Cufflinks and Tie Bar
We all have heard the stories of the
struggling artists that persevere against all odds. Some achieve success, some do not.
struggling artists that persevere against all odds. Some achieve success, some do not.
Arthur Smith could have been considered a struggling artist during his time and he did overcome some incredible odds.
His biomorphic designs are now highly regarded the world over although there
was a time when his artistic fate was less certain.
Click on the image for description.
Art Smith Modernist Sterling Cufflinks and Tie Bar
Art Smith was born in Cuba in 1923. He was of Jamaican origin. Jamaicans who
could often left the Island in search of work or a "better" life.
His father, James followed Marcus Garvey who was a Jamaican National hero. Garveyism is a movement closely related to the Rastafarian movement.
Garveyism's goal was to empower African people. His mother's name
was Mary and she had two other children, both girls. The family ended up in New York, USA.
Although Art Smith was encouraged by his mother to pursue art, most others
thought it was a waste of time. More to the point, there were not a lot of
opportunities for a black man from the ghetto period, let alone in the art
world.
Art Smith heard about the a school called The Copper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art which was established in 1859. it was an all scholarship school and he managed to get one to attend.
The school was integrated, but there were very few blacks attending.
Art was very talented and his talents were soon noticed. He was encouraged to become a civil engineer by one of the department heads. He was told by
this person that there would be discrimination in the art world. Thank goodness he did not listen!
Arthur took part- time jobs to help support himself. One such job was at
Harlem's Children's Aid Society. While working there he met a lady in the
same building named Winifred Mason who made jewelry. He worked with her in the Village prior to opening his first solo shop in New York's Little Italy. He remained at this location for another four years although he was
subjected to racism while there.
Soon he was back in the Village. In 1948 some of his pieces were shown at an exhibit at the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis called Modern Jewelry Under Fifty Dollars.
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