Donald Paul Tompkins (1933–1982) is an American jewelry artist known for his witty and satirical works based on objects, photo etchings, cast elements, and gemstones. He is most closely associated with the Pacific Northwest and the metalsmithing community that coalesced around Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, where he taught for many years. His most famous series ''Commemorative Metals'' keenly reflected Pop Art and the artistic concerns of New York City-based artists in the 1950s and 60s.

Early years

Don Tompkins was born in Everett, Washington on November 1, 1933 to two teachers. His sister Merrily, who would also go on to become a jewelry artist, was born in 1947. Tompkins studied jewelry at Everett High School in Everett, Washington, where he was a student of the influential metalsmith Russell Day. In 1952 he married Marilyn Hopkins. From 1953–1954 he took classes with Day at Everett Junior Community College, and also worked as his teaching assistant during that time. Day served as a mentor and supporter of Tompkins' interest in jewelry, providing him with his first set of tools and materials. With Day's encouragement, Tompkins submitted work to, and was accepted by, the 1954 Northwest Craftsmen's Exhibition. Tompkins' jewelry in the exhibition reflected the Modernist aesthetic of the time which prioritized organic shapes for bracket watches, necklaces, brooches and rings. That year, Tompkins transferred to the University of Washington, Seattle to study with Ruth Pennington, another influential Pacific Northwest craftswoman. He received his B.A. in Art Education in 1956 and his M.F.A. in Design (metal, jewelry, and sculpture) from Central Washington in 1958.

Career

Early career

From 1956–57, Tompkins taught crafts at Edmonds High School in Edmonds, Washington followed by a part-time instructor's position in art education at the University of Washington, Seattle from 1957–58. He then returned to Everett Junior College to teach design, jewelry, and drawing from 1958–63 while simultaneously making jewelry and exhibiting in local exhibitions. In 1960, Tompkins attended a summer session of graduate work at the School for American Craftsman in Rochester, New York. Three years later he moved with his family to Syracuse, New York to attend

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

for graduate work in art education. He remained there until 1966, exhibiting his jewelry in the shows ''American Jewelry Today'' (1963 and 1967) at the

Everhart Museum The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art is a non-profit art and natural history museum located in Nay Aug Park in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1908 by Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart, a local medical doctor ...

in Scranton, Pennsylvania and ''Jewelry 64'' at the State University of New York, Plattsburgh.

Mid-career

In 1966, at the request of

Ramona Solberg Ramona Solberg (1921–2005) created eccentric yet familiar jewelry using found objects; she was an influential teacher at the University of Washington University of Washington School of Art + Art History + Design, School of Art and is often referr ...

, a fellow jewelry artist and former student of Ruth Pennington, Tompkins joined the faculty of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington and remained there until 1972. There he taught jewelry, wood, plastics, design, sculpture, art education, and aesthetics. Ellensburg became a center for

Funk art Funk art is an American art movement that was a reaction against the nonobjectivity of abstract expressionism. An anti-establishment movement, Funk art brought figuration back as subject matter in painting again rather than limiting itself to th ...

and jewelry made from found objects in the Pacific Northwest. Tompkins's sister Merrily was one of his students during this time, and later students included Ken Cory and Nancy Worden. It was during this period that Tompkins created his most famous series, ''Commemorative Medals.'' Made between 1965–75, the series consisted of portraits of contemporary artists, musicians, political and cultural figures, and writers including: Hans Hoffmann, Claes Oldenburg,

Norman Mailer Nachem Malech Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007), known by his pen name Norman Kingsley Mailer, was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, activist, filmmaker and actor. In a career spanning over six decades, Mailer ...

, Pablo Picasso, and Henry Miller (1968);

Janis Joplin Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...

Minnesota Fats Minnesota Fats, or George Hegerman, is a fictional pool hustler created by American novelist Walter Tevis. The character appears in Tevis' novel ''The Hustler'' (1959). Jackie Gleason portrayed the character in the 1961 film adaptation of ''The ...

, Martha Mitchell, and Jack Zucker (1971); Jackson Pollock (1972); and

Ivan Karp Ivan C. Karp (June 4, 1926 – June 28, 2012) was an American art dealer, gallerist and author instrumental in the emergence of pop art and the development of Manhattan's SoHo gallery district in the 1960s. Ivan Karp was born in the Bronx and gr ...

(1974). Each provided social commentary on the figures through Tompkins's incorporation of found objects and evocative cast silver elements. Pop Art was a large aesthetic influence on these pieces. Tompkins is often credited as being one of the earliest artists to incorporate the style and found objects in American jewelry. The medals were exhibited throughout the 1970s in exhibitions 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 mus ...

in New York; the World's Fair in Spokane, Washington; the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Barnard Baruch College in New York; Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington; and the Xerox Corporation in Rochester, New York. Tompkins' medals often incorporated photographic images of the subjects, either through his use of newspaper clippings or photo etching. Tompkins often experimented with materials and processes until he became proficient. At other times, he sought out expert advice as he did when he learned

photo etching Photoengraving is a process that uses a light-sensitive photoresist applied to the surface to be engraved to create a mask that protects some areas during a subsequent operation which etches, dissolves, or otherwise removes some or all of the mate ...

by contacting Eastman-Kodak for assistance. His use of images was executed in a

collage Collage (, from the french: coller, "to glue" or "to stick together";) is a technique of art creation, primarily used in the visual arts, but in music too, by which art results from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole. ...

or assemblage tradition, helping to focus the viewer on the person as well as the narrative. Often, Tompkins used these images in a reverential manner but at other times used them to signal loss and pathos, two emotions often seen in jewelry that incorporates photography.Ramljak, Suzanne. "Saving Face: Photo Portrait Jewelry." in ''Multiple Exposures: Jewelry and Photography.'' Milan: Officina Libraria, 2004: 57.

Late career

Tompkins and his family moved to New York in 1972 when he became assistant professor of art at New York University. He taught sculpture, three-dimensional design, and jewelry there until leaving in 1975 to establish a business called ''Jewelry Loft'' in Soho. The business failed and he moved back to the Pacific Northwest. Tompkins made little jewelry between 1976 and his death from a heart attack in Seattle, Washington, in 1982.

Timeline

Education

1956 B.A. in Art Education, University of Washington, Seattle 1958 M.F.A. in Design, University of Washington, Seattle 1960 Summer graduate work at the School for American Craftsmen, Rochester, New York 1963–66 Graduate work at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 1969–72 PhD in education from Teachers College, New York, New York

Teaching/Visiting Artist

1972–75 Assistant Professor of Art, New York University, New York, New York 1974 Visiting Artist, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire 1972 Visiting Artist, Tri-Cities Area, Washington D.C. 1970–71 Instructor, Teachers College, New York, New York 1966–72 Associate Professor of Art, Central Washington State College, Ellensburg, Washington 1965 Guest Professor of Art, University of British Columbia (summer) 1963–66 Lecturer in Art, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 1958–63 Teacher of Art, Everett Junior College, Everett, Washington 1957–58 Instructor of Art, University of Washington, Seattle 1956–57 Crafts Instructor, Edmonds High School, Edmonds, Washington

Selected exhibitions

2014: ''Multiple Exposures: Jewelry and Photography,'' Museum of Arts and Design, New York 2007–2009: ''Ornament as Art: Avant-Garde Jewelry in the Helen Williams Drutt Collection,'' The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution; the Mint Museum of Craft and Design; the Tacoma Museum of Art 2000: ''Commemorative Medals/Objects: The Politics of History in Honor of the National Republican and Democratic Presidential Conventions,'' Helen Drutt: Philadelphia 1975: ''Imagery and Symbolism in Contemporary Jewelry,'' Central Washington State University, Ellensburg, Washington;
''Crafts for the '70s,'' Barnard Baruch College, New York, New York 1973–74: ''Portable World,'' Museum of Contemporary Crafts, New York; World's Fair, Spokane, Washington; Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 1972: ''The Late, Late Show Starring Martha Mitchel, Minnesota Fats, and Introducing Jack Zucker Commemorative Medals," Columbia University Teachers College, New York, New York;
''Contemporary American Silversmiths and Goldsmiths," Corcoran Gallery, Washington D.C. 1964: ''Jewelry 64,'' State University of New York, Plattsburgh 1955: ''Designer Craftsmen,'' University of Illinois

Museum collections

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston The Philadelphia Museum of Art