BIOGRAPHY
Reviews from "Review: Pat Flynn" Amercan Craft Magazine 2004 "Underlying Flynn's work is an artist's sensibility that encompasses formal design, and understanding of line and composition and a perfectionist's approach to execution. His necklaces and cuffs are sculptural, his pins, painterly. Along the length of a thick, hand-forged iron bracelet are narrow parallel cracks studded with the occasional diamond. The texture of the iron, which is forged hot on the anvil with strong hammer strokes, is akin to hardened clay. Subtle references to nature, the bracelet's wavering edges and slightly asymmetrical shape convey the intimacy of the artist's hand."
from "Pat Flynn Making Things Right" Metalsmith Magazine 1996
"Everybody knows Pat Flynn. Pat Flynn, the jewelerly jeweler. Pat Flynn, the goldsmith's goldsmith. The bear of a man from whose impossibly long fingers come those impossibly tiny hinges. The New Paltz student whose folded copper sacks amused us, whose slate brooches made people use words like transformational, whose rusty nails with gold accoutrements were followed by beakers of pewter, silver, and gold. Now the hand-forged nails, studded with diamonds, draped with pearls, wrapped with gold. And the hearts, always the hearts. For twenty years Pat Flynn has given us jewelry to wear forever because he believes jewelry is for wearing
from "Pat Flynn: Master Metalsmith" National Ornamental Metal Museum Exhibition Catalog Pat Flynn is widely recognized for his accomplishments as a self-supporting, designercraftsman. He has received three National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships grants for his work, which unlike many distinguished metalsmiths is not subsidized by a university salary.
He is, however, a gifted teacher and has been an inspiration to many in workshops
he has taught over the past fifteen years at craft schools such as Penland,
Haystack, Arrowmont, the Oregon School and Arts and Crafts and the Brookfield
Craft Center. He is noted for his ability to combine non-precious materials,
even found objects, with high karat gold and gemstones with grace and precision.
His work is found in the permanent collections of the Renwick Gallery at
the Smithsonian, the Art Institute of Chicago and Rhode Island School of
Design.
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