Medal of Honor

Christian Schmidt

1926-1974

Born in Minneapolis, MN

1964

Metals, semi-precious stones, and cameo

20 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 1 inches

Purchase, Acquisition Fund, FCM '64

64.13.01

Christian Schmidt was a juror at the St. Paul Gallery and School of Art Fiber/Clay/Metal show in 1964. Upset with the lack of consistent evaluation standards, the artist created what he referred to as the "worst piece of jewelry he could imagine." He entered Medal of Honor in the show under the name Abraham Isitshit. Much to Schmidt consternation the work was accepted into the show as a piece of satirical Pop Art.

Fiber/Clay/Metal. Seventh Biennial, USA 1964, St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Art Center, 1964, cat. no.1 (under the name: Abraham), p. 2-3, b/w illus. p. 2.

Hastie, W. Reid and Christian Schmidt. Encounter with Art, p. 25-26. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1969.

Ilse-Neuman, Ursula. "A Community Emerges: The American Studio Jewelry Movement, 1945-1969." In Crafting Modernism; Midcentury American Art and Design, p. 213, illus. color. New York, NY: Museum of Art and Design, 2011.

Koplos, Janet and Bruce Metcalf. Makers: A History of American Studio Craft, p. 258, illus. color. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2010.

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