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A career of extraordinary talent and innovation. A leader in metalsmithing education. A mentor for artistic metal designs. These accomplishments and more have earned Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Art and Design Emeritus Professor Paulette Myers the Edwardsville Art Center’s (EAC) Patron of the Arts Award. 

“Being named Patron of the Arts was a big surprise, because I had retired already,” said Myers, of Maryville, who retired from SIUE in 2013. “I was also surprised because the Art Center had only been doing this since 2014, and those who were previously named have done so much.” Former EAC Patrons of the Art award winners include John Celuch, Susan Bostwick, Dan and Caroline Anderson, and Ed Hightower. 

 Myers’ astounding and accomplished works, along with more than 30 of her students’ artistic renderings, are on display at EAC’s In the Student Gallery through today. Numerous students of Myers have gone on to accomplish artistic feats of their own, including Shoji Miyazawa, associate conservation preparatory of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City; Jim Masterson, head designer and blacksmith of the Metal Museum in Memphis, Tenn.; and SIUE alumna Agnes Pal, artist and Holocaust survivor. 

“When I was informed that I had received the honor of being named EAC’s Patron of the Arts, I was asked to arrange an exhibit,” said Myers. “I decided that my retrospective exhibition could be shown with a second exhibition of some of my former accomplished metalsmithing students from the bachelor of fine arts and the master of fine arts programs. I am pleased to have their show adjoining mine, as they are my legacy. 

“Aimee Howard-Clinger, associate professor and head of Metalsmithing in the SIUE Department of Art and Design, curated this expansive show, which was a massive undertaking!” 

“I have had the pleasure to know and work with Paulette for six years now. Her talent, dedication and commitment to the field have been a constant inspiration to myself and the countless students,” said Howard-Clinger. “It has been a great honor and opportunity to curate this retrospective exhibition. These pieces were chosen to represent the diversity of themes and techniques present in the field of metalsmithing and jewelry. The goal of this exhibition is to not only cover the breadth of Paulette’s amazing career as an artist, but also to showcase her legacy as a professor and mentor.” 

Myers came to SIUE in 1983, where she built the undergraduate and graduate metalsmithing programs that became nationally recognized. While at SIUE, Myers helped create the SIUE Metals Studio and became the namesake for the Paulette Myers Award in Metalsmithing. 

Through her 42 years of university teaching, Myers has pursued extensive research in reticulation and perforation. She discovered perforation, and her original research on the subject can be found in the books, Metalsmith Papers of the Society of North America Goldsmiths and Text Tech. Her research involves heat-induced texture of reticulation using 13 different alloys, including nickel alloy. 

Myers works of art appear in numerous books such as 500 Metal Vessels, 500 Earrings, Pewter Studio: Contemporary Projects & Techniques, Art Jewelry Today and Teapots, Makers & Collectors. She presents lecturers, workshops and exhibitions across the country and the world. 

“It takes the entire community to develop an art center such as we are lucky to have. Each student, teacher, administrator, sponsor, admirer, volunteer and collector have an important role in developing the arts in our community,” said Melissa McDonough-Borden, EAC executive director during the opening reception on Friday, Aug. 23. “It takes everyone and is accessible to all. However, sometimes someone outshines and truly changes the fabric of that culture. 

“Paulette Myers has been recognized here as the Patron of the Arts, because of the significant impact her work in metals has brought forth with her innovations in metalsmithing, development of the metals program at SIUE, and legacy of her students represented here and across the country as leaders of other metals programs.” 

The Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC) is a community visual arts center located in Edwardsville, featuring local, regional and national artists in its exhibit hall. The Center is dedicated to the community, offering regular art shows and classes to enrich the area’s cultural experiences with affordable education and entertainment. To learn more, call the EAC at 618-655-0337 or visit edwardsvilleartscenter.com. 

Photos:
Metalsmith extraordinaire Paulette Myers, SIUE Art and Design emeritus professor, is seen with one of her many creations at her Metalsmith Exhibition at the Edwardsville Art Center (EAC). 

Shown are just a few of the metal creations by Myer’s students. Myer displayed the works of more than 30 of her students. The exhibit closes today.