Mary Lee Hu (born 1943) is an American artist, goldsmith, and college educator, known for using textile techniques to create intricate woven wire jewelry.[1][2]
Early life and education
Mary Lee Hu was born 1943, in Lakewood, Ohio.[3] Hu first became fascinated with metalwork during high school introductory courses. She later explored more work with metals during a summer camp.[4]
During her undergraduate education Hu developed her skills and continued to work with small scale metalwork and jewelry. She received a graduate degree (MFA 1967, metalsmithing) from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, where she studied under metalsmith L. Brent Kington.[citation needed] It was during this time that Hu started to work with fiber inspired techniques after taking a fiber arts course.[5] This led to the development of her signature style of wire wrapped jewelry.
Career
Since the late 1960s Hu has developed new techniques in coiling, wrapping, weaving, knitting, and twining wire. Her work consists mostly woven wire earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, and neckpieces that emulate natural forms, movements and symmetry.[6]
After completing her master of fine arts degree, Hu traveled to various places and took up different teaching positions until she joined the metal arts program in the University of Washington in the School of Art in 1980. She retired from the University of Washington as professor emeritus in 2006.[7]
Hu is a member and past president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.[when?] In 1996 Hu was inducted into the American Craft Council College of Fellows.[8] Hu has received three National Endowment of the Arts Craftsman Fellowships. Her work is in major collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Renwick Gallery, the American Crafts Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago. Hu is the winner of the 2008 Irving and Yvonne Twining Humber Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.[9]
1975: Best in Show, Best in Metals, Outstanding Craftsman of the North Central Region, Purchase Award, \"Beaux Arts Designer/Craftsman '75\", Columbus Museum of Fine Arts, Columbus, OH[10]
"Korean & American Metalsmithing Exhibition", Kepco Plaza Gallery, Seoul, Korea.
References
^Shaykett, Jessica (2012-02-08). "The Woven Wire Wonders of Mary Lee Hu". American Craft Council. Retrieved 2017-02-11. Hu has blazed a trail both as artist and innovator, exploring the nexus between metalsmithing and textile techniques.
^Shaykett, Jessica (March 19, 2012). "Mary Lee Hu: Cutting Loose". American Craft Council. American Craft magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
^Catalani], [foreword by Stefano (2012). Knitted, knotted, twisted, & twined : the jewelry of Mary Lee Hu. Bellevue, WA: Bellevue Arts Museum. ISBN978-0615561561.
^Huynh, Anh (24 April 2012). "Entwined in Art". The Daily of the University of Washington. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
