Don Gummer (born December 12, 1946) is an American
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 ...
. His early work concentrated on table-top and wall-mounted sculpture. In the mid-1980s, he shifted his focus to large free-standing works, often in
bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals, such as phosphorus, or metalloids such ...
. In the 1990s, he added a variety of other materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum and stained glass. His interest in large outdoor works also led him to an interest in
public art
Public art is art in any Media (arts), media whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public through a public process. It is a specific art genre with its own professional and critical discourse. Public art is visually and phy ...
. He is the husband of actress
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
.
Style
Critic
Irving Sandler
Irving Sandler (July 22, 1925 – June 2, 2018) was an American art critic, art historian, and educator. He provided numerous first hand accounts of American art, beginning with abstract expressionism in the 1950s. He also managed the Tanager Ga ...
(writing in ''Art in America'', January 2005) has noted that Gummer's work is recognizably rooted in
constructivism
Constructivism may refer to:
Art and architecture
* Constructivism (art), an early 20th-century artistic movement that extols art as a practice for social purposes
* Constructivist architecture, an architectural movement in Russia in the 1920s a ...
, but also writes that "in extending and deflecting Constructivist art in a new direction, Gummer has rendered it peculiarly
contemporary
Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
." Sandler also writes that Gummer's works "give
postmodern life to classic principles of
abstract composition."
Early life and education
Gummer was born in
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
, on December 12, 1946, and grew up in
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
. He is the son of Dorothy Ann (née Jacobson) and William Adolph Gummer, and has five brothers: William, Jack, Richard, Steven, and Mark.
He studied at
Ben Davis High School
Ben Davis High School (BDHS) is a three-year high school in Indianapolis, Indiana.
History
Ben Davis was first established in 1892. The current school building was constructed in 1965. The school underwent extensive construction and renovation fr ...
,
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
, and then at the
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, officially IU Herron School of Art and Design, is a public art school at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is a professional art school and has been accredite ...
from 1964 to 1966. From 1966 to 1970, he studied at the
School of the Museum of Fine Arts
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (Museum School, SMFA at Tufts, or SMFA; formerly the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) is the art school of Tufts University, a private research university in Boston, Massachus ...
in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
, and then completed his studies at the
Yale School of Art
The Yale School of Art is the art school of Yale University. Founded in 1869 as the first professional fine arts school in the United States, it grants Masters of Fine Arts degrees to students completing a two-year course in graphic design, painti ...
where he received his
Bachelor of Fine Arts
A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a standard undergraduate degree for students for pursuing a professional education in the visual, fine or performing arts. It is also called Bachelor of Visual Arts (BVA) in some cases.
Background
The Bachelor ...
(BFA) and
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts (MFA or M.F.A.)
is a terminal degree in fine arts, including visual arts, creative writing, graphic design, photography, filmmaking, dance, theatre, other performing arts and in some cases, theatre management or arts admini ...
(MFA), and studied with
David von Schlegell
David Von Schlegell (May 25, 1920 – October 5, 1992) was an American abstract artist, sculptor and educator.
Early life and education
David von Schlegell was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1920, the son of American impressionist artist Wi ...
.
Career
Gummer's first solo show was in 1973. Since then, his works have been featured at two dozen solo shows at museums and galleries around the East Coast and Midwest. His work has also been exhibited in group shows.
Gummer's commissioned works have included ''Primary Compass'' (2000), a
site-specific outdoor permanent sculpture at the
Butler Institute of American Art,
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...
, and a sculpture/fountain in Historic New Harmony,
New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River in Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana. It lies north of Mount Vernon, the county seat, and is part of the Evansville metropolitan area. The town's population was 789 at the 2010 census. ...
.
[http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=16619&int_modo=1#.Wde_44aQwUE ] The Optimist” by Don Gummer was placed at the entrance of the Preston Arts Center, formerly the Henderson Fine Arts Center, on September 30, 2001, in Henderson, Kentucky. The sculpture made of cast stainless steel with a bronze base measures 7 ft. high, 4 ft. deep and 5 ft. in width and is mounted on a six-ton Indiana limestone base. “Fear and hate are no match for love and optimism” . . . Don Gummer . . . from speech at dedication and unveiling ceremony. One stainless steel and stained glass sculpture, ''Southern Circle'', standing tall and weighing approximately 20,000 pounds, was commissioned by the city of Indianapolis and dedicated in October, 2004. "Primary Separation", a permanent
installation
Installation may refer to:
* Installation (computer programs)
* Installation, work of installation art
* Installation, military base
* Installation, into an office, especially a religious (Installation (Christianity) Installation is a Christian li ...
at the
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is a museum in a converted Arnold Print Works factory building complex located in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual art and performing ar ...
, was completed in 2006.
Personal life
Gummer married Peggy Jenel Lucas in the early seventies but divorced shortly after.
He married actress
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise Meryl Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Often described as "the best actress of her generation", Streep is particularly known for her versatility and accent adaptability. She has received numerous accolades throu ...
on September 30, 1978. They have four children: musician
Henry Wolfe, and actresses
Louisa,
Mamie
Mamie or Maimie is a feminine given name and nickname (often of Mary) which may refer to:
Given name
* Mamie Claflin (1867-1929), American temperance and suffrage leader
* Mamie Clark (1917–1983), African-American psychologist
* Mamie Eisenhower ...
and
Grace
Grace may refer to:
Places United States
* Grace, Idaho, a city
* Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois
* Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office
* Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...
.
Gummer and Streep are active philanthropists who donate to a range of arts organizations and educational institutions, including
Vassar College
Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely follo ...
, Opus School in Harlem, and the Silver Mountain Arts Foundation.
Public collections
* The
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, US
* Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, US
* Chemical Bank, New York, US
*
Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is a general-interest museum located on the Ohio riverfront in downtown Evansville, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1904, it is one of Southern Indiana's most established and significant cultural ...
, Evansville, Indiana, US
* Preston Arts Center, Henderson, Kentucky, US
* The Equitable, New York, US
* Hiroshima Lying-in Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
* International Creative Management, New York, US
* ''House of Music'' (1993) - Kitakyushu International Center, Kitakyushu, Japan
* Louisiana Museum, Humlebaek, Denmark
* McCrory Corporation, New York, US
* Joseph E. Seagram Company, New York, US
*
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is a museum in a converted Arnold Print Works factory building complex located in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual art and performing ar ...
, US
* Cyberinfrastructure Building, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, US
*
Open Eyes and
The South Tower,
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th st ...
, Indianapolis, Indiana, US
References
Citations
Books
* Don Gummer; Peter Plagens;
Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science
The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science is a general-interest museum located on the Ohio riverfront in downtown Evansville, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1904, it is one of Southern Indiana's most established and significant cultural ...
;
Butler Institute of American Art;
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum houses exhibits on the science, art, culture, and history of Indiana from prehistoric times to the present day.
History
The original collec ...
. ''The lyrical constructivist: Don Gummer sculpture'' (Chesterfield, Mass.: Chameleon Books; Evansville, Ind.: Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, 2001) () ; ;
* Douglas G Schultz;
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, formerly known as the Albright–Knox Art Gallery, is an art museum at 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York, in Delaware Park. the museum's Elmwood Avenue campus is temporarily closed for construction. It hosted e ...
. ''Eight sculptors: an exhibition'' (Buffalo : Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1979) () ;
* Joseph Thompson;
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is a museum in a converted Arnold Print Works factory building complex located in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest centers for contemporary visual art and performing ar ...
. ''Don Gummer: primary separation'' (North Adams, Mass.: Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, 2006) ;
External links
*
*
Indianapolis' Newest Piece of Public Art', Herron School of Art eNews, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gummer, Don
1946 births
20th-century American sculptors
20th-century male artists
21st-century American sculptors
21st-century male artists
Artists from Indianapolis
Artists from Louisville, Kentucky
Herron School of Art and Design alumni
Living people
Meryl Streep
Sculptors from Indiana
Sculptors from Kentucky
Yale University alumni