Mary Scheier facts for kids
Mary Scheier (born Mary Goldsmith; May 9, 1908 – May 14, 2007) was a famous American artist who worked with clay. She was known as a ceramicist. Mary was also the wife and creative partner of another artist, Edwin Scheier. Together, they made beautiful pottery.
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Mary Scheier's Artistic Journey
Mary Goldsmith was born in Salem, Virginia. In 1925, she moved to New York City. There, she studied art at several well-known schools. These included the Art Students League of New York and the Grand Central School of Art.
After studying, Mary worked briefly in advertising in Paris. She then returned to Virginia. In August 1937, she married Edwin Scheier. They met during the Great Depression. Mary was leading an art gallery for the WPA. The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during that time.
Early Pottery Studio
In 1939, the Scheiers opened their first art studio. It was called Hillcrock Pottery. This studio was in Glade Spring, Virginia. They made small sculptures and useful pottery. They used local clay from the area for their creations.
Teaching and Moving On
In 1940, Mary and Edwin moved to Durham, New Hampshire. Both artists taught at the University of New Hampshire. They worked there until 1968. Mary was an Artist-in-Residence at the university for many years. She shared a studio with her husband. When Edwin served in the military during World War II, Mary took over his teaching duties.
Later, the couple moved to Oaxaca, a state in Mexico. Mary stopped making pottery in the 1960s. This was because of health issues like arthritis. Eventually, they moved to Green Valley, Arizona. Mary Scheier passed away in Tucson, Arizona, in 2007.
Mary's Art in Collections
Mary Scheier's artwork is very important. It can be found in many famous places. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. Her pieces are also at the American Craft Museum. The University of New Hampshire Special Collections also has her work.
Mary lived to be 99 years old. She passed away just five days after her birthday. She and Edwin were married for 69 years.
Mary Scheier's Unique Style
Mary was famous for her special skill. She could create very thin-walled pottery. These were often thrown on a potter's wheel. Edwin would then add his designs to her pieces. They also used special glazes. This teamwork made their art widely recognized.
Mary also made pottery that looked like ancient Chinese art. She admired the pottery from the Sung dynasty.
Themes in Her Work
Mary's art often showed themes from early human history. She also used ideas from the Bible. Her work explored "human behavior." This included topics like Adam and Eve, birth, and motherhood. Some designs even showed people inside other people. This looked like a womb or people inside animals.
Films and Books About Mary Scheier
Mary Goldsmith and her husband Edwin Scheier were featured in a film. It was called Four Hands, One Heart. This movie was shown many times on PBS television stations.
Mary and Edwin were also written about in a book. It was called "American Studio Ceramics: 1920-1950." Lyndel King wrote this book in 1988. It included a special chapter about the Scheiers.
