October 20, 2023 Image The MCAD community is deeply saddened to share the news that artist and longstanding Adjunct Faculty Jody Williams passed away this week. A much-beloved member of the MCAD community, she taught workshops and presented lectures at museums and colleges across the United States and Europe. She also published artists' books under the name Flying Paper Press. Her work is in the collections of the Walker Art Center, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Minnesota Historical Society, and numerous other museums, universities, and libraries. Her honors include Jerome Foundation fellowships and grants and awards from the Minnesota Craft Council, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and MCAD. Jody was an impassioned and impactful mentor to multiple generations of art and design students. Her passing marks a significant loss for the MCAD community, especially in the Print Paper Book area. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and those at MCAD who were touched by her creativity and generosity. A few members of the MCAD community share their reflections on Jody and her outscaled impact below. Jody was the heart of book arts at MCAD, leaving an indelible mark on the Print Paper Book area. Whether teaching foundations, printmaking, or artists’ books, Jody brought her craft, care, and humor to our students spanning multiple generations of artists. I will never forget all the ways she shared her knowledge, the buzzing energy of her classroom, the funny sidebar conversations when you taught on opposite sides of the shop and her relentless commitment to our students that extended well beyond the classroom. Natasha Pestich, Professor A creator of multiples, Jody Williams was one-of-a-kind. A wry wit was paired with a deep knowledge of craft, for which she was an acknowledged and awarded expert. Jody was MCAD through and through, and her presence in the printshop and larger community will be sorely missed. Jody was sincerely committed to her students. One former student shared “To say this woman helped shape my life and made me the person I am today is a huge understatement.” Howard Quednau, Professor, Chair of Fine Arts Jody was one of my first instructors at MCAD. When I returned to MCAD as staff in 2016, she teased me that I had a late assignment from her intaglio class from the fall of 1994. She still had the grade book as proof! Despite my tardy work, Jody introduced me to her class as "an MCAD success story", but there are many, many MCAD success stories because of Jody. What a legacy; her talent lives on in so many of us. Melissa Rands ‘97, Interim Director Foundation Studies, Associate Vice President Academic Affairs Jody paid attention to the small things, and then made them grand through her work: tiny details in the drawings and prints, her elegant and miniature handwriting. Always accompanied by thoughtful comments and queries. She adored her students, and that was reciprocated. I met Jody more than 30 years ago, dancing to the Café Accordion Orchestra at the old Loring Bar. As a friend, coworker, and fellow artist, Jody will be greatly missed. Karen Wirth, Professor Emeritus in Fine Arts, former Vice President Academic Affairs