Gerhardt Gunther Knodel (born 1940),[1] is an American contemporary textile artist, academic administrator, and educator.[2] He was the head of the fiber arts department at Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1970 to 1997, and also served as the school director from 1997 to 2007.[3] In 2016, he was named a fellow of the American Craft Council (ACC).[4]
Early life and education
Knodel was born in 1940, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, born into family of German heritage.[5][6] His family moved when he was a child and he was raised in Los Angeles, California.[6]
After graduation, Knodel worked for six years as a high school teacher in Los Angeles.[2] He took a job at Cranbrook Academy of Art, initially as an artist in residence in the fiber department.[2] Knodel worked at Cranbrook Academy of Art from 1970 until 2007, and he held two roles; head of the fiber arts department from 1970 to 1997, and the school director from 1997 to 2007.[3][5] Notable students of his include Nick Cave, and Katarina Weslien.[2]
His textile work has been used in the creation of installations, as wallpaper, in theater, and for architectural commissions.[8] His series, Recovery Games (2005–2014) was artwork focused on gaming-based interactions paired with visual work as a method of understanding different strategies.[9]
1984, Gerhardt Knodel, solo exhibition, Elements Gallery, 90 Hudson Street, New York City, New York, U.S.[13]
1986, Craft Today: Poetry of the Physical, group exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Crafts (now Museum of Arts and Design), New York City, New York, U.S.[14]