Eric Umland; and one son-in-law, Joe Glickman. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Hunter; three sons and four daughters-in-law, Mark and Katy Levine, Jaye Houle, Jeremy and Karen Umland, and Ian and Jennifer Umland; two daughters, Beth Umland and Amy Love; one son-in-law, Dean Perme; one sister, Barbara Umland; three grandsons, Aaron Levine, Eric Perme, and Alex Umland; five granddaughters, Willa Glickman, Emma Perme, Rachel Umland, Lauren Umland, and Katie Umland, and one great granddaughter, Amelia Jaye Levine. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to celebrate Jim's life on May 21, at 11:00 a.m. in the Unitarian Church of Charleston, 4 Archdale Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401. A reception will follow in Gage Hall, next door to the church.