The Miniature Worlds of Bruce Metcalf

February 21, 2009 – May 17, 2009 

Mint Museum of Craft + Design

Deliverance from a Gilded Cage, 1994

Pins: Sterling silver, brass, 14ky gold, Micarta, 3” x 1 ¼”

Stage: Painted wood, 8 ½” x 7 ¾” x 1 ¼”

Collection of Nan Schaffer

The Miniature Worlds of Bruce Metcalf  is the first major monograph and the first exhibition with a retrospective view of the artist’s work. Featuring approximately sixty pieces dating from the 1970s to the present, the exhibition conceptualizes Metcalf’s work in relationship to his interest in architecture, the comics, and the narrative. It examines the social, moral, and political issues that Metcalf has raised in published essays about the handmade and that are acted out by his rueful bigheaded and vulnerable protagonists on miniature stages. In their dual life as wearable brooches, they venture into the world, where they engage the unsuspecting viewer with their stories and distinctive visual language.

Organized by Palo Alto Art Center, Division of Arts and Sciences, City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California.

This exhibition has been made possible through the support of the Palo Alto Art Center Foundation; Rotasa Foundation, Windgate Charitable Foundation, the Arts Council Silicon Valley; and private contributions. Sponsored by The Founders' Circle Ltd., the national support affiliate of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. A full color catalog accompanies the exhibition.

 The Miniature Worlds of Bruce Metcalf page on the Mint Museum website

This exhibition will be at the Palo Alto Art Center from September 28 - December 21, 2008. Here is the Press Release.

About the Artist

Pew Fellowship for the Arts page  for Bruce Metcalf.

Charon Kransen artists page on Bruce Metcalf

Essays and Multimedia

Metcalf is currently co-authoring with Janet Koplos, Editor, Art in America, to create a textbook publication The History of 20th Century Studio Crafts in America. Here is the process that went into the making of the text.

"The Hand: At the Heart of Craft" , an article  (pdf format) from American Craft magazine (August/September 2000)

Summer in the City Salon Series - Connect/(Dis)connect -Explore the complicated relationships among the broad spectrum of craft makers today in this dialogue between jeweler, educator and writer Bruce Metcalf and Chanel Kennebrew of Junkprints, an indie craft artist, graphic designer and Etsy seller. The Summer in the City Salon Series is made possible by the support of Leatrice S. Eagle, with additional support from Etsy. A bloggers perspective on the event.

The Art Jewelry Forum (AJF) posts a transcript of the 2008 SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) presentation by Bruce Metcalf entitled  "DIY, Websites and Energy: The New Alternative Crafts” . A good synopsis (with links to more information) of the vigorous online craft debate created by reaction to the presentation.

Resources

The Miniature Worlds of Bruce Metcalf

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