Marshfield artist's works were always creative. So is his goodbye

Sue Scheible, The Patriot Ledger
Updated ·4 min read

MARSHFIELD − Life with sculptor, teacher and protest artist George Greenamyer was "never boring" and often "a lot of fun."

Beverly Burbank, a former art student who became Greenamyer's wife 37 years ago, recalled how her late husband "really had quite a life." Into his 80s, he "always had an amazing ability to focus" on his ideas, which never stopped coming.

Beverly Burbank looking at the last piece George made. It is called Pestilence and is a commentary on the pandemic. The upper red and white scoops represent the coronavirus. In the center he showed himself in a coffin. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April is being remembered with some of his works displayed at his shop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023
In George's last piece, Pestilence, about the pandemic, he placed himself in a coffin pushed by skeletons. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April is being remembered with some of his works displayed at his shop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023
In George's last piece, Pestilence, about the pandemic, he placed himself in a coffin pushed by skeletons. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April is being remembered with some of his works displayed at his shop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023

Greenamyer told The Patriot Ledger in 2021 that he had enough new ideas for "another 50 lifetimes" of work.

George Mossman Greenamyer, whose steel sculptures remain on display outside and in his studio on Route 139, at 994 Careswell St., died April 26 at age 83 of complications from a fall. Burbank said he had been having back problems and balance issues when he fell and then developed pneumonia in the hospital.

"I started listing all the things he had done in his life, and I thought, 'This is like five people!'" Burbank said. "Think of all the people he met − as students, as assistants, and during our travels for his public art commissions."

Instead of a memorial service, Burbank has invited people to stop by and see Greenamyer's outdoor works. His studio next to their home also will be open at times.

"I haven't got it all cleaned up, but people can stop and maybe talk about what his art meant to them," she said. "Instead of having a big crowd (for a service), this allows people who knew his work and liked his work to visit and talk about his life and ideas."

George Greenamyer, left, as a young art student in Philadelphia in the early 1960s. He studied 3D art and later added ceramics and steel sculpture.
George Greenamyer, left, as a young art student in Philadelphia in the early 1960s. He studied 3D art and later added ceramics and steel sculpture.

Greenamyer taught at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design for 40 years and was very popular with students because of his skills and his offbeat sense of humor.

"If they're laughing, they're listening," he once said. His obituary describes "an outstanding and beloved teacher, challenging his students with high standards. His honesty in critiques of student work was both feared and appreciated, and his classes were among the most sought after at MassArt."

Greenamyer called himself a straightforward narrative sculptor and each of his works had a story, presented by painted letters in strings of words. He often used humor in his works, as he did in teaching.

A sculpture by George Greenamyer shows men meeting an angel.
A sculpture by George Greenamyer shows men meeting an angel.

After he retired, he worked in his shop next to their house. It had a welding room where he taught young assistants and he called his property "a sculpture garden" because of all the works outside.

Burbank said her husband's last public commission was in 2012. It is a sculpture called "Traffic" installed in the traffic island across from Alexander the Great Park in Roslindale.

Greenamyer founded Mass. Art's sculpture department in 1969. He has exhibited and had public art commissions across the country.

A sketchbook of George's last work. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April left this sketchbook open on his desk. It was nearly full and he had asked his wife to get him a new blank one. He is being remembered with some of his works displayed at his shop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023
A sketchbook of George's last work. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April left this sketchbook open on his desk. It was nearly full and he had asked his wife to get him a new blank one. He is being remembered with some of his works displayed at his shop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023
George's workshop desk. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April is being remembered with some of his works displayed outdoors and also at his workshop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023
George's workshop desk. Marshfield sculptor George Greenamyer who died at 83 in April is being remembered with some of his works displayed outdoors and also at his workshop by his wife of 37 years Beverly Burbank on Monday July 24, 2023

He has works in the permanent collections of The DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, The Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, The Art Complex Museum in Duxbury and Boston University. His biggest piece was in 2002 for the restored Penn Station in New York.

Born in Cleveland, he began his work as an artist at a summer art camp. He graduated from Philadelphia College of Art (now The University of the Arts) in 1962, majoring in 3D design. He earned a master of fine arts degree at the University of Kansas.

Sculptor George Greenamyer, of Marshfield, died April 26.
Sculptor George Greenamyer, of Marshfield, died April 26.

In 1964, he was part of a group of artists who founded the Pulpit Rock Artists Community in Woodstock, Connecticut. He started teaching ceramics at the Haystack School of Crafts in Maine in the late 1960s before going to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

In a 2021 interview, he said that in later life he was enjoying the time to do exactly what he wanted and to focus on his personal message.

He didn't mince words as he expressed profound discontent with many of society's ways and prevailing art norms, yet also seemed happy expressing all the ideas and concepts that filled his head.

"As long as I make sculpture, I'm alive," he said. "I'm driven by that and I have so many ideas, I could take 50 lifetimes to do this."

George Greenamyer, of Marshfield, enjoys a cup of coffee at the Brant Rock Hop in Marshfield.
George Greenamyer, of Marshfield, enjoys a cup of coffee at the Brant Rock Hop in Marshfield.

Greenamyer had a long white beard, eyes that engaged, a soft voice and a kindly conversational style.

He described his influences as an excellent education, other "super-duper" faculty at the Massachusetts College of Art and Shaker ideas of design simplicity and military hardware "designed to be very efficient while doing many functions well."

This piece by George Greenamyer features words from "customer service" calls.
This piece by George Greenamyer features words from "customer service" calls.

He was a member of he Society of Friends (the Quakers) in East Sandwich.

"I've had this drive to design and make things, felt called to work with materials since an early age," Greenamyer said. "It had to be like people called to the priesthood."

In addition to his wife, he also leaves his brother, Richard Greenamyer, of California; and his stepsister, Jodi Volpe, of Pennsylvania.

Reach Sue Scheible at sscheible@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Marshfield sculptor, teacher George Greenamyer, 83, dies after fall