Weekly Challenge - week 31

Somehow i lost or failed to take a photo of the work i completed last week, so look at this adorable kitten in the mean time. :) It fits in the palm of my hand and loves to snuggle (and will be needing a home soon!!! If you're looking for an adorable new addition to your family, please let me know.)

Here's one of my wall pieces on display next to the amazing calming clay and wood work of Jonathan Griffith and the technically impressive pulp paintings of Chery Cratty. 

CAC Art show in Nashville Update

Everything was loaded up Saturday morning and dropped off for its trip to Nashville today. I know that i'll see it all on display this Friday when i go to the opening, and i'm excited about that. I think i created a nice cohesive collection for presentation. Here's some photos of the work. 

Weekly challenge - week 30 part 2

I've gotten all the pieces finished for the show save for a little final finishing and I'm pretty stoked about it. All the pieces are fold formed or air chased so they are a nice cohesive collection. I found an excellent display case for the jewelry and I prepared the wall pieces for gallery hanging. This is my first gallery show so I'm nervous about how the work will present and flow with the other artists' pieces.

a few of the pieces

The opening is August 7th from 5 to 7 at the Centennial Art Center in Nashville and the show runs until September 25th. Unfortunately I won't be at the closing reception because that is Repair Days at the metal museum. It's also the TN craft fall show in Centennial park (Nashville) so if you're going to be in the area, you should go to both. They're free and there will be plenty of awesome art and lots of cool people.

 

Nashville art show

Well..  the post card is out so I can start sharing - several pieces of my work will be on display (and for sale) at the annual TN crafts show at Centennial arts in Nashville!

I'll be up there for the opening reception on August 7th and can't wait to see how the show comes together. It's also featuring the work of the very talented Pat Moody and Marilyn League from my chapter. I'd say I'm in very good company! 

Weekly Challenge- Weeks 27 and 28

Week 27 was crazy- I went of out town for work on about 2 hours notice and spent about 22 hours 'in transit' due to various reasons and didn't get back until Thursday. I got to go to Minneapolis for more than a layover though, and i have to say Minnesota is gorgeous! (last time i was passing through it was December and everything was covered in white- hard to really tell what a place looks like when it's 10 feet deep in snow)

But i got caught up and have some great work to show off- i'm really digging the sculpture stuff i've been doing lately, and it's fun to work a design out in the 'wall scale' and then see how to miniaturize it for jewelry. I've got all my pieces pretty much ready for the show in Nashville next month and i have to say, i'm SUPER stoked about it. (and a little nervous-- pricing is so hard... )

part of one of my wall pieces

And i've decided that i'm going to do a small travel trailer instead of a VW bus for my mobile studio... it was hard-- OMG so HARD to let go of that dream of a completely mobile and self contained studio. Especially after i completely fell in love with that 1st high top bus i found in Cali. BUT... after looking at the Acorns and seeing how much more room i would have for equipment and me, and looking at the reliability issues that VW buses have (even well restored ones) both andy and i would feel more comfortable about me gallivanting across the country in a reliable car (hopefully a new car with warranty) with a small trailer behind. I'll be updating my gofundme with the new information as soon as i have something more solid.

Joanna Gollberg: Collected @ Velvet da Vinci

  Joanna Gollberg is one of the 'super star' jewelers i have admired for years. (I *will* own a piece of her jewelry.. i just have to save up for those lovely purple earrings at the Metal Museum!)

In her new exhibition at Velvet da Vinci, she displays pieces that have a slightly different narrative than her usual work- they're documentations of her travels in wearable, portable, and extremely beautiful form. Just when i thought i couldn't adore her anymore, she goes and does this. :)

From the exhibition release: (click the image above to go to the full text)

On this pivotal new body of work, Gollberg writes: 
“I had never before given myself permission to use (these elements) in my 
 jewelry, because they were physical objects that kept me connected 
 to places that made my whole heart feel crushingly full... I chose to use 
 techniques that I rarely employ in my day to day jewelry making life—mold 
 making, wax carving, casting, enameling which gave me deep pleasure. I 
 freely used gemstones and materials that suited each piece,disregarding 
 any pre-planned price structure... The results are twofold: I am spiritually 
 refreshed and ready to re-enter my work life anew, and I have created a 
 body of work that is personally meaningful, yet still beautiful and true to my 
 aesthetic.”

I relate strongly to this kind of creation-  the spiritual refreshment and the personally meaningful part as well as the desire to create with no pre-planned price structure. That's creative freedom.

I also relate strongly to the idea of being a gatherer...  I've got little jars of things i've picked up on trips that sometimes work their way into jewelry or art projects, but more often just get pulled out, arranged and then I decide that they're still too precious to put out into the world. I still need them to invoke the smell of the surf in Cozumel or the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet as i hiked to a waterfall. I envy her ability to share and covet her pieces all in one breath.

Most importantly, i am reminded that 'being creative' and 'being an artist' isn't an action you do at a certain time or a certain place. It is something that permeates everything you do. It's what makes you look at the ground as you walk along the beach, picking up the perfect limpet shell or pebble, it's what makes you notice the shiny landscaping rock that has fools gold on it in the flower bed outside the restaurant you're having dinner at. It's what drives you to take a picture of the table at Starbuck's, to the protestation of your friends because of the way the light, shadows and texture relate.  It's about color, texture, sights, sounds and smells and how we can capture those, preserve them and ultimately share them. And by capturing and sharing these things, teach others how to see the world in its full HD, 3-D wonder.

Something to do this weekend- Forging on the River!

You all know I *love* the Metal Museum, so I have to give a shout out when they have something going on.

April 4th, 5th and 6th, they have their annual Forging on the River event. It's not just for blacksmiths! There's an art auction and wild game dinner Saturday night that is a huge event for the Museum. Tickets are only $50 and they're for a great cause (the museum and its programs) *AND* you can bid on some amazing works, like a pierced vessel from enamelist Sarah Perkins (i love her work) .
Click the link below to go to the Metal Museum's page on FotR for all the details.
Forging on the River

If the conference isn't your style, there are some spectacular exhibits on display right now- including a kinetic sculpture exhibit that is quite neat. Think of star gazing. :)