Fred Fenster
December 09, 1934 - June 24, 2024
Obituary
SUN PRAIRIE - Revered artist and UW-Madison professor of Art Metal, Fred Fenster passed away peacefully on June 24, 2024. He was 90 years old.
Fred is survived by his three children, David, Mark and Rachelle. He will be buried in Sweet Cemetery, East Bristol, next to his beloved wife, Valmai Kirkham Fenster, who passed away in 1984.
The second of two sons born to Charles and Silvia Fenster, Fred grew up in New York City’s Bronx Borough where he received a B.S. in Industrial Arts from City College of New York in 1956. Honing his own metalworking techniques while teaching shop to tough inner-city kids, he found that his problem-solving approach captured their imagination and laid the foundation for a lifetime of exploration in artistic form and function.
Moving to Michigan to continue his studies, Fenster entered the metalsmithing program at the Cranbrook Academy of Art before earning his MFA in 1960. After two years solving complex tasks in metal shops, he was hired to teach design, jewelry and metalsmithing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he would remain until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 2005. Together with colleague Eleanor Moty, he would help transform the Art Metal department into one of the finest in the country, inspiring new generations of artists and teachers in turn to pursue their dreams. A passionate teacher, he could also be found teaching workshops and summer schools around the globe sharing his techniques and ideas with an international audience.
Working with gold and silver for his own jewelry designs, Fenster developed an early affinity for pewter as a malleable, easy to work with material for holloware. Returning to his Jewish roots for inspiration, he created a series of signature Judaica pieces featuring Kiddish cups, Torah pointers, candelabra, etc. which would define the latter half of his career.
Fred loved movies and books, and had a keen sense of wit and humor which came through in his teaching. He traveled the world extensively, both for work and pleasure but was equally happy picking thru local flea markets in search of antiques and interesting tools to add to his collection.
The many awards he has received over the years include: The Gold Medal, American Craft Council (2005): Master Metalsmith, Metal Museum, Memphis, Tenn. (2011) and the Lifetime Achievement Award, Society of North American Goldsmiths (2015).
Many of his pieces are featured in collections of major museums across the country including the National Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American museum of Art.
A celebration of life service is being planned for a future time. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
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