Head of Melvyn Maxwell "Smithy" Smith

The Cultural Properties Collection, Smith House contains five works by artist Robert Schefman. As Melvyn and Sara Smith expanded their relationships with artists in the 1970s, Schefman became a close family friend. He was invited to housesit while the Smiths were out of town and took part in maintenance of the house, including unscrewing and refinishing red tidewater cypress siding. Schefman studied at the University of Iowa under Cranbrook Academy of Art alumni and former Artist-in-Residence Julius Schmidt, where he absorbed the large-scale, non-objective language of contemporary sculpture. A large example of his student work, a 31-foot Corten steel form titled “Lieu,” was donated to Wayne State University by the Smiths. The sculpture formed the focal point of Jane Betsey Welling Memorial Court, a public space funded by a large donation from the Smiths. The Memorial Court and the sculpture were an expression of the couple’s self-made status as patrons of the arts, a recognition of the achievements of Melvyn Smith’s beloved former teacher Jane Betsey Welling, and an opportunity to support and promote the talents of a young artist friend.

Melvyn and Sara Smith also collected smaller works by Schefman for their own home. Schefman was the only artist to capture the Smiths’ likenesses. Melvyn sat for his bronze portrait bust in Myhaven's living room in 1976. The portrait was accompanied by a matching depiction of Sara. This sculpture, however, was never cast and Schefman still holds the wax model for her portrait in his studio.

Nina Blomfield
2021-2023 Decorative Arts Trust Marie Zimmermann Collections Fellow
Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research
April 2023