Katherine Merten’s Jewelry Studio Finds a New Home at SDSU

"It's hard to encapsulate the person," said Phoebe Merten, Katherine Merten’s granddaughter. "She was just a really vibrant, colorful, outgoing personality… everybody who knew her remembers her. People at the post office, her car insurance lady–even they remember her. She was the kind of person who made an impression on everybody she met."

That impact extended into every aspect of Katherine's life, especially her art. 

Katherine earned her MFA from San Diego State University in December 1991, titling her thesis project “The 59th Garden.” Inspired by the forms and gestures of the natural world, she created a series of metal objects that explored the possibilities of a single pod-like shape. 

“The resulting objects became this ‘garden’ of forms, inspired by nature and cultivated during my 59th year,” Katherine wrote in her thesis statement.

More than three decades later, Katherine's dedication to jewelry making and metalwork will continue to shape the SDSU community. Following her passing at age 93 on April 25, 2025, her family donated her jewelry studio collection to SDSU’s School of Art and Design. 

 “We knew we wanted her tools to be used by artists, not just stored away,” Phoebe said.  “SDSU felt like the right place to honor her.”

SDSU faculty, including Elise Moersch and Kerianne Quick, worked with Phoebe to inventory the materials and relocate them to campus, where they have been incorporated into the jewelry and metalwork program. 

Phoebe, who had no formal ties to SDSU, first reached out to the university after finding a birthday greeting that Elise Moersch had sent to Katherine years ago. 

“The family thought my grandma would like the idea of her art going to help other students at her alma mater,” Phoebe said. 

Katherine’s creativity extended beyond her time at SDSU. She studied at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina, and was a member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths. Throughout her life, she maintained pen pals across the world, collected unique rocks often labeled with the origin location, and made a point to learn the stories of people, even strangers. These attributes not only inspired her projects but will be remembered by all those who knew her.  

Through this gift, Katherine’s tools and spirit will continue to shape the experience of SDSU students for years to come. Her donation is more than a collection of objects. It's a reminder of the joy in creating, exploring, and leaving a lasting impression on everyone you meet. 

“She was endlessly curious about the world and about people,” Phoebe said. “She loved making things, and she loved sharing them.” 

For more information on the SDSU Jewelry and Metalwork program, visit art.sdsu.edu/undergraduate-program