"Master Metalsmith: Harlan Butt"
2002-09-22 until 2002-12-01
National Ornamental Metal Museum
Memphis, TN, USA United States of America

Each year, in conjunction with Repair Days, the Metal Museum presents a one-person retrospective of work by an American metal artist who is an acknowledged master. Harlan Butt, the 2002 Master Metalsmith, has exhibited his enamelwork both nationally and internationally for over twenty-five years. Recently elected a Fellow by the American Craft Council, he is Regents Professor at the University of North Texas in Denton where he has taught since 1976.

He is past President of the Enamelist Society, spent a year studying enameling and metalsmithing in Kyoto, Japan, and was co-curator of the International Indian Enamel Exhibition in New Delhi in 2001. His work is in the collections of the Renwick Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Mint Museum of Art & Craft in Charlotte, N. C., Southern Illinois University, the University of North Texas, Azusa Pacific University, and the Arrowmont School of Arts.

He is internationally known for his enameled vessels - writing boxes, vases, tea caddies, chalices - all of which reflect his awareness of the Zen Buddhist concept of emptiness. For the past several years he has been engaged in a series of enamel works under the title "The Earth Beneath Our Feet". Catalogues will be available in the Museum Giftstore.

IMAGE:
Harlan Butt
The  Earth Beneath Our Feet: Moth Jar
                           silver, enamel, bronze, paint
6" x 4" x 4"
                                                       2002

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of Tennessee

Other Important Exhibitions in United States