Remembering Fred Woell

An influential teacher and mentor Fred Woell was someone I had known from his work appearing in books and magazines published in the early '70s.  The use of found objects in jewelry was new to me.  I was familiar with the work of some of the Dadaists and their use of everyday items combined with images to make a statement.  Fred's work was familiar in that sense and his use of objects gave me a great sense of comfort and hominess.  His pieces seemed to tell a story

I met Fred in 1986 while we were both attending the SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) conference in Flagstaff.  We were sitting in one of the lecture halls and he talked to me about current trends in jewelry and metalwork.  I do not recall specifics and was thrilled that he had taken time to talk to me personally.  Years later we met during a workshop taught at the Tucson Parks & Rec center.  I was a treat to hear him talk and to inspire the students to explore the collages that we each made.

My time with Fred Woell was brief and yet I feel his influence and remember his kindness and willingness to share very clearly.

I am providing this link to an article written by a close friend of Fred and myself.


http://www.artjewelryforum.org/articles-series/in-memory-of-j-fred-woell