Bruce Metcalf

Bruce Metcalf (born September 30, 1949 in Amherst, Massachusetts) is an American artist who uses different materials like wood, metal, and plexiglass. With these materials he uses diverse techniques for the jewelry, sculptures, and wall reliefs that he creates. Many of these works are whimsical yet restrained works that comment on the human condition.

Education

He received his B.F.A. in Crafts/Metalsmithing in 1972 at Syracuse University. He also majored in Architecture at Syracuse from 1968-1970. From 1972-73 he attended Montana State University and from 1973-74 attended SUNY College at New Paltz. In 1977 he received his M.F.A. in Metalsmithing and Jewelry at Tyler School of Art at Temple University.

Professional experience

• Co-author with Janet Koplos of "Makers: 20th Century American Studio Crafts", to be published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2009
• Senior Lecturer 2007, 1999, 1997, 1994–1995, The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Advisory Committee, “Craft in America” television series
• Instructor 1992, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Associate Professor of Jewelry/Metals 1986 - 1991 Assistant Professor 1981-1986, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
• Contributing Editor, Metalsmith magazine, 1980–1992, 1995–2001
• Visiting Instructor, 1983, University of Houston Graduate School of Architecture, Houston, Texas
• Instructor of Metalsmithing 1979-1980, Department of Continuing Education Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts
• Artist-in-Residence 1980, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
• Temporary Instructor of Metalsmithing 1977-1978, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
• Benchworker for "New England Weather," Leverett, Massachusetts, (production of silver jewelry) 1974-1975
• Benchworker for Kurt Matzdorf, New Paltz, New York 1974

Grants, fellowships and awards

• Artist’s Project Grant, Pew Fellowships in the Arts, 2002
• Society of North American Goldsmiths Metalsmith Writer’s Award, 1997
• Pew Fellowship in the Arts, 1996
• National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artists Fellowship 1992
• Fulbright Teaching & Research Fellowship in Seoul, Korea, 1990
• Kent State University Creative Activity Grants, 1983, 1989
• Ohio Arts Council Crafts Fellowships, 1983, 1984,1988
• Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities Artists Foundation Fellowship, 1980
• Colorado State University Faculty Improvement Research Grant, 1977
• National Endowment for the Arts Craftsmen's Fellowship, 1977

Selected museum collections

• Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA, 2002
• Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, 2002
• Museum of Arts & Design, New York, NY, 1998
• Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design, New York NY, 1997
• Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1996
• Le Museé des Arts Décoratifs de Montréal, Canada, 1993
• Museum voor Hedendaagse Kunst, S'Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 1992

Writings

• Crafts: Second Class Citizens?, in Metalsmith magazine, 1980.
• The Meaning of Making, Catalogue essay for "Craft as Content: National Metals Invitational", Emily Davis Gallery, The University of Akron, Ohio 1987.
• On the Nature of Jewelry, in Jewelry Australia Now. Craft Australia Series Publication, 1989.
• Replacing the Myth of Modernism, in American Craft, February/March 1993, Volume 53, Number 1.

Artist statement

"These necklaces and brooches represent a recent departure. They are neither narrative nor conceptual jewelry. Instead, I want to make jewelry that is decorative and comfortably wearable. Beyond that, I want these articles to become the center of attention when they are worn, and thus to make their wearers feel exceptional".

References

• U. Ilse Neumann, American Studio Jewelry Movement - Créateurs de bijoux américains du XXème siècle, in "Bijou, Objet, Corps. In-corporer", L'Harmattan, 2008, ISBN 978-2-296-07029-5

External links

• Artist's website
• http://www.charonkransenarts.com/artists/Metcalf_6_2005/artist_metcalf.html