Alma Goetsch

Born in 1901, Alma Goetsch was known for the ground-breaking Frank Lloyd Wright house that she commissioned and built along with her long-time companion and colleague, Kathrine Winckler. Goetsch made her lasting mark in the art field as an instructor of elementary and high school art teachers at Michigan State College. The Goetsch-Winckler House in Okemos, Michigan, was a living work of art, the scene of many friendly gatherings and an inspiration for Goetsch and Winckler’s students. It is widely viewed as one of Wright’s most beautiful and significant designs. Over nearly forty years of teaching art, Goetsch developed her own style of design involving many forms of fiber art and silk screen. A pioneer in breaking down the “coloring book syndrome,” Goetsch inspired thousands of young teachers with her unquenchable spirit and her enthusiasm for life. She said, “I’m vitally interested in color and try to use [as much] exciting color in my prints as I possibly can.” Goetsch and Winkler were rooted in the pre-World War II Midwestern progressive tradition. Known for their emphasis on free-thinking and social consciousness, students fondly recall walking with both professors in anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. This independent spirit is translated to their art, characterized by pure colors and unconstrained brushwork, representing reality in it’s gritty particularity as a series of intertwined tones and textures.