News

For the second time in three years, a Cleveland Institute of Art graduate has won a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from The Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG). Mary Ann (Weckman) Scherr, a 1944 graduate and internationally recognized artist, designer, educator and metalsmith, was honored for her profound contribution to the field of metalsmithing. In 2005, John Paul Miller, a 1940 graduate, won the SNAG Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award ceremony was held in June at the SNAG conference, "Directions Unknown: Looking Forward, Learning from History" in Memphis, Tennessee.

After graduating from the Institute, Scherr pioneered the use of exotic metals in adornment, stainless steel, rare earth metals, aluminum and mild steels. She is internationally recognized - and holds U.S. patents - for her research and development of electronic body monitors and for the development and copyright of a metal-etching process. Scherr's broad-based education has allowed her to work as a metalsmith, jewelry designer, automotive designer, book illustrator, maternity fashion designer, graphic designer and college instructor.

Since 1973, Scherr has exhibited her work in over 250 galleries, museums, hotels, businesses and medical facilities, including the Cleveland Museum of Art; The Philadelphia Museum of Art; Goldsmith Hall, London, England; The Chicago Art Institute; Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; The National Ornamental Metal Museum Memphis, TN.; The American Craft Museum, New York City; Mobilia Gallery, Mass; NC Museum of History, Raleigh, NC; 1997 S.O.F.A. Exhibition, Chicago; Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Conn.; and Visual Arts Museum, Raleigh, NC.

For more information about SNAG, visit the group's website at http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/.