Nancy Metz White (1934–2018)[1] was a Wisconsin artist with large-scale outdoor public sculptures installed in two parks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. White welded and sometimes brightly painted steel and forge flashings reclaimed from Milwaukee heavy industry. She described herself as a practitioner of urban archeology.[2]
Nancy Metz White | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1934 Madison, Wisconsin |
| Died | December 10, 2018 (aged 83–84) Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Sculpture |
Sculptures
editTree of Life, which is 2½ stories high, was erected in Mitchell Boulevard Park in 2002. Magic Grove, a grouping of three tree forms, was installed in Enderis Playfield in 2006. Conceived as a community gathering place, Magic Grove includes benches designed by the artist and a commemorative brick walkway.[3][4][5] In both Tree of Life and Magic Grove, bird forms perch amid the tree branches, adding a fanciful touch.
A smaller welded outdoor sculpture, Helping Hands, whimsically constructed from hand die forms recycled from a glove factory, is on permanent display at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.[6]
In 2011, Fantasy Garden, a grouping of five larger than life painted steel flowers also made from forge flashings, was installed on the plaza of the retirement community, Saint John’s On The Lake, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[7]
White also made a series of sculptures out of galvanized and stainless steel furnace pipe and flexible air-conditioning ducting.[8][9]
Biography
editBorn in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1934, White graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a bachelor's degree in art education and also did graduate study there. She served as creative arts coordinator at Urban Day School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[10] She began to weld at the age of 45.[11] White was also a printmaker and pastel artist. Her sense of color remained intact even in the face of dementia.[12] She was married to Joseph Charles White who died in 2009. Their twin daughters are Michele and Jacqueline.[13] Her papers are housed at the Milwaukee County Historical Society.[14] She died December 10, 2018.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Nancy Metz White". MOWA Online Archive. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Auer, James (March 20, 1983). "She sculpts old material". The Milwaukee Journal.
- ^ Gould, Whitney (May 27, 2007). "Neighbors help park bloom anew: Enderis among Mayor's Urban Design winners". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
- ^ Ziegler, Jerry (February 24, 2008). "At home, in the park: Enderis residents take pride in community". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012.
- ^ Cameron, Bruce (April 2008). "Magic Grove in the neighborhood park". APWA Reporter.
- ^ "Sculptures and Architecture at Mead Public Library". Mead Public Library.
- ^ "Enriching Lives" (PDF). Saint John's on the Lake. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^ Auer, James (November 25, 1979). "Sculptor's show set for today". The Milwaukee Journal.
- ^ Manger, Barbara (January 1980). "An icon to technology". NEWmonth. Vol. 24, no. 1. Brown County Publishing Co.
- ^ Blinkhorn, Lois (February 11, 1979). "A Case for the Creative Child". Milwaukee Journal.
- ^ Brin, Edith (March 3, 1983). "Heavy Metal! Artist carries a torch for junk". The Herald.
- ^ Higgins, Jim (June 14, 2019). "Remembering the late artist Nancy Metz White, who made playful steel giants in Enderis Playfield and near Miller Park". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Silver, Amy Rabideau (June 17, 2009). "Engineer of many passions put people at the top". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "White Family Papers". Milwaukee County Historical Society. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ "Nancy Metz White Death Notice". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 13, 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.