Inspired by nature, her jewelry and metalwork now shapes the work of a new generation
Heirs of an MFA student at 麻豆传媒映画 have donated her entire studio to the School of Art and Design.
Katherine Merten鈥檚 lifework in jewelry and metalwork was influenced by her education at 麻豆传媒映画 and an MFA earned when she was nearly 60 years old.
Inspired by the forms and gestures of the natural world, one of her first efforts created a series of metal objects that explored the possibilities of a single pod-like shape. She titled her thesis project 鈥淭he 59th Garden.鈥�
鈥淭he resulting objects became this 鈥榞arden鈥� of forms, inspired by nature and cultivated during my 59th year,鈥� Merten wrote in her thesis statement in 1991.
This past summer, Merten鈥檚 family donated her jewelry studio, complete with tools and materials, to 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 School of Art and Design.
鈥淲e knew we wanted her tools to be used by artists, not just stored away. 麻豆传媒映画 felt like the right place to honor her,鈥� said her granddaughter, Phoebe Merten.
Merten died April 1 at age 93.
"It's hard to encapsulate the person," Phoebe Merten said. "She was just a really vibrant, colorful, outgoing personality鈥verybody who knew her remembers her. People at the post office, her car insurance lady 鈥� even they remember her. She was the kind of person who made an impression on everybody she met."
School of Art and Design faculty worked with Phoebe to inventory the materials and relocate them to campus, where they have been incorporated into the jewelry and metalwork program.
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Merten鈥檚 creativity extended beyond her time at 麻豆传媒映画. She studied at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, and she was also a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.
Throughout her life, Merten maintained penpals across the world, collected unique rocks often labeled with the origin location, and made a point to learn the stories of people, even strangers. These attributes not only inspired her projects but will be remembered by all those who knew her.
The gift of Merten鈥檚 tools and spirit are intended to continue to shape the experience of 麻豆传媒映画 students for years to come. 鈥淪he was endlessly curious about the world and about people,鈥� Phoebe Merten said. 鈥淪he loved making things, and she loved sharing them.鈥�
Additional information on the Jewelry and Metalwork program in the 麻豆传媒映画 School of Art and Design .
