Jump to content

Betty Cooke: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 58: Line 58:


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Cooke was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 5, 1924. After taking art classes in high school, she went to the [[Maryland Institute College of Art]] (MICA).<ref name="AAA2004">{{cite web|last1=Yager |first1=Jan | title=Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2|url=https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-betty-cooke-11731|website=Archives of American Art, Smithsonian|date= July 1, 2004}}</ref>
Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Cooke was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 5, 1924. After taking art classes in high school, she went to the [[Maryland Institute College of Art]] (MICA), where she studied from 1942 to 1946.<ref name="AAA2004">{{cite web|last1=Yager |first1=Jan | title=Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2|url=https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-betty-cooke-11731|website=Archives of American Art, Smithsonian|date= July 1, 2004}}</ref>
She studied "teacher education", as the only way to get a degree at that time.<ref name="Schon"/>
She received a BFA in education, the only way to get an art degree there at that time.<ref name="Schon"/><ref name="Goya"/>


She later taught at MICA.<ref name="AAA2004"/> In addition to teaching jewelry design, she developed a class in "Design and Materials" for furniture design with wood, metal, fabric, and leather. One of the students who took that class was artist [[Bill Steinmetz (designer)|Bill Steinmetz]]. They later began dating, and eventually married.<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="Obituary">{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Jacques|title=William Steinmetz, designer and Maryland Institute College of Art alumnus|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-william-steinmetz-20161125-story.html|accessdate=6 March 2018|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref>
After graduating from MICA in 1946,<ref name="Giuliano"/> Cooke taught there for 22 years.<ref name="Goya"/><ref name="AAA2004"/> In addition to teaching jewelry design, she developed a class in "Design and Materials" for furniture design with wood, metal, fabric, and leather. One of the students who took that class was artist [[Bill Steinmetz (designer)|Bill Steinmetz]]. They later began dating, and eventually married.<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="Obituary">{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Jacques|title=William Steinmetz, designer and Maryland Institute College of Art alumnus|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-william-steinmetz-20161125-story.html|accessdate=6 March 2018|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref>


== Design Career ==
== Design Career ==
Line 73: Line 73:


==Jewelry design==
==Jewelry design==
Although she is widely read in the areas of art and design, Betty Cooke is largely self-trained. Her jewelry style is influenced by Bauhaus and modernism, and is very simple and pure. Her pieces have been sold through museums such as the [[Museum of Modern Art]] and the [[Hirshhorn Museum]] and contemporary designers such as Keegs in [[Seattle, Washington]]. Cooke has designed jewelry for [[Stieff Silver|Kirk Stieff]] and for [[Geoffrey Beene]]'s shows in New York and [[Milan]].<ref name=OralHistory/>
Although she is widely read in the areas of art and design, Betty Cooke is largely self-trained. Her jewelry style is influenced by Bauhaus and modernism, and is very simple and pure. Her pieces have been sold through museums such as the [[Museum of Modern Art]] and the [[Hirshhorn Museum]] and contemporary designers such as Keegs in [[Seattle, Washington]]. Cooke has designed jewelry for [[Stieff Silver|Kirk Stieff]] and for [[Geoffrey Beene]]'s shows in New York and [[Milan]].<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="Goya"/>


{{quote|“There is an enduring timelessness about her work, and today, as she did 50 years ago, she continues to create work that is extraordinary in its clean, spare architectural line and stunning simplicity.” Fred Lazarus IV, president of Maryland Institute College of Art<ref name="May"/>}}
{{quote|“There is an enduring timelessness about her work, and today, as she did 50 years ago, she continues to create work that is extraordinary in its clean, spare architectural line and stunning simplicity.” Fred Lazarus IV, president of Maryland Institute College of Art<ref name="May"/>}}
Line 91: Line 91:
* 1951, “Young Americans”, Group exhibition, [[American Craft Museum]], New York, NY<ref name=OralHistory/>
* 1951, “Young Americans”, Group exhibition, [[American Craft Museum]], New York, NY<ref name=OralHistory/>
* 1951, “Textiles, Ceramics, Metalwork“, Group exhibition, [[Cranbrook Educational Community|Cranbrook Academy of Art]], [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]]
* 1951, “Textiles, Ceramics, Metalwork“, Group exhibition, [[Cranbrook Educational Community|Cranbrook Academy of Art]], [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]]
* 1950 “Good Design”, Group exhibition, [[Museum of Modern Art]], New York, NY<ref name=OralHistory/>
* 1950 “Good Design”, Group exhibition, [[Museum of Modern Art]], New York, NY<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="Goya"/>
* 1948, “Modern Jewelry Under $50” 1948-1950, Group exhibition, [[Walker Art Center]], Minneapolis, MN (also 1955, 1959)<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="May">{{cite news
* 1948, “Modern Jewelry Under $50” 1948-1950, Group exhibition, [[Walker Art Center]], Minneapolis, MN (also 1955, 1959)<ref name=OralHistory/><ref name="May">{{cite news
|last1=May|first1=Stephen
|last1=May|first1=Stephen
Line 101: Line 101:
==Collections==
==Collections==
Betty Cooke's work is found in museum collections, including:
Betty Cooke's work is found in museum collections, including:
*[[Museum of Modern Art]], New York, NY<ref name="Ober">{{cite web|last1=Ober|first1=Cara|title=Conversations Podcast 1: Betty Cooke|url=http://bmoreart.com/2015/09/conversations-podcast-1-betty-cooke.html|website=BMoreArt|accessdate=6 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="Goya"/>
*[[Museum of Modern Art]], New York, NY
*[[American Craft Museum]], New York, NY
*[[Museum of Arts and Design]], New York, NY<ref name="Goya"/>
*[[American Craft Museum]], New York, NY<ref name="Giuliano">{{cite news|last1=Giuliano|first1=Mike|title=Cooke's jewelry is a model of restraint|url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-06-06/features/1995157157_1_jewelry-for-women-betty-cooke-jewelry-designs|accessdate=6 March 2018|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=June 6, 1995}}</ref>
*[[Walker Art Center]], Minneapolis, MN
*[[Walker Art Center]], Minneapolis, MN
*[[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], MA<ref name="Shaykett"/>
*[[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], MA<ref name="Shaykett"/><ref name="Goya"/>
* Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal, Canada (now part of the [[Montreal Museum of Fine Arts]], [[Montréal, Canada]])
* Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal, Canada (now part of the [[Montreal Museum of Fine Arts]], [[Montréal, Canada]])<ref name="Goya"/>


==Catalogues==
==Catalogues==

Revision as of 00:56, 6 March 2018

This sandbox is in the article namespace. Either move this page into your userspace, or remove the {{User sandbox}} template.

Betty Cooke
Born
Catherine Elizabeth Cooke

(1924-05-05) May 5, 1924 (age 100)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materJohns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art
Known forDesigner, Metalworker Jewelry Designer
MovementAmerican Modernist
SpouseWilliam C. Steinmetz
External audio
audio icon “Conversations Podcast 1: Betty Cooke”, Cara Ober, BMoreArt

Betty Cooke (born May 5, 1924-) is an American designer whose career has lasted more than 73 years.[1] She is principally known for her jewelry.[2][3][4][5][6] She has been called "an icon within the tradition of modernist jewelry"[7] and "a seminal figure in American Modernist studio jewelry".[8] Her pieces have been shown nationally and internationally and are included in a number of museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.

Early life and education

Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Cooke was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 5, 1924. After taking art classes in high school, she went to the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), where she studied from 1942 to 1946.[9] She received a BFA in education, the only way to get an art degree there at that time.[7][8]

After graduating from MICA in 1946,[10] Cooke taught there for 22 years.[8][9] In addition to teaching jewelry design, she developed a class in "Design and Materials" for furniture design with wood, metal, fabric, and leather. One of the students who took that class was artist Bill Steinmetz. They later began dating, and eventually married.[2][11]

Design Career

Early in her career, Cooke designed furniture and household articles as well handbags, belts and jewelry. Her first store-front was a small house on Tyson Street in Mount Vernon in Baltimore, where she lived.[2] In 1946, Cooke bought the old rowhouse for $3,000 and began to restore it.[4] She and her partner Bill Steinmetz restored it for use as a house and shop and established a design consultancy there.[4]

In 1955, she married Bill Steinmetz. The couple worked together as designers "Cooke and Steinmetz". Their projects included a restaurant, a bowling alley, and a church.[2]

They later established The Store Ltd at the Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore in 1965.[3][4]

Jewelry design

Although she is widely read in the areas of art and design, Betty Cooke is largely self-trained. Her jewelry style is influenced by Bauhaus and modernism, and is very simple and pure. Her pieces have been sold through museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and contemporary designers such as Keegs in Seattle, Washington. Cooke has designed jewelry for Kirk Stieff and for Geoffrey Beene's shows in New York and Milan.[2][8]

“There is an enduring timelessness about her work, and today, as she did 50 years ago, she continues to create work that is extraordinary in its clean, spare architectural line and stunning simplicity.” Fred Lazarus IV, president of Maryland Institute College of Art[12]

Selected exhibitions

Collections

Betty Cooke's work is found in museum collections, including:

Catalogues

  • Design, Jewelry, Betty Cooke : June 2-25 1995. (Catalog of an exhibition held at the Meyerhoff Gallery). Baltimore, MD: Maryland Institute College of Art. 1995. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

Awards

References

  1. ^ Cooke, Betty (June 2–25, 1995). Design, Jewelry, Betty Cooke : June 2-25 1995. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Institute College of Art; Meyerhoff Gallery. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: date format (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sugarman, Joe (2015). "Town Jewel Betty Cooke's The Store Ltd just turned 50 years old. And at 90, she's not slowing down". Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved 8 March 2016. Cite error: The named reference "Sugarman" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d Kelly, Jacques (February 6, 2015). "Designers make lifelong impact on Baltimore's arts scene". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 8 March 2016. Cite error: The named reference "Kelly" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ "A Visit with Betty Cooke Designer, Silversmith". Silver Salon Forums. SM Publications. September 2, 2006.
  6. ^ Kirkham, Pat (2000). Women designers in the USA, 1900-2000 : diversity and difference : Jacqueline M. Atkins ... [et al.]. New York: Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts. p. 207. ISBN 9780300093315. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b Schon, Marbeth (June 13, 2001). "An interview with Betty Cooke". Modern Silver.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Betty Cooke Biography - Short". Goya Contemporary. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b Yager, Jan (July 1, 2004). "Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian.
  10. ^ a b Giuliano, Mike (June 6, 1995). "Cooke's jewelry is a model of restraint". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  11. ^ Kelly, Jacques (November 25, 2016). "William Steinmetz, designer and Maryland Institute College of Art alumnus". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  12. ^ a b May, Stephen (June 14, 2013). "Betty Cooke: Modern Jewelry Pioneer". Antiques and the Arts Weekly. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  13. ^ a b Shaykett, Jessica (September 19, 2011). "Betty Cooke: Art + Work". American Craft Magazine. American Craft Council.
  14. ^ Ober, Cara. "Conversations Podcast 1: Betty Cooke". BMoreArt. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  15. ^ "American Craft Council College of Fellows". American Craft Council. Retrieved 10 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)

DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Betty Category:1924 births Category:Living people Category:American jewellers Category:Designers Category:Jewellery designers

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Betty_Cooke&oldid=828997125"