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Betty Cooke

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Betty Cooke
Born
Catherine Elizabeth Cooke

(1924-05-05)May 5, 1924
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Designer, Metalworker Jewelry Designer
Known forThe Store Ltd., Village of Cross Keys, MD; Cooke and Steinmetz
SpouseWilliam C. Steinmetz
Parent(s)Catherine and Francis Cooke
External audio
audio icon “Conversations Podcast 1: Betty Cooke”, Cara Ober, BMoreArt

Betty Cooke, (May 5, 1924-) is an American designer principally known for her jewelry.[1][2][3][4][5] 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, where she later taught. In addition to teaching jewelry design, she developed a class in "Design and Materials" for furniture design with wood, metal, fabric, and leather. During this time she met her husband-to-be, artist Bill Steinmetz.[1]

Early in her career, she designed furniture and household articles as well handbags, belts and jewelry. Her first store-front was a small house on Tyson Street, where she lived. In 1955, she married Bill Steinmetz. The couple worked together as designers "Cooke and Steinmetz", in addition to teaching. Their projects included a restaurant, a bowling alley, and a church.[1]

Although she read widely in the areas of art and design, Betty Cooke was largely self-trained. Her jewelry style was influenced by Bauhaus and modernism, and was very simple and pure. Her pieces were sold through museums (Museum of Modern Art, Hirshhorn Museum) and contemporary designers (Keegs in Washington). She designed gold jewelry for Kirk Stieff and jewelry and other items for Geoffrey Beene. Her work was part of the MoMA "Good Design" Exhibition, and other shows both nationally and internationally.[1]


Exhibitions

Awards

Collections

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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Kelly, Jacques (February 6, 2015). "Designers make lifelong impact on Baltimore's arts scene". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. ^ "A Visit with Betty Cooke Designer, Silversmith". Silver Salon Forums. SM Publications. September 2, 2006.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ May, Stephen (June 14, 2013). "Betty Cooke: Modern Jewelry Pioneer". Antiques and the Arts Weekly. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b Shaykett, Jessica (September 19, 2011). "Betty Cooke: Art + Work". American Craft Magazine. American Craft Council.
  8. ^ "American Craft Council College of Fellows". American Craft Council. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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