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Oral history interview with Bruce Metcalf

Interviewee:
Metcalf, Bruce, 1949-  Search this
Interviewer:
Cooke, Edward S., 1954-  Search this
Creator:
Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this
Names:
Colorado State University -- Faculty  Search this
Kent State University -- Faculty  Search this
Montana State University (Bozeman, Mont.)  Search this
Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this
Society of North American Goldsmiths  Search this
State University of New York at New Paltz -- Students  Search this
Syracuse University -- Students  Search this
Tyler School of Art -- Students  Search this
University of the Arts (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- Faculty  Search this
Adamson, Glenn  Search this
Arneson, Robert, 1930-1992  Search this
Bauer, Fred  Search this
Bennett, Jamie, 1948-  Search this
Burns, Mark, 1950-  Search this
Church, Sharon, 1948-  Search this
Clark, Garth, 1947-  Search this
Craig, Gabriel  Search this
Cummins, Susan  Search this
Daley, William, 1925-2002  Search this
Ebendorf, Robert, 1938-  Search this
Eidelberg, Martin P.  Search this
Flynn, Pat, 1954-  Search this
Getty, Nilda  Search this
Gill, John, 1949-  Search this
Griffin, Gary, 1945-  Search this
Halem, Henry  Search this
Hammer, Wayne  Search this
Hash, Arthur, 1976-  Search this
Jerry, Michael John, 1937-  Search this
Kington, L. Brent (Louis Brent), 1934-2013  Search this
Koplos, Janet  Search this
Koss, Gene  Search this
Kumata, Carol  Search this
La Plantz, David  Search this
Lechtzin, Stanley, 1936-  Search this
Long, Randy  Search this
Matzdorf, Kurt  Search this
Mawdsley, Richard, 1945-  Search this
Moran, Lois  Search this
Morris, William, 1834-1896  Search this
Pritchard, Marian  Search this
Rogers, Harriet  Search this
Rogers, Steve  Search this
Ruskin, John, 1819-1900  Search this
Schaechter, Judith, 1961-  Search this
Shaw, Richard, 1941 Sept. 12-  Search this
Slivka, Rose  Search this
Slosberg, Jill  Search this
Wilson, Anne, 1949-  Search this
Woell, J. Fred, 1934-  Search this
Extent:
96 Pages (Transcript)
5 Items (Sound recording: 5 sound files (4 hr., 10 min.), digital, wav)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Place:
California -- description and travel
Seoul (Korea) -- Description and Travel
Date:
2009 June 10
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Bruce Metcalf conducted 2009 June 10, by Edward S. Cooke, Jr., for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, at Metcalf's home, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Mr. Metcalf discusses his early years in Amherst, Massachusetts; beginnings as a maker with modeling clay and plastic airplane models; undergraduate years at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York in the late 1960s; early interest in architecture; early disenchantment with modernist discourse and theory; introduction to Marxist theory and idealism of the 1960s; summer trip to California in 1970; return to the East Coast upon the death of his father; return to college, transferring into jewelry in his senior year; influence of his teacher Michael Jerry; seeing the work in "Objects: USA" exhibition (1969) and influence of the work of J. Fred Woell, Richard Mawdsley, L. Brent Kington; rejection of current trends in art, including conceptual art and formalism; his affinity for the medium of metal, and hammersmithing; influence of funk ceramics, including work by Fred Bauer and Richard Shaw; brief stint at Montana State University, Bozeman; working in cardboard and wood; graduate school at the State University of New York, New Paltz; working with Robert Ebendorf and Kurt Matzdorf at New Paltz; work as a production artist/craftsperson; attending Rhinebeck, New York, craft fair in the mid-1970s; the influence of writings by William Morris and John Ruskin and the notion of "dignified labor"; graduate school at Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; formulating his aesthetic of narrative symbolism; publication of his first article in 1977 as a response to review of the exhibition "Forms in Metal: 275 Years of Metalsmithing in America" (1975); yearlong teaching position at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado; taking a teaching position at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio (1986-1991); publication of his article "Crafts: Second-Class Citizens?" in the first issue of Metalsmith, 1980; growing involvement with the Society of North American Goldsmiths; development of his notion of "social utility" and the role and function of crafts and making; expansion of his writing on craft; rejection of the deconstructivist school of thought in the 1980s; abandonment of sculptural objects for jewelry in the early 1990s; return to Philadelphia in 1991; early teaching of history of craft, first at Kent, then on a Fulbright scholarship in Seoul, South Korea (1990), later at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, in the early 1990s; influence of Martin Eidelberg; development of his vision for a history of craft course; collaboration with Janet Koplos on "Makers: A History of American Studio Craft"; use of his medium and craft to explore issues of nurturing and anxiety; the psychological/social effect and aesthetic importance of wearing jewelry (for the wearer and the artist); the pros and cons of craft collectors; the problematics of installation work by craft artists; recent trends in craft, including Anne Wilson's notion of "sloppy craft" and an "anti-craft" attitude; recent artists, including Arthur Hash and Gabriel Craig; lack of exhibition opportunities for younger/emerging artists; influential recent texts, including "Shards," by Garth Clark. He also recalls Robert Arneson, Randy Long, Carol Kumata, Jamie Bennett, Steve and Harriet Rogers, Wayne Hammer, Stanley Lechtzin, Gene Koss, Henry Halem, Mark Burns, Rose Slivka, Nilda Getty, Jill Slosberg, Sharon Church, John Gill, David La Plantz, Lois Moran; Gary Griffin; William Daley, Marian Pritchard, Glenn Adamson, Pat Flynn, Susan Cummins, and Judith Schaechter.
The following oral history transcript is the result of a recorded interview with Bruce Metcalf on June 10, 2009. The interview took place in Bala Cynwyd, Penn., and was conducted by Edward S. Cooke, Jr. for the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This interview is part of the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America. Bruce Metcalf has reviewed the transcript. His corrections and emendations appear below in brackets with initials. This transcript has been lightly edited for readability by the Archives of American Art. The reader should bear in mind that they are reading a transcript of spoken, rather than written, prose.
Biographical / Historical:
Bruce Metcalf (1949- ) is a jeweler and writer in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
General:
Originally recorded as 5 sound files. Duration is 4 hr., 10 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:
This transcript is open for research. Access to the entire recording is restricted. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Topic:
Ceramics  Search this
Communism  Search this
Deconstructivism (Architecture)  Search this
Conceptual art  Search this
Formalism (Art)  Search this
Jewelers -- Pennsylvania -- Interviews  Search this
Metal-work  Search this
Jewelry making  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Identifier:
AAA.metcal09
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw974054f15-9dfd-4aea-98f7-707fd609918e
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-metcal09
Online Media:

William Morris edited by Anna Mason

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896 Works Selections  Search this
Parry, Linda William Morris  Search this
Editor:
Mason, Anna (Art historian)  Search this
Issuing body:
Victoria and Albert Museum  Search this
Physical description:
432 pages illustrations (chiefly color), portraits 29 cm
Type:
Books
Biography
History
Exhibition catalogs
Biographies
Place:
Great Britain
Grande-Bretagne
Date:
2021
19th century
19e siècle
Topic:
Design--History  Search this
Arts and crafts movement  Search this
Design--Histoire  Search this
Design  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1155120

William Morris: master printer / by Frank Colebrook. A lecture given on the evening of November 27, 1896 to students of the printing school, St. Bride Foundation Institute in London ; with a new introduction by William S. Peterson ; wood engravings by John Depol

Author:
Colebrook, Frank  Search this
Peterson, William S  Search this
DePol, John 1913-2004  Search this
Yellow Barn Press  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
x, 34 p. : ill. ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Great Britain
Date:
1989
19th century
Topic:
Printing--History  Search this
Call number:
Z232.M87 C69 1989
Z232.M87C69 1989
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_383688

Architecture and history, and Westminster Abbey / by William Morris

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Kelmscott Press  Search this
Donor:
Bernheim, Henry J. Mrs. DSI  Search this
Subject:
Westminster Abbey  Search this
Physical description:
50, [2] p. ; 22 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1900
Topic:
Architecture  Search this
Call number:
NA2560 .M77 1900
NA2560.M77 1900
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_391623

The wood beyond the world / by William Morris

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Kelmscott Press  Search this
Donor:
Hathaway, Calvin S (Calvin Sutliff) 1907-1974 DSI  Search this
Physical description:
[8], 261, [3] p. : ill. ; 22 cm. (8vo)
Type:
Books
Date:
1894
Call number:
PR5079.W6 1894X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_391625

Newsletter / William Morris Society

Title:
William Morris Society newsletter
Author:
William Morris Society  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
William Morris Society  Search this
Physical description:
v. ; 30 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
19uu
Call number:
PR5082.A1 W5
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_748469

William Morris textiles and the art of illumination / Evelyn Jean Phimister

Author:
Phimister, Evelyn Jean  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
vi, 111 leaves, [5] leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 29 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
England
Date:
1987
Topic:
Textile design  Search this
Illumination of books and manuscripts  Search this
Arts and crafts movement  Search this
Call number:
NK1498.M6 P57 1987
NK1498.M6 P57 1987
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_392376

William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement : a design source book / by Linda Parry of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ; with an essay on Textiles of the American Arts and Crafts Movement by Gillian Moss of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York

Author:
Parry, Linda  Search this
Moss, Gillian  Search this
Victoria and Albert Museum  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Victoria and Albert Museum  Search this
Physical description:
22 p., 100 leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 34 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
Great Britain
United States
Date:
1989
C1989
Topic:
Arts and crafts movement  Search this
Call number:
NK1145 .P26 1989
NK1145.P26 1989
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_383099

William Morris; his life, work, and friends. Foreword by Allan Temko

Author:
Henderson, Philip 1906-1977  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
388 p. 90 illus. (8 col., incl. facsims., ports.) 25 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1967
[1967]
Call number:
N40.1.M875 H4
N40.1.M875H4
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_74482

The journal of William Morris studies : the journal of the William Morris Society

Title:
JWMS
Author:
William Morris Society  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
v. : ill. ; 22 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
2002
2002-
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_736912

The decorative arts : their relation to modern life and progress : an address delivered before the Trades' Guild of Learning / by William Morris

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
32 p. ; 19 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1878
[1878]
Topic:
Decoration and ornament  Search this
Call number:
NK1132.M8X 1878
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_391622

William Morris : an illustrated life / [written and edited by Jane Drake]

Author:
Drake, Jane  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
29 p. : ill. (some col.), col. facsims., ports. (some col.) ; 24 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
England
Date:
1996
C1996
Topic:
Art  Search this
Call number:
PR5083 .W55 1996
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_743008

The art of William Morris : a record / by Aymer Vallance ; with reproductions from designs and fabrics printed in the colours of the originals, examples of the type and ornaments used at the Kelmscott Press, and many other illustrations ; also a classified bibliography by Temple Scott

Author:
Vallance, Aymer 1862-1943  Search this
Scott, Temple 1864-1939  Search this
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Former owner:
Cooper Union Library DSI  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Kelmscott Press  Search this
Physical description:
xi, 167, xxx, [1] p., [10], XL [i.e. 41] leaves of plates : ill. (part col.), facsims. (part col.), port. (mounted photo.) ; 40 cm
Type:
Biography
Place:
Great Britain
Date:
1897
19th century
Topic:
Authors, English  Search this
Artists  Search this
Call number:
PR5083 .V3 1897X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_718186

William Morris and Morris & Co / Lucia van der Post, with an introduction by Linda Parry

Author:
Van der Post, Lucia  Search this
Arthur Sanderson & Sons  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896 Contributions in decorative arts  Search this
Morton Morris and Company  Search this
Physical description:
vi, 90 p. : col. ill. ; 25 cm
Type:
Books
Place:
England
Date:
2003
C2003
19th century
Topic:
Interior decoration--History  Search this
Interior decoration  Search this
Call number:
NK2043.Z9 M65 2003
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_726466

Pioneers of modern design : from William Morris to Walter Gropius / Nikolaus Pevsner

Author:
Pevsner, Nikolaus 1902-1983  Search this
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
264 p. : ill. ; 20 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1974
19th century
20th century
Topic:
Art, Modern  Search this
Architecture, Modern  Search this
Decoration and ornament  Search this
Call number:
N6450 .P514 1974
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_72895

This then is a William Morris book being a little journey by Elbert Hubbard, & some letters, heretofore unpublished, written to his friend & fellow worker, Robert Thomson, all throwing a side-light, more or less, on the man and his times

Author:
Hubbard, Elbert 1856-1915  Search this
Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896 Homes and haunts  Search this
Thomson, Robert  Search this
Physical description:
67 pages facsimile, portraits 22 cm
Type:
Books
Correspondence
Printers' devices (Printing)
Place:
Great Britain
New York
East Aurora
Date:
1907
19th century
20th century
Topic:
Socialism  Search this
Artists  Search this
Socialism--History  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1051100

The defence of Guenevere and other poems by William Morris ; illustrated by Jessie M. King

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Illustrator:
King, Jessie M.  Search this
Publisher:
John Lane Company  Search this
Physical description:
310 pages illustrations 20 cm
Type:
Adaptations
Specimens
Poetry
Binders (Binding)
Gold-blocked bindings.)
Illustrated books
Illustrated cloth case bindings)
Panel stamp bindings
Pictorial cloth bindings (Binding)
Poems
Place:
United States
Date:
1904
Topic:
Arthurian romances  Search this
Decoration and ornament--Art nouveau  Search this
Guenevere, Queen (Legendary character)  Search this
Kings and rulers  Search this
Knights and knighthood  Search this
Queens  Search this
Jessie M. King  Search this
Call number:
PR5078 .D4 1904X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_1053196

William Morris: Ornamentation and illustrations from the Kelmscott Chaucer. With an introd. by Fridolf Johnson

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Burne-Jones, Edward Coley 1833-1898  Search this
Chaucer, Geoffrey d. 1400 Works of Geoffrey Chaucer  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Chaucer, Geoffrey d. 1400 Illustrations  Search this
Physical description:
xiv, 112 p. facsims. 31 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1973
1896
[1973]
Call number:
NC242.M72 W54 1973X
NC242.M72W54 1973X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_38518

Newsletter / William Morris Society in the United States

Title:
William Morris Society in the United States newsletter
Author:
William Morris Society in the United States  Search this
Subject:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
William Morris Society in the United States  Search this
Physical description:
v. ; 30 cm
Type:
Periodicals
Date:
1985
1985-
Call number:
PR5082.A1 W52
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_738449

Hopes and fears for art. By William Morris

Author:
Morris, William 1834-1896  Search this
Physical description:
217 p. 20 cm
Type:
Electronic resources
Date:
1901
Topic:
Art  Search this
Arts and crafts movement  Search this
Call number:
N7445 .M86X
N7445.M86X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_87372

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