Faculty Sabbatical Research Sheds New Light on Iconic Pop Sculptor with a Cranbrook Connection

Upper School faculty member, Eric Lorey, Ph.D. spent this past fall semester on sabbatical from Cranbrook researching the life and work of sculptor Jim Miller-Melberg. Miller-Melberg attended Cranbrook Academy of Art in the mid-1950s and became very well-known in the decades following for his iconic, mid-century-modern concrete play sculptures, which can still be found in parks and playgrounds nationwide (including our own Brookside playground and at the Middle School for Boys). To give you a sense of his success: Miller-Melberg's turtle sculpture was reproduced and sold more than 5,000 times in the years that it was in production!

 

Lorey discovered that very little research had been done regarding Miller-Melberg, his life, and his considerable contributions to art and design. As a result, his sabbatical involved him reaching out to and interviewing close to two dozen of Miller-Melberg's friends, colleagues, and family members, not to mention doing considerable archival research.

 

All of his research ultimately resulted in a number of fascinating essays he composed about the artist and his work, which you can access here: 

https://jimmillermelberg.blogspot.com/

 

We congratulate Dr. Lorey and thank him for doing this important and compelling work which helps solidify Miller-Melberg's well-earned and deserved reputation as an outstanding pop artist from the last century.