Congratulate Jo Jo Macey on her retirement after 45 years inspiring student artists! Click the "+" in the lower right-hand corner to submit. Don't forget to sign your post! by

CKshares — 2024-02-27 21:54:48 UTC

Known for her cateye glasses, unique tights and terrific sense of students' abilities, Mary Jo Macey has taught art classes at Cranbrook for 43 years.

Macey earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1977 and her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Art Academy in 1981.

She joined the faculty of Cranbrook Schools in 1981 and has since primarily taught metalsmithing and jewelry design from her Kingswood studio. Her inspiration has launched many a design career and a vast number of alumni in creative fields name her as an influence.

She has mentored many Silver and Gold Scholastic Award winners over the years and her students have also been awarded the top prizes of American Vision Awards and Gold Key Portfolio Best in Show - some of the most coveted awards in the nation. When she and Joe Smith (ceramics) hold their annual winter sale, their studios hum with alumni happy to be back in those familiar spaces with their amazing art teachers.

CKshares — 2024-02-27 21:55:22 UTC

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CKshares — 2024-02-27 21:59:03 UTC

Anonymous

CKshares — 2024-02-27 22:00:32 UTC

Unflappable and Irreverent Jo Jo was for me a shoulder to lean on and a source of scatty humor mixed with deep respect for people and goodness. I know no one else with a laugh like hers. ERIC LINDER

I had Jo Jo for metalsmithing in the late 80s and enjoyed the class, but really got to see Jo Jo shine as my kids went to the upper schools 30 years later. My oldest was constantly in art classes and connected with Jo Jo even before she got her as a drawing instructor. Truely a CK faculty treasure.

2024-03-06 14:36:37 UTC

From the 1986 Yearbook

CKshares — 2024-05-07 05:29:01 UTC

In its fourth year of existence, Jo

Jo Macey's Metalsmithing class is

more popular than ever. Where else

can you hear and see hammers

pounding relentlessly on sheets of

metal ... sparks

flying? If you are

made of the metal it

takes to handle this

raw excitement,

you, too, can learn

to weld, mold, and

shape metal objects.

An Impactful & Beautiful Person!

2024-05-28 23:16:28 UTC

JoJo you are an inspiration! You just may have been the one to set me on my life path. Your support, patience and love for the craft fostered a passion that I did not anticipate to be my career. Thank you for your guidance and kind approach to teaching. You will always have a place in my heart.

Jen Briggs Jenkins

Class of 1991

Ian Perkins '05 and Jo Jo Macey

CKshares — 2024-06-06 03:47:07 UTC

CKAA President-Elect Ian Perkins got to give Jo Jo her school ring and induct her as an Honorary Alum!

One of the best art teachers I've ever had

2024-09-06 00:01:53 UTC

Jo Jo -- I only had you as a teacher for a single class (Metalsmithing) but we shared an amazing connection as student/educator thereafter. I still have, somewhere, a photo of us in the photobooth they put up during one of the seasonal store/shopping shindigs they put on at Kingswood. I also would never have appreciated the Talking Heads or several other amazing musicians without you. Thank you Jo Jo and congratulations!

2025-06-16 00:50:49 UTC