Betty Cooke
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Betty Cooke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Catherine Elizabeth Cooke May 5, 1924 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Institute College of Art |
| Known for | Designer, Metalworker Jewelry Designer |
| Movement | American Modernist |
| Spouse | William C. Steinmetz |
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 “Conversations Podcast 1: Betty Cooke”, Cara Ober, BMoreArt |
Betty Cooke (born 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]
Design Career
In 1946, Cooke bought and restored an old rowhouse on Tyson Street in Mount Vernon in Baltimore. She and her partner Bill Steinmetz restored it for use as a house and shop and established a design consultancy there.[3]
They later established The Store Ltd at the Village of Cross Keys in Baltimore in 1965.[2][3]
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". Their projects included a restaurant, a bowling alley, and a church.[1]
Jewelry design
Although she reads widely 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 (Museum of Modern Art, Hirshhorn Museum) and contemporary designers (Keegs in Washington). She has designed jewelry for Kirk Stieff and for Geoffrey Beene's shows in New York and Milan.[1]
“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[6]
Exhibitions
- 1948, “Modern Jewelry Under $50” 1948-1950, Group exhibition, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN (also 1955, 1959)[1][6]
- 1950 “Good Design”, Group exhibition, Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY[1]
- 1951, “Young Americans”, Group exhibition, American Craft Museum, New York, NY[1]
- 1951, “Textiles, Ceramics, Metalwork“, Group exhibition, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- 1995, “Design . Jewelry . Betty Cooke“ a retrospective exhibition and catalog of her jewelry from 1946 - 1994, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
- 1997, “Messengers of Modernism”, Group exhibition, Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal, Canada[7]
- 2008, Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Awards
- 1987, Maryland Institute College of Art, Alumni Medal of Honor
- 1996, American Craft Council, College of Fellows[8]
Collections
Betty Cooke's work is found in museum collections, including:
- Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
- American Craft Museum, New York, NY
- Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA[7]
- Musée des arts décoratifs de Montréal, Canada
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.
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Awards
- American Craft Council College of Fellows 1996
- DeBeers Diamonds Today Award 1979, 1981
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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).
- ^ a b c 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).
- ^ "A Visit with Betty Cooke Designer, Silversmith". Silver Salon Forums. SM Publications. September 2, 2006.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b May, Stephen (June 14, 2013). "Betty Cooke: Modern Jewelry Pioneer". Antiques and the Arts Weekly. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ a b Shaykett, Jessica (September 19, 2011). "Betty Cooke: Art + Work". American Craft Magazine. American Craft Council.
- ^ "American Craft Council College of Fellows". American Craft Council. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
External links
- Yager, Jan (July 1, 2004). "Oral history interview with Betty Cooke, 2004 July 1-2". Archives of American Art, Smithsonian.
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DEFAULTSORT:Cooke, Betty Category:1924 births Category:Living people Category:American jewellers