Search Results

Creator:

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent),, 1934-2013  Search this

Subject:

Yellin, Samuel  Search this

Hsu, Ilin  Search this

American Craft Council  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale  Search this

Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art  Search this

Type:

Video recordings

Interviews

Sketches

Sound recordings

Citation:

L. Brent Kington papers, 1944-2012. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Blacksmithing  Search this

Blacksmiths -- Illinois  Search this

Sculptors -- Illinois  Search this

Metal-work  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Lives of artists  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)5974

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)228079

AAA_collcode_kinglbre

Theme:

Craft

Lives of artists

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_228079

Interviewee:

Hu, Mary Lee, 1943-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Subject:

Baldridge, Mark S.  Search this

Choo, Chunghi  Search this

Christensen, Hans  Search this

Dingeldein, Otto  Search this

Eikerman, Alma  Search this

Farafol, Daphne  Search this

Fenster, Fred  Search this

Fike, Phillip G.  Search this

Halper, Vicki  Search this

Ho, Ron  Search this

Kidman, Hero  Search this

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent)  Search this

Marshall, John  Search this

Matsukata, Miye  Search this

Matzdorf, Kurt  Search this

McMurray, James  Search this

Moty, Eleanor  Search this

Noffke, Gary  Search this

Pujol, Eleanor  Search this

Seppä, Heikki  Search this

Turner, Gary  Search this

Warashina, Patti  Search this

American Craft Council  Search this

Cleveland Institute of Art  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art  Search this

Lawrence Arts Center  Search this

Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale  Search this

University of Washington  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Place:

Afghanistan -- Description and travel

Australia -- description and travel

China -- description and travel

Indonesia -- description and travel

Iran -- description and travel

Nepal -- description and travel

Ohio -- Description and travel

Papua New Guinea -- Description and travel

Tibet (China) -- Description and travel

Turkey -- description and travel

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Mary Lee Hu, 2009 March 18-19. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Body adornment  Search this

Women artists  Search this

Women educators  Search this

Jewelry making  Search this

Theme:

Women  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)15659

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)282415

AAA_collcode_hu09

Theme:

Women

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_282415

Interviewee:

Hu, Mary Lee, 1943-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

American Craft Council  Search this

Cleveland Institute of Art -- Students  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art -- Students  Search this

Lawrence Arts Center  Search this

Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) -- Students  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale -- Students  Search this

University of Washington -- Faculty  Search this

Baldridge, Mark S., 1946-  Search this

Choo, Chunghi  Search this

Christensen, Hans, 1924-1983  Search this

Dingeldein, Otto  Search this

Eikerman, Alma  Search this

Farafol, Daphne  Search this

Fenster, Fred, 1934-  Search this

Fike, Phillip G., 1927-1997  Search this

Halper, Vicki  Search this

Ho, Ron  Search this

Kidman, Hero  Search this

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent), 1934-2013  Search this

Marshall, John, 1936-  Search this

Matsukata, Miye, 1922-1981  Search this

Matzdorf, Kurt  Search this

McMurray, James  Search this

Moty, Eleanor  Search this

Noffke, Gary  Search this

Pujol, Eleanor  Search this

Seppä, Heikki  Search this

Turner, Gary  Search this

Warashina, Patti, 1940-  Search this

Extent:

8 Items (Sound recording: 8 wav files (5 hr., 42 min.), digital)

163 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Place:

Afghanistan -- Description and Travel

Australia -- Description and Travel

China -- Description and Travel

Indonesia -- Description and Travel

Iran -- Description and Travel

Nepal -- Description and Travel

Ohio -- Description and Travel

Papua New Guinea -- Description and Travel

Tibet (China) -- Description and Travel

Turkey -- description and travel

Date:

2009 March 18-19

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Mary Lee Hu conducted 2009 March 18-19, by Mija Riedel, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, at Hu's home and studio, in Seattle, Washington.

Hu speaks of growing up outside Cleveland, Ohio; her early interest in making objects; attending the Lawrence Art Center camp in Kansas at the age of 16 where she first experimented with metals; her like of working with tools in order to create something; taking metal smith classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art during high school; attending Miami University in Ohio for two years followed by two years an Cranbrook Academy of Art; working as a TA with L. Brent Kington at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; her collaborative work in both textiles and metals while at Carbondale which lead to her first experimentation in weaving silver wire; creating a body of work for her Master's thesis in which all the pieces were woven wire; various works, their origins, when, where and why they were created, including her Neckpiece, Choker, Bracelet, Brooch and Ring series; her aesthetic interest in patterns, line and positive/negative space; a limited interest in and use of color in her work; the transition from silver to gold wire; a progressively larger interest in the history of jewelry and body adornment which eventually became a lecture at the University of Washington, where she taught for 26 years; numerous trips around the world to countries such as China, Tibet, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia; a strong interest in ethnic and native jewelry/body adornment practices; the various purposes which jewelry can serve in society; her involvement with the Society of North American Goldsmiths and the American Craft Council; her technique based teaching practices; the role that modern technology plays in teaching, learning, and making jewelry; the lack of support and funds for metals programs in universities around the country; her library, which includes aver 2,000 books about the history of jewelry and body adornment; her collection of jewelry from around the world; her want to create beautiful and functional jewelry; the public and private aspects to jewelry and it's role in museums; current projects and the importance to maintain interest of metals in younger generations. Hu also recalls Gary Turner, Hans Christensen, Otto Dingeldein, Heikki Seppä, Hero Kielman, Phil Fike, Patti Warashina, Gary Noffke, Elliott Pujol, Chonghi Choo, Daphne Farafo, Vicki Halper, Ron Ho, Miye Matsukata, Alma Eikermann, Mark Baldridge, Kurt Matzdorf, Eleanor Moty, Fred Fenster, John Marshall, James McMurray, and others.

Biographical / Historical:

Mary Lee Hu (1943- ) is a metalsmith in Seattle, Washington. Smith was educated at Cranbrook Academy of Art and Southern Illinois University. She teaches at the University of Washington.

General:

Originally recorded on 4 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 8 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 43 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Occupation:

Metal-workers -- Washington (State) -- Seattle  Search this

Educators -- Washington (State) -- Seattle  Search this

Topic:

Body adornment  Search this

Women artists  Search this

Women educators  Search this

Jewelry making  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.hu09

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9a23bb6bc-66a5-4900-9a0f-031b4e2ab83d

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-hu09

Creator:

Matsukata, Miye, 1922-1981  Search this

Names:

Art Asia Gallery  Search this

Fitchburg Art Museum  Search this

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts -- Students  Search this

Janiye (Firm)  Search this

Principia College -- Students  Search this

Hickey, Judy  Search this

Hubbard, James C.  Search this

Oka, Takashi, 1924-  Search this

Extent:

13.45 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Diaries

Sketchbooks

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

circa 1900-1982

bulk 1964-1981

Summary:

The papers of jewelry designer and metalsmith Miye Matsukata measure 13.45 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to 1982, with the bulk of the material dating from 1964 to 1981.The papers include correspondence, interviews, journals, writings and lectures, exhibition files, Janiye business records, printed materials, scrapbooks, artwork, sketchbooks, and photographic materials that document Matsukata's work as a jeweler and owner of Janiye, an atelier located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Scope and Contents:

The papers of jewelry designer and metalsmith Miye Matsukata measure 13.45 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to 1982, with the bulk of the material dating from 1964 to 1981.The papers include correspondence, interviews, journals, writings and lectures, exhibition files, Janiye business records, printed materials, scrapbooks, artwork, sketchbooks, and photographic materials that document Matsukata's work as a jeweler and owner of Janiye, an atelier located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Correspondence is with family, James Hubbard, various customers, galleries, and colleagues. Interviews include recordings of Matsukata and Takashi Oka, Judy Hickey and Miyo, and two interviews from 1968.

Eleven journals contain Matsukata's writings about her work, travel experiences, impressions of Mikimoto, and include some sketches. Writings and lectures consists of five appointment books; biographical statements and resumes; essays; lecture recordings, manuscripts, and slides; twelve memo books; notes; two travel itinerary books; and writings by James Hubbard that include an essay about Matsukata.

Exhibition files consist of correspondence, price and invitations lists, loan forms, and drafts for jewelry shows at the Art Asia Gallery, Fitchburg Art Museum, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Principia College, and other galleries. Business files for Janiye include donations, financial and legal material, inventory books, publicity files, and sales records; and client and vendor files containing invoices, correspondence, and special order details for works produced by Matsukata and other jewelers at Janiye.

Printed materials include booklets, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, an invitation, press releases, and Janiye sales catalogs. Two scrapbooks feature clippings and sketches of dinnerware, and early brochures and photographs of Janiye.

Artwork consists of sketches of jewelry, dinnerware, mountains, and landscapes. Additionally, 47 sketchbooks of travel, jewelry, and dinnerware are found in the collection. Photographic materials include photographs, negatives, slides, and several glass slides depicting Matsukata, her family, Janiye, jewelry and dinnerware, and travel.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as 11 series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1957-1981 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 2: Interviews, 1968-1978 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Journals, 1966-1981 (0.7 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 4: Writings and Lectures, 1962-1982 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)

Series 5: Exhibition Files, 1964-1980 (0.3 linear feet; Box 3)

Series 6: Janiye Business Records, 1948-1982 (7.1 linear feet; Boxes 3-10, 17)

Series 7: Printed Material, circa 1965-1982 (0.2 linear feet; Box 10)

Series 8: Scrapbooks, circa 1945-1980 (0.2 linear feet; Box 15)

Series 9: Artwork, 1946-1981 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 10, 15)

Series 10: Sketchbooks, circa 1950-1981 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 10-11, 15)

Series 11: Photographic Material, circa 1900-1982 (2.3 linear feet; Boxes 11-14, 16)

Biographical / Historical:

Miye Matsukata (1922-1981) was a Japanese American jewelry designer and metalsmith based in Boston, Massachusetts. She worked at her jewelry firm Janiye in Boston from 1950 to her death.

Matsukata was born in Japan to Shokuma and Miyo Matsukata and had four sisters named Haru, Naka, Taneko "Tane," and Mari. After coming to the United States in 1940, Matsukata attended Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, graduating in 1944. Afterwards, she attended The Museum School in Boston. In 1950 she established Janiye, a jewelry atelier, with former classmates Naomi Katz Harris and Janice Whipple Williams. The name Janiye is a combination of the three co-owners' names. By 1958, Matsukata became the sole owner of the company with James Hubbard, a stone cutter, serving as business manager and agent. Nancy Michel, Alexandra Watkins, and Yoshiko Yamamoto became the leading team of jewelers to execute Matsukata's designs.

Matsukata traveled extensively to Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Peru, India, western and central Europe, and to Scandinavia after winning a scholarship in 1950. She also spent a substantial amount of time in Japan, especially during her collaboration with the Japanese pearl company Mikimoto. Her work was inspired by the places she visited and she often documented the sources of her inspiration through her writings and sketches.

Matsukata died in 1981 in Boston. Janiye remained open after her death with Michel and Watkins as the new owners.

Related Materials:

The Archives of American Art also holds several collections related to Miye Matsukata, including Photographs of Miye Matsukata, Slides of jewelry designed by Miye Matsukata, Alexandra S. Watkins papers concerning Miye Matsukata, Miye Matsukata note with sketch to Mrs. Bartlett, Jane England Chandler papers regarding Miye Matsukata necklace, and Photographs of Miye Matsukata jewelry.

Provenance:

The Miye Matsukata papers were donated in 1984 by Mrs. Edwin O. Reischauer, Matsukata's sister and in 2008 and 2017 by Ann Hubbard Gaddis, the sister of Matsukata's business partner and heir, James Hubbard.

Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.

Occupation:

Jewelers -- Massachusetts -- Boston  Search this

Metal-workers -- Massachusetts -- Boston  Search this

Designers -- Massachusetts -- Boston  Search this

Topic:

Decorative arts  Search this

Jewelry making  Search this

Asian American art  Search this

Asian American artists  Search this

Asian American jewelers  Search this

Asian American metal-workers  Search this

Japanese American art  Search this

Japanese American artists  Search this

Women artists  Search this

Women designers  Search this

Women jewelers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Scrapbooks

Photographs

Diaries

Sketchbooks

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Miye Matsukata papers, circa 1900-1982, bulk 1964-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

AAA.matsmiye

See more items in:

Miye Matsukata papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw923232c19-c357-4ca9-8f9f-fc0900f5802f

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-matsmiye

Interviewee:

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent),, 1934-2013  Search this

Interviewer:

Douglas, Mary F., 1956-  Search this

Subject:

Thomas, Richard C.  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale  Search this

University of Kansas  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with L. Brent Kington, 2001 May 3-4. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Interviews  Search this

Blacksmithing  Search this

Learning disabilities  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)13103

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)226971

AAA_collcode_kingto01

Theme:

Craft

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_226971

Interviewee:

Slemmons, Kiff, 1944-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Subject:

Solberg, Ramona  Search this

Steffins, Ella  Search this

Toledo, Francisco  Search this

Herman, Lloyd E.  Search this

Di Mare, Dominic  Search this

Adams, Leo  Search this

Benjamin, Walter  Search this

Knobel, Esther  Search this

La Plantz, David  Search this

Höch, Hannah  Search this

Holshuh, Virginia  Search this

Messager, Annette  Search this

University of Iowa  Search this

Scripps College  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Kiff Slemmons, 2007 November 1-2. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Interviews  Search this

Jewelry makers -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Chicago's Art-Related Archival Materials: A Terra Foundation Resource  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)13662

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)273941

AAA_collcode_slemmo07

Theme:

Craft

Chicago's Art-Related Archival Materials: A Terra Foundation Resource

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_273941

Interviewee:

Mawdsley, Richard, 1945-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Subject:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Richard Mawdsley, 2010 August 21-22. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Interviews  Search this

Metal-work  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)15896

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)296001

AAA_collcode_mawdsl10

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_296001

Interviewee:

Butt, Harlan, 1950-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Subject:

Brooks, Jan  Search this

Glantz, Ken  Search this

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent)  Search this

Lechtzin, Stanley  Search this

Moty, Eleanor  Search this

Paley, Albert  Search this

Pijanowski, Eugene  Search this

Pijanowski, Hiroko Sato  Search this

Pujol, Elliot  Search this

Scanga, Italo  Search this

Shirk, Helen Z.  Search this

Snyder, Gary  Search this

Staffel, Rudolf  Search this

Winokur, Robert  Search this

American Craft Council  Search this

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts  Search this

Enamelist Society  Search this

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Penland School of Crafts  Search this

Rhode Island School of Design  Search this

San Diego State University  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale  Search this

Tyler School of Art  Search this

University of North Texas  Search this

Type:

Interviews

Sound recordings

Place:

Australia -- description and travel

India -- description and travel

Japan -- Description and Travel

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Harlan Butt, 2009 July 27-28. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Art, Asian  Search this

Art -- Study and teaching  Search this

Buddhism  Search this

Metal-workers -- Texas -- Interviews  Search this

Weaving  Search this

Japanese tea ceremony  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)15907

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)296475

AAA_collcode_butt09

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_296475

Interviewee:

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent), 1934-2013  Search this

Interviewer:

Douglas, Mary F., 1956-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Cranbrook Academy of Art -- Students  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale -- Faculty  Search this

University of Kansas -- Students  Search this

Thomas, Richard C., 1917-1988  Search this

Extent:

95 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

2001 May 3-4

Scope and Contents:

An interview of L. Brent Kington conducted 2001 May 3-4, by Mary Douglas, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, in Kington's home and studio, Makando, Illinois.

Kington describes his childhood and the impact of the Depression; his adopted sister Kay; and his hyperactivity and difficulty accomplishing schoolwork. He comments on his high school teachers; his academic and athletic accomplishments at University of Kansas (UK); his studies at Cranbrook Academy of Art with Richard (Dick) Thomas "the intellectual silversmith" and his "mentor"; Hugh Acton and the GM Tech Center; and fellow metalsmiths Fred Fenster, Mike Jerry, Stanley Lechtzin, and Heikki Seppä.

He discusses exhibitions including "Kansas Designer Craftsmen," "Michigan Designer Craftsmen," "Fiber, Clay, Metal," "Creative Casting, Young Americans 1962," and "Objects: USA." He talks about Ashanti gold weights; Scandinavian design; teaching at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois (SIU) and Illinois State University (ISU), and taking students to the Saint Louis Art Museum to see granulation in Mycenaean gold. He comments at length on his toys and experimenting with ideas about toys.

Kington also describes blacksmithing workshops held at SIU and the "renaissance" of blacksmithing in the United States. He recalls his involvement with the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG), American Craft Council (ACC), World Crafts Council (WCC), Artist Blacksmith's Association of North America (ABANA), the Kentucky School of Craft, the National Ornamental Metal Museum, and other organizations. He discusses his weathervane pieces and other series such as Icarus, Crozier, Europa, and Axis Mundi. He comments on the influence of Mircea Eliade's book "The Forge and the Crucible" (1979), considers the blacksmith's role in various cultural mythologies, and evaluates publications such as "Anvil's Ring" and "American Blacksmith."

He comments on the current state of affairs in metalsmithing; his retirement from SIU and teaching in the University of Georgia-Cortona program; the impact of Cyril Stanley Smith's insights and the importance of his book "A History of Metallography" (1960); his appreciation of Daryl Meier's work; exploring new techniques such as mokume gane, kuromido, shibuichi, rokusho (patination process); encouraging Mary Lee Hu to pursue wire structuring; and his enthusiasm for sharing information. He recalls John Allgood, Philip Baldwin, Robert Ebendorf, Phil Fike, Maija Grotell, Marvin Jensen, Richard Mawdsley, Lee Nordness, Ron Pearson, Bob Peterson,Gene and Hiroko Pijanowski, Jim Wallace, and others.

Biographical / Historical:

L. Brent Kington (1934-) is a metalsmith from Makanda, Illinois. Mary Douglas (1956-) is a curator at the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte, N.C.

General:

Originally recorded on 7 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 14 digital wav files. Duration is 6 hr., 54 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Interviews  Search this

Blacksmithing  Search this

Learning disabilities  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.kingto01

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9965d97da-f46b-4a53-a40d-bc5ca73b03b3

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-kingto01

Interviewee:

Slemmons, Kiff  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Scripps College -- Students  Search this

University of Iowa -- Students  Search this

Adams, Leo  Search this

Benjamin, Walter  Search this

Di Mare, Dominic, 1932-  Search this

Herman, Lloyd E.  Search this

Holshuh, Virginia  Search this

Höch, Hannah, 1889-1978  Search this

Knobel, Esther, 1949-  Search this

La Plantz, David  Search this

Messager, Annette, 1943-  Search this

Solberg, Ramona  Search this

Steffins, Ella  Search this

Toledo, Francisco, 1940-  Search this

Extent:

92 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

2007 November 1-2

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Kiff Slemmons conducted 2007 November 1-2, by Mija Riedel, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, at Slemmons' home and studio in Chicago, Illinois.

Slemmons speaks of her childhood growing up in a small town in Iowa; helping her mother in the town pharmacy; working the printing press with her dad, who published the town newspaper; taking art lessons in grade school; learning to play the piano; attending one year at Scripps College before living for a year in Paris; attending the University of Iowa majoring in French; taking basic art classes her senior year; a spring trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, with her future husband Rod; financing the trip by selling 150 pairs of earrings at the student art fair; visiting Monte Alban and being inspired by the ancient jewelry in Tomb 7; moving to Washington state; meeting Ella Steffens and doing jewelry repair work; a strong feeling of the maker's presence in work she repairs; the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi; imperfection as an attractive quality; the conscious decision made from jewelry making to art making, based more in ideas and concepts as opposed to simple decoration; series Hands of Heros, Figures of Speech; the importance of exhibiting her work as it would be seen worn as opposed to in cases under glass; the development of her breastplate pieces; the Top 10 Ethnic Hits; the layering of many meanings as well as materials in her work; her respect for the brevity of poetry and love of Emily Dickinson's work; the restraint of poetry in leaving things unsaid and her struggle to capture that essence; series Re:Pair and Imperfection coming out of her move to Chicago and the developing Iraq War; her workbench as an ever-changing sketchbook full of chaos, tension, and conversation; working with Francisco Toledo and the city of Oaxaca in developing paper jewelry; her travels to India, Africa, Mexico, and Japan; her piece Insectopedia and the great interest shown in it by entomologists; and her desire to send her work out in the world where it is seen and enjoyed. Slemmons also recalls Ramona Solberg, David LaPlantz, Leo Adams, Esther Knobel, Lloyd Herman, Dominic DiMare, Walter Benjamin, Hannah Hoch, Annette Messager, Virginia Holshuh, and others.

Biographical / Historical:

Kiff Slemmons (1944- ) is a metal artist from Chicago, Illinois. Interviewer Mija Riedel is a curator and writer from San Francisco, California.

General:

Originally recorded on 4 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 13 digital wav files. Duration is 7 hr., 19 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Interviews  Search this

Jewelry makers -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.slemmo07

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9222e9ba2-9f1f-46d3-a206-c1d21baa29b3

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-slemmo07

Interviewee:

Mawdsley, Richard, 1945-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Extent:

109 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

2010 August 21-22

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Richard Mawdsley conducted 2010 August 21 and 22, by Mija Riedel, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, at Mawdsley's home and studio, in Carterville, Illinois.

Biographical / Historical:

Richard Mawdsley (1945- ) is a metalsmith and educator in Carterville, Illinois. Mija Riedel (1958- ) is an independent scholar and writer in San Francisco, California.

General:

Originally recorded on 4 memory cards. Reformatted in 2010 as 8 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 59 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Topic:

Metal-workers -- Illinois -- Interviews  Search this

Metal-work  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Identifier:

AAA.mawdsl10

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9da9cd7c4-8084-4c3b-9fef-c8d5b9e22af2

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-mawdsl10

Interviewee:

Butt, Harlan W., 1950-  Search this

Interviewer:

Riedel, Mija, 1958-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

American Craft Council  Search this

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts -- Faculty  Search this

Enamelist Society  Search this

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts -- Faculty  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Penland School of Crafts -- Faculty  Search this

Rhode Island School of Design -- Faculty  Search this

San Diego State University -- Faculty  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale -- Students  Search this

Tyler School of Art -- Students  Search this

University of North Texas -- Faculty  Search this

Brooks, Jan  Search this

Glantz, Ken  Search this

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent), 1934-2013  Search this

Lechtzin, Stanley, 1936-  Search this

Moty, Eleanor  Search this

Paley, Albert  Search this

Pijanowski, Eugene, 1938-  Search this

Pijanowski, Hiroko Sato, 1942-  Search this

Pujol, Elliot  Search this

Scanga, Italo, 1932-2001  Search this

Shirk, Helen Z., 1942-  Search this

Snyder, Gary, 1930-  Search this

Staffel, Rudolf, 1911-2002  Search this

Winokur, Robert, 1933-  Search this

Extent:

7 Items (Sound recording: 7 sound files (5 hr., 19 min.), digital, wav)

90 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Interviews

Sound recordings

Place:

Australia -- Description and Travel

India -- description and travel

Japan -- Description and Travel

Date:

2009 July 27-28

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Harlan W. Butt conducted 2009 July 27-28, by Mija Riedel, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, at Butt's studio, in Ptarmigan Meadows, Colorado.

Harlan Butt speaks of the influence of Asian art on his work; the use of text and imagery in his work; the use of pattern in his work; his undergraduate minor in weaving; the influence of Asian religion and mythology; series The Earth Beneath Our Feet , Garden Anagogies, and Snakes in Heaven; his childhood growing up in Hopewell, New Jersey, near Princeton; undergraduate work at Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; discovery of Buddhism and Eastern religions; his mother's death when he was 20; studying with Stanley Lechtzin and Elliot Pujol at Tyler; graduate school at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; interest in Japanese tea ceremony; more exploration of Zen Buddhism; use of color in his work; studying with L. Brent Kington; reliquary series; move to Connecticut in 1974; second trip to Japan in 1984 to co-curate Kyoto Metal: An Exhibition of Contemporary Japanese Art Metalwork; introduction to Japanese system of artisan apprenticeship; early efforts as a writer and poet; the influence of poet Gary Snyder; summer teaching position at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence; teaching job at San Diego [California] State University in the mid-1970s; rattles and pipes series; exploring the Western landscape; the power of the snake image; taking a teaching position at University of North Texas, Denton (1976- ); first trip to Japan in 1980; differences in artisanal/metalworking practices in Japan and the United States; teaching workshops at various craft schools, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina; Haystack School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine; and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, compared with teaching in a university; the pros and cons of the gallery system; work with the Nancy Yaw Gallery, Birmingham, Michigan; the challenge of commission work; National Parks Project, Denton Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, Texas; the role of haiku and text in his pieces; series 1,001 Views of Mt. Mu; series Snakes in Heaven; the influence of his wife and children; trip to India and organizing Colour & Light: The Art and Craft of Enamel on Metal, National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, 2001; trip to Australia; involvement with the Society of North American Goldsmiths, Enamelist Society, and American Craft Council; subtle issues of environmentalism in his work; his affinity for metalsmithing and enameling. He also recalls [Rudolf] Staffel, Robert Winokur, Italo Scanga, Jan Brooks, Mike Riegel, Rachelle Thiewes, Eleanor Moty, Albert Paley, Shumei Tanaka, Ken Glantz (Ken Chowder), Randy Thelma Coles, Sandy Green, Mickey McCarter, Gene Pijanowski, Hiroko Pijanowski, Toshihiro Yamanaka, Helen Shirk, Ana Lopez, and Sarah Perkins.

Biographical / Historical:

Harlan W. Butt (1950- ) is an artist, metalsmith, and educator in Denton, Texas. Mija Riedel (1958- ) is a writer and independent scholar in San Francisco, California.

General:

Originally recorded on 4 sound mini discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 7 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 19 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Restrictions:

Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.

Occupation:

Art teachers -- Interviews  Search this

Topic:

Art, Asian  Search this

Art -- Study and teaching  Search this

Buddhism  Search this

Metal-workers -- Texas -- Interviews  Search this

Weaving  Search this

Japanese tea ceremony  Search this

Genre/Form:

Interviews

Sound recordings

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.butt09

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw990c0174f-3e27-4a2f-bccb-8d302a50d30d

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-butt09

Interviewee:

Jerry, Michael John, 1937-  Search this

Interviewer:

Yager, Jan, 1951-  Search this

Subject:

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent)  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Michael John Jerry, 2004 November 15-16. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Art -- Economic aspects  Search this

Metal-workers -- New Mexico -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Metal-work  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)12052

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)249461

AAA_collcode_jerry04

Theme:

Craft

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_249461

Interviewee:

Woell, J. Fred, 1934-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Subject:

Callahan, Harry M.  Search this

Boy Scouts of America  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art  Search this

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts  Search this

University of Wisconsin--Madison  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with J. Fred Woell, 2001 June 6-2002 January 19. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Jewelers -- Maine -- Interviews  Search this

Metal-workers -- Maine -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)11914

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)227021

AAA_collcode_woell01

Theme:

Craft

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_227021

Interviewee:

Jerry, Michael John, 1937-  Search this

Interviewer:

Yager, Jan, 1951-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent), 1934-2013  Search this

Extent:

159 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

2004 November 15-16

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Michael John Jerry conducted 2004 November 15-16, by Jan Yager, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, in Santa Fe, N.M.

Jerry speaks of his parents' background and their careers as artists and educators; his father, Sylvester Jerry's, work for the WPA; his father's role as director of the Wustum Museum of Fine Arts in Racine, Wisconsin; living at the museum during his childhood; taking art classes at the museum and industrial arts classes in school; doing metalwork in high school; winning the Scholastic Art Award; attending the Rochester Institute of Technology, School of American Craftsmen; working for Ron Pearson at Shop One and Toza Radakovich; attending Cranbrook Academy of Art; finishing his degree back at the School of American Craftsmen; making liturgical pieces on commission; the New England Silver companies; deciding to teach and taking a job at the State University of Wisconsin at Stout; attending the first Society of North American Goldsmiths conference; attending L. Brent Kington's blacksmithing workshop in Carbondale, Illinois; and teaching at Syracuse University. Jerry also speaks of some of his former students and what they are doing now; his teaching philosophy along with teaching partner Barbara Walter; the difficulties of teaching; the formation of SNAG; how industrial design has changed during his career; teaching at summer art schools; why he decided to work with metal; exhibiting his work; pricing his work; living in London and the metalsmith community there; living in Florence, Italy; how traveling has influenced his work; his tools and setup of his studio; the art community in Santa Fe; the process of designing his pieces; making models and drawings; his current project and working process; design influences; collecting ethnic crafts; making jewelry that is wearable; how the craft market has changed during his career; participating in craft fairs; having pieces at galleries and museums; the need for craft criticism and periodicals; the international versus American metal tradition; and current problems with university art programs. Jerry also recalls John Paul Miller, Hans Christensen, Jack Prip, Fred Fenster, Stanley Lechtzin, Robert Ebendorf, Olaf Skoogfors, Michael Monroe, John Marshall, Alex Bealer, Tom Markusen, Bruce Metcalf, Arthur Pulos, Kurt Matzdorf, Philip Morton, Charles Laloma, Henry Moore, and others.

Biographical / Historical:

Michael John Jerry (1937- ) is a metalsmith and educator from Santa Fe, N.M. Jan Yager (1951- ) is a jeweler and metalsmith from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

General:

Originally recorded as 7 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 12 digital wav files. Duration is 9 hr., 16 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Restrictions:

Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.

Topic:

Art -- Economic aspects  Search this

Metal-workers -- New Mexico -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Metal-work  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.jerry04

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw99f9b75ae-a460-4c49-b21a-463affaaddfd

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-jerry04

Interviewee:

Woell, J. Fred, 1934-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Boy Scouts of America  Search this

Cranbrook Academy of Art -- Students  Search this

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts -- Faculty  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

University of Wisconsin--Madison -- Students  Search this

Callahan, Harry M.  Search this

Extent:

75 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Date:

2001 June 6-2002 January 19

Scope and Contents:

An interview of J. Fred Woell conducted 2001 June 6-2002 January 19, by Donna Gold, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, in the artist's home and studio, Deer Isle, Maine.

Woell speaks of his childhood and the impact of many moves; his affiliation with the Presbyterian Church; his experiences at Park College and the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana, studying economics and political science; and the influence of jewelry teacher Robert Von Neumann. Woell describes his experience in the masters program at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and refers again to his early childhood noting his participation in Boy Scouts and how it engendered his respect for the environment. He also mentions collecting baseball cards and rocks; the absence of a peer group; and his lack of confidence. He discusses his affinity for open space and unpopulated places; his enjoyment of camping, kayaking with his wife Pat; and notes that his views of nature mirror those of Taoists. He cites effective teaching techniques and comments on secondary school curricula. He discusses a cover story about his work in Metalsmith and his mother's response; his early art classes and interest in drawing cartoons; his tendency to be a clown; his participation in an American-Legion-sponsored event called Boys State; artists as purveyors of culture; and the premise for a workshop titled "Art by Accident." Woell speaks of influence of a John Cage performance at University of Illinois and subsequently contacting Cage; and teaching at Boston University, Haystack, and elsewhere. Woell also provides thoughtful commentary on the teaching style and learning process at Cranbrook Academy of Art. He discusses in some detail the strong influence of Vincent Campanella and Frank Gallo on his work; sharing a workbench with Bob von Neumann; recording and saving ideas; drawing preliminary sketches for jewelry; and his early sculptures of helmets and spoons. He describes and interprets his piece, "Come Alive, You're in the Pepsi Generation," and he comments on found-object pieces that were inspired by Scouting and cartooning. Woell explains how his environmental concerns inform his work and argues that art has a healing function. He remarks on meeting and marrying Kathleen, his first wife; his one-man show at Garth Clark Gallery; and how his work is part of an American, rather than international, tradition. Woell discusses his relationship with galleries including Helen Drutt in Philadelphia, Sybaris Gallery in Royal Oak, Michigan, Connell Gallery in Atlanta, and Mobilia in Cambridge, Massachusetts He points out the value of being included in publications such as, "Metalsmith," "Jewelers Circular Keystone," "Ornament," "American Craft," "Craft Horizon," and "Craft Report." He speaks about commissions for institutions and individuals and describes his current obligation to Haystack and his plans for his retirement, which includes exploring photography and making videos. Woell also describes his typical workday and his symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and dyslexia. He recalls Peter Voulkos, Jennifer Burton, Francis Sumner Merritt, Ronald Pearson, Georg Jensen, Audrey Handler, Jerry Brown, Jon Wilson, and others.

On January 19, 2002 Woell added an addendum to the interview which included remarks about September 11, 2001 acts of terrorism in the U.S.

Biographical / Historical:

J. Fred Woell (1934-) is a jeweler and metalsmith from Deer Isle, Maine. Donna Gold (1953-) is an art critic from Stockton Springs, Maine.

General:

Originally recorded on 6 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 11 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 43 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Topic:

Jewelers -- Maine -- Interviews  Search this

Metal-workers -- Maine -- Interviews  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.woell01

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw939303f25-e810-46cd-b745-00b2cb922419

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-woell01

Creator:

Renk, Merry, 1921-2012  Search this

Names:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Merritt, Francis Sumner, 1913-2000  Search this

Slivka, Rose  Search this

Smith, Paul J., 1931-  Search this

Soldner, Paul  Search this

Extent:

0.9 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Drawings

Video recordings

Date:

1952-2000

Summary:

The papers of San Francisco metal-worker, jeweler, and painter Merry Renk measure 0.9 linear feet and date from 1952 to 2000. The collection comprises business records that include sales invoices, inventories, exhibition price lists, correspondence, and other material related to Renk's business activities. Also found are printed materials, a few sketches of utensils, writings, and a video recording of the documentary "Merry Renk: Jeweler" by Alan Leveton.

Scope and Contents:

The papers of San Francisco jeweler, painter, and metal-worker Merry Renk measure 0.9 linear feet and date from 1952 to 2000. The collection comprises business records that include sales invoices, inventories, exhibition price lists, and correspondence. Correspondents include Greta Daniel, Mrs. Vanderbilt Webb, Conrad Brown, Rose Slivka, Paul Soldner, Paul J. Smith, Alice W. Nichols, Roger Armstrong, and Francis S. Merritt. Also found is other material related to Renk's business activities; printed materials including clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs; a few sketches of utensils; writings including an unpublished typescript with illustrations and a draft of Renk's biographical statement; and a video recording containing the documentary "Merry Renk: Jeweler" by Alan Leveton.

Arrangement:

Due to the small size of this collection, the papers are arranged as one series.

Series 1: Merry Renk Papers, 1952-2000 (1.1 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV 3)

Biographical / Historical:

Merry Renk (1921-2012) was a jeweler, painter, and metal-worker in San Francisco, California.

Renk was born in Trenton, New Jersey as Mary Ruth Gibbs. She studied painting at the Trenton School of Industrial Arts before moving to Chicago in 1946 to study at Illinois Institute of Technology. In Chicago, Renk founded the 750 Studio, an art gallery, with Olive Oliver and Mary Jo Slick. After taking some time to travel, she settled in San Francisco in 1948 where she became a prominent member of the arts and crafts community. Renk was instrumental in the founding of the San Francisco Metal Arts Guild and served as president in 1954. She also became an honorary fellow at the American Craft Council.

Renk is primarily known for her jewelry work but after suffering an eye injury in a car accident she began focusing on creating large scale sculptures using jewelry techniques sometime in the 1960s to 1970s.

Renk married Stanley Edwin Renk in 1941. After his death in World War II, she married fellow artist Earle Watt Curtis in 1958.

Related Materials:

Also in the Archives of American Art is an interview of Merry Renk conducted on January 18-19, 2001 by Arline M. Fisch for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America in Renk's home and studio in San Francisco, California.

Provenance:

The Merry Renk papers were donated in 2003 and 2004 by Merry Renk as a part of the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.

Rights:

The donor has retained all intellectual property rights, including copyright, that she may own in the following material: Unpublished typescript, "Memories for My Children's Children's Children's Children's Children's Children."

The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Occupation:

Painters -- California -- San Francisco  Search this

Jewelers -- California -- San Francisco  Search this

Metal-workers -- California -- San Francisco  Search this

Topic:

Women artists  Search this

Women jewelers  Search this

Genre/Form:

Drawings

Video recordings

Citation:

Merry Renk papers, 1952-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

AAA.renkmerr

See more items in:

Merry Renk papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw97ef5e415-aa9e-49eb-b9b1-ea261bba5a7a

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-renkmerr

Creator:

Fisch, Arline M.  Search this

Names:

American Craftsmen's Council  Search this

Boston University  Search this

Electrum (Gallery : London, England)  Search this

Internationale Handwerksmesse  Search this

Lee Nordness Galleries  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

National Endowment for the Arts  Search this

San Diego State University -- Faculty  Search this

Skidmore College  Search this

Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this

World Crafts Council  Search this

Antunes, Edith  Search this

Extent:

9.8 Linear feet

3.82 Gigabytes

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Gigabytes

Photographs

Video recordings

Date:

1931-2015

Summary:

The papers of metalsmith, jeweler, and educator Arline M. Fisch measure 9.8 linear feet and 3.82 GB date from 1931 to 2015. The papers include awards and certificates, correspondence, exhibition and gallery files, project files, San Diego State University teaching files, membership records, and printed and digital and photographic materials.

Scope and Contents:

The papers of metalsmith, jeweler, and educator Arline M. Fisch measure 9.8 linear feet and 3.82 GB and date from 1931 to 2015. The papers include awards and certificates, correspondence, exhibition and gallery files, project files, San Diego State University teaching files, membership records, and printed and and digital photographic materials.

Awards and certificates are from the Indonesian National Crafts Council, Internationale Handwerksmesse Munchen, San Diego State University, State of California, and other organizations. Correspondence is with Edith Antunes, Skidmore College and other educational institutions, as well as galleries, students, and colleagues. Files for exhibitions consist of inventory and price lists, loan and shipping records, printed material, correspondence, a digital disk, and a video recording for Elegant Fantasy: The Jewelry of Arline Fisch (2000), The Art of Arline Fisch (2003), Arline Fisch: Creatures from the Deep (2008), and various exhibitions.

Gallery files contain business records for Atrium, Electrum Gallery, Lee Nordness Galleries, and galleries in Germany and Switzerland. Project files include records for an advertising campaign, articles and lectures, Textile Techniques in Metal for Jewelers, Sculptors, and Textile Artists, a cataloging project, commercial ventures, curriculum development at Boston University, NEA and Fulbright grant projects, an artwork installation, an oral history project, a seminar, and workshops.

San Diego State University teaching files include correspondence, evaluations, exhibition material, grant programs and projects, university programs, recommendations, and sabbatical records. Membership records are for the American Craftsmen's Council (ACC), Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG), and World Crafts Council (WCC).

Printed materials consist of booklets, a calendar, clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, periodicals and posters, and chronological files. Photographic materials are of Fisch, her family, travel, her studio, with colleagues and in class, and works of art. A detailed archive of Fisch's work on slides and in digital format is also included.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as nine series.

Series 1: Awards and Certificates, 1961-2001 (0.3 linear feet; Boxes 1, 11)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1956-2003 (0.8 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1957-2010 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Series 4: Gallery Files, 1968-2010 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 2-3)

Series 5: Project Files, 1956-2010 (1.4 linear feet; Boxes 3-4, 11)

Series 6: San Diego State University, 1955-2014 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 4-5)

Series 7: Membership Records, 1964-1994 (1.0 linear feet; Boxes 5-6)

Series 8: Printed Materials, circa 1960-2015 (3.3 linear feet; Boxes 6-9, 11, OV 12)

Series 9: Photographic Materials, 1931-circa 2005 (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 9-11, 3.82 GB; ER01)

Biographical / Historical:

Arline M. Fisch (1931- ) is a metalsmith, jeweler, and educator in San Diego, California.

Fisch was born in Brooklyn, New York. She studied art education at Skidmore College and earned a master of arts degree from the University of Illinois. From 1956 to 1957 she studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen Denmark, and she returned to Denmark in 1966 under a Fulbright Research Grant. She also received Fulbright and NEA grants for multiple projects in Uruguay, Austria, and the U.S.

From 1954 to 1961, she taught at Wheaton College and Skidmore College. Fisch began teaching at San Diego State University (SDSU) in 1961 where she developed the Jewelry and Metalsmithing program. She retired from SDSU in 2000.

Fisch was a member of the American Craft Council (ACC), Haystack Mountain School of Crafts' Board of Trustees, and was vice president of the World Crafts Council (WCC) from 1976 to 1981. She was a founding member of Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) and was president of the organization from 1982 to 1985.

Fisch has received numerous awards and honors for her accomplishments in craftsmanship including an honorary doctorate degree from Skidmore College, United States Artists fellowship award, and Fresno Art Museum Council of 100 Distinguished Woman Artist award in 2012. Fisch has exhibited her work all over the world including her solo retrospective exhibition titled, Elegant Fantasy: The Jewelry of Arline Fisch, which was shown in San Diego, Oakland, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Related Materials:

Also at the Archives of American Art is an interview of Arline M. Fisch conducted July 29-30, 2001 by Sharon Church McNabb, for the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, in Fisch's home, in San Diego, California.

Provenance:

The papers were donated from 2003 to 2018 by Arline M. Fisch as a part of the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.

Rights:

Arline M. Fisch retains copyright for the manuscript for the 2nd edition of her book Textile Techniques in Metal for Jewelers, Sculptors, and Textile Artists (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, c. 1975) and notes for the first edition.

The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.

Occupation:

Metal-workers -- California -- San Diego  Search this

Jewelers -- California -- San Diego  Search this

Educators -- California -- San Diego  Search this

Topic:

Art -- Study and teaching  Search this

Artists' studios -- Photographs  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Women artists  Search this

Women educators  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Video recordings

Citation:

Arline M. Fisch papers, 1931-2015. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

AAA.fiscarli

See more items in:

Arline M. Fisch papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw95c7c5f3b-37ad-44ab-9740-558f8fc327f7

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-fiscarli