Merle Newport Boyer (9 May 1920 – 29 Aug 2009) was an American modernist studio art jeweler and

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

, as well as

inventor An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea, or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an ...

machinist A machinist is a tradesperson or trained professional who operates machine tools, and has the ability to set up tools such as milling machines, grinders, lathes, and drilling machines. A competent machinist will generally have a strong mechan ...

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

and

mentor Mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organizational setting, a mentor influences the perso ...

Life

Boyer was born in

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

. He graduated from

Bradley Polytechnic Institute Bradley University is a private university in Peoria, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1897, Bradley University enrolls 5,200 students who are pursuing degrees in more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 30 graduate programs in fiv ...

in Peoria,

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

, where he took courses in

horology Chronometry or horology () is the science studying the measurement of time and timekeeping. Chronometry enables the establishment of standard measurements of time, which have applications in a broad range of social and scientific areas. ''Hor ...

, engraving and jewelry designDennis, V., (1959 June 27). Along the miracle mile''.'' ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''. p. 2-3.(1969). ''Directions in Design – Metals''. Dave Gallagher, producer-director. Honolulu, HI: KHET. before moving to territorial Honolulu in 1940. There he began working for C. G. Benny as a watchmaker and engraver. He studied at the Honolulu Academy of Arts School,“Library has art shows” (1955 Aug 21). ''Honolulu Advertiser.'' he presented his work in Academy-sponsored shows, exhibitions and demonstrations throughout the war years.“Hawaiian Articles.” (1942 Oct 18). ''Honolulu Advertiser'', p. 10. In 1949 and 1950 he participated in juried shows sponsored by the Honolulu Academy of Arts, winning recognition for his work in sculpture.Hollingsworth, L. (1949, Mar 4). “First Jury Show of Island Art Termed Superb Sensation.” ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'', p.21.Hollingsworth, L. (1950, Feb 3). “Hawaii Artists Show Opens Today at Academy of Arts.” ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin''. p. 16.Tennent, M. (1949 Mar 12). “Academy’s Show of Hawaii Art includes good sculptured pieces. ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin.'' Boyer opened his first jewelry studio on Fort St. in downtown Honolulu in 1950, where he produced hand-wrought contemporary pieces in gold and silver under the name M.N. Boyer. He was active in Hawai`i's craft and art community throughout the 1950's, serving as President and Vice President of the Hawaii Craft Association,Chun, E. (1955 Dec 25). Work of local jeweler exhibited on mainland. ''The Honolulu Advertise''r, p. A11. and teaching courses in jewelry at the Honolulu Academy of Arts School. Boyer2970

Boyer Jewelers opened on Ke`eaumoku St. in 1956. He continued to produce custom pieces while developing original designs for the growing tourist market in Hawai`i. He moved his business to a one man operation in 1974, working from Young Street in Honolulu. He retired his business in 1984. Boyer continued to create works for friends, family and loyal clients until 2008. Boyer3124

In the 1990s Boyer returned to sculpture. Spending several months a year traveling throughout the US and in Canada, he created works on two scales. Inspired by Japanese

netsuke A is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an box, later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.Yuji Yamashita (2014), ''Meiji no saimitsu kogei'' ...

, he carved dozens of small wearable art pieces in ivory and wood. An equal number of larger scale works in stone reflected his interest in abstract shapes and complex curves, as well as a lifelong interest with animal forms.

Modernist Jeweler

Boyerʻs pieces incorporated themes and techniques of the modernist studio art jewelry movement. He worked with a wide range of materials from precious metals to found bits of shell, stones and wood. He created works in gold and silver, precious and semi-precious stones, ivory and ebony, as well a variety of native Hawaiian woods, nuts and coral. Duane Preble, a University of Hawaii art history professor, notes the "highly sculptural" setting in a contemporary piece featured in his ''Art Forms''. Pieces using silver and baroque pearl and black coral are among his most widely circulated. Boyer used a variety of marks. Mid century pieces may be marked: Boyer, Hawaii, or Sterling, alone or in combination. During the 1950ʻs and into the 1960ʻs Boyer participated in exhibitions highlighting the mid-century modernist work of studio jewelers, to include the American Jewelry and Related Objects in

Huntington, West Virginia Huntington is a city in Cabell County, West Virginia, Cabell and Wayne County, West Virginia, Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The County seat, seat of Cabell County, the city is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, O ...

.Brennen, H. (1955)
American jewelry 1955: A juror’s report on a national competition.
''

Craft Horizons ''Craft Horizons'' is a periodical magazine that documents and exhibits crafts, craft artists, and other facets of the field of American craft. The magazine was founded by Aileen Osborn Webb and published from 1941 to 1979. It included editoria ...

, 15''/3, pp. 10-13.Enslow, C. B., (1955 Feb 4). Jewelry–An Adornment Loved by Women. ''The Huntington Advertiser'', p. 10. and its subsequent traveling exhibition; the National Decorating Arts-Ceramics Exhibition in Wichita (the Wichita National); Fiber-Clay-Metal at the St. Paul Gallery and School of Art, St. Paul, MN;(1955). Fiber-Clay-Metal 1955. Milwaukee, WI: University of Wisconsin. https://wisconsinart.org/archives/library/fiber-clay-metal-1955-392.aspx the Walker exhibition on paper, presented through ''Design Quarterly'';"84 Contemporary Jewelers." ''Design Quarterly,'' no. 33, 1955, pp. 14-30. ''JSTOR,'' www.jstor.org/stable/4047223.Schon, Marbeth (2004). ''Modernist Jewelry 1930-1960: The Wearable Art Movement.'' Atglen, PA: Schiffer. and the Contemporary Craftsmen of the Far West at the

Museum of Contemporary Crafts The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), based in Manhattan, New York City, collects, displays, and interprets objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art, and design. In its exhibitions and educational programs, the ...

, NY in 1961, and its subsequent traveling show the following year. His original pieces were sold in venues such as the John Young Gallery in Waikiki,“New John Young Gallery Has Outstanding Exhibit.” (1956, Feb 15). ''Honolulu Advertiser.'' where he took proprietorship in 1959, and Pocketbook Man at the Ala Moana Shopping Center. His approach to his art is featured in the 1969 KHET TV special, “Metals,” part of the PBS series, ''Directions in Design''. His work was included in the 2005 show at the Honolulu Academy of Arts entitled, Jewelry of Hawaiʻi: Art and artifice in Paradise, curated by Carol Anne Dickson.Gail-White, V. (2005, Jan 16). “Academy exhibits sculptural classics.” ''Honolulu Star-Advertiser,'' p. 58''.'' Boyer3007

Exhibitions

1942: Oct 18-Nov 7, Honolulu Academy of Arts. 1943: Apr 13-May 2, Modern Jewelry and Metal Objects,

Honolulu Academy of Arts The Honolulu Museum of Art (formerly the Honolulu Academy of Arts) is an art museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. The museum is the largest of its kind in the state, and was founded in 1922 by Anna Rice Cooke. It has one of the largest single collectio ...

. 1943: Oct 19-Nov 14, Juried Craft Exhibit, Honolulu Academy of Arts 1949: Mar 3-Mar 16, Juried Art Show; Honolulu Academy of Arts, Best sculpture, “Bird.” 1950: Feb 2-26, “Artists of Hawaii”, juried art show, Honolulu Academy of Arts; Honorable Mention - sculpture, “Mother and Child.” 1952: Mar 6-Apr 27, “Art in America Today”, Honolulu Academy of Art. 1953: “The Craftsmen Fair,” Honolulu Craftsmen Association. 1954: 9th National Decorating Arts-Ceramics Exhibition, Wichita Art Association, Wichita, KS. 1955:

Walker Arts Center The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in the U.S.: together with ...

“Exhibition on Paper”. ''Design Quarterly'' 33 p. 17. 1955: Feb 6-27, 2nd American Jewelry and Related Objects, Huntington Galleries, Huntington W. VA. 1955: Fiber-Clay-Metal, St. Paul Gallery and School of Art, St. Paul, Minn. 1955, 1956, 1957: One Man Show; Library of Hawaii, Honolulu. 1956: John Young Gallery, Honolulu, HI. 1956-57: 2nd Exhibition of American Jewelry and Related Objects, traveling exhibition. 1961: Contemporary Craftsmen of the Far West; Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NY. 1962: Contemporary Craftsmen of the Far West, traveling exhibition: Rochester Memorial Gallery, New York Cincinnati Art Institute Des Moines Art Center, Iowa Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, Washington 1973: Daisy Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii. 1973: May 1–3, Honolulu Academy of ArtsDennis, H. (1973 April 27). “baubles, bangles, beads” ''Honolulu Advertiser'', p. 36. 2005-2006: Oct 28-Feb 13, Jewelry of Hawaii: Art and Artifice in Paradise, Honolulu Academy of Arts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyer, Merle 1920 births 2009 deaths American jewelry designers American sculptors Artists from Portland, Oregon