Description: Art shop, Baltimore art, history of painted window screens, painted screens, Baltimore screens, contact, Oktavec
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The tradition of painting door and window screens for decoration and privacy began in 1913 in Baltimore when William Oktavec moved to the city from Newark, New Jersey. He had painted his first window screen while on the job at Eclipse Air Brush Company in New Jersey for a secretary whose work was often disturbed by people on the sidewalk outside her office. With the newly-painted screen, the secretary could see out, but no one could see in. In Baltimore, Oktavec painted a screen to shade the fruit at his co
- http://www.mdhs.org/kids/pscreens.html
William had four sons, Albert, Bill, Bernie, and Richard. Al had done screens as well, but Richard kept the artform alive to pass it on down to me. I'm John Oktavec, Richard's son. I presently carry on the tradition for a third generation. My cousin Chris restores churches. We come from an artistic family and love to dabble in many art forms, but are probably best known for Painted Window Screens.