A Glimpse

I've been working on stitched jewelry the last few weeks with many false starts and a challenging block, but I think I've worked through all that now. I completed a piece this morning and have already started a companion piece. Here's just a glimpse...I'm not quite ready for the big reveal as I need more time to think about what's going on...more soon.

Thanks for reading.

Teaching in Iceland!

announcement for the class

I just got an unexpected opportunity to teach some classes here in Iceland! On Wednesday and Thursday of next week I will lead a basic embroidery class in Skagaströnd and in Blönduós. I will demonstrate a variety of stitches including line stitches, filling stitches, and knots. I will also introduce a different materials and show how to separate and blend thread. After my demos students will have a chance to try the stitches themselves and work with me individually as needed.  Here's a translation of the announcement:

*Basic Embroidery Class with textile artist Amy Tavern (USA)

www.amytavern.com

Amy Tavern is a textile artist and jewelery maker. Amy is here at Nes

Artist Residency for May and June, during her artist residency she will give

2 classes to teach some basic embroidery to anyone who would like to

join in! The class is free, but you need to bring some things to use.

Please email Amy before Tuesday 18 June to tell her you will come to the

class. Amy will then email you a list of what you need to bring.

The 2 classes will be at Skagaströnd and Blönduós.

Skagaströnd:

Wednesday 19 June

5:30 - 6:30

Nes Artist Residency (Fjörubraut 8)

Blönduós:

Thursday 20 June

6:30 - 7:30

Icelandic Textiles Center

I am so pleased to have this opportunity and look forward to spending time with locals from both communities as well as some of my fellow resident artists. 

Thanks for reading.

Resonance

traditional Icelandic costume with jewelry

I finally made it to the Textiles Museum and the Textiles Center in neighboring Blönduós. The museum was closed for the winter until June 1 and I've been trying to get some time with the very busy Jóhanna Erla Pálmadóttir, director of the Textiles Center. What an amazing day it was! I went to the Textiles Center first and was greeted by intern/artist and my new friend, Ashley Lamb. She showed me around the Center which was once a school for women and now serves as an artist residency. The building is lovely with original furniture and beautiful light. Then I met Jóhanna and we had a nice talk and organized the embroidery class I will teach there next week. (More on that tomorrow!) After a long walk around town, I went to the museum and was blown away. I had read that it was a great place, but I really had no idea. So many exquisite things: traditional costumes complete with jewelry, more historical clothing, lace and embroidered pieces, blankets, tapestries, more jewelry, and wonderful antiques. I was overwhelmed and quite moved--to be in Iceland working on embroidery and to visit a place like this, as well as the Textiles Center, is incredibly meaningful to me.

weaving looms at the Textiles Center

some lovely chairs at the Textiles Center

the Vatnsdæla saga tapestry, a project of Jóhanna's at the Textiles Center--anyone can help stitch and I will make my mark next week

a contemporary installation at the Textiles Museum

thimble and case at the Textiles Museum, part of the collection of objects that once belonged to Halldóra Bjarnadóttir

antique lace at the Textiles Museum

I will go back to the museum next week to spend more time and really look closly. The hour and a half I allowed there just wasn't enough.

More pics on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

The Get Away

The first time I visited Reykjavik I went on a little hunt to find all the street art pieces mentioned in a post on Hyperallergic by Ben Valentine...this elephant means I have one more to go! 

I went to Reykjavik on Thursday and Friday of last week and got my fix of art and culture, graffiti and street art, and of course, jewelry. Throw in the Icelandic Tattoo Convention, really good food, and some excellent city hi-jinx with friends and you have one amazing get-away. Here are some highlights:

Olafur Eliasson exhibition "Tiltru" at i8

This was my first time seeing Olafur's work in person and I loved it. The series of photos of Icelandic huts was my favorite--the intimacy of each hut paired with the rather scientific documentation and the grid arrangement...very appealing to me.

Clive Murphy exhibition "Neo Proto Demo" at Kling and Bang

Another artist who's work I had not seen in person before...The specific arrangement or presentation of the objects peeked my interest first. Then Clive's use of found materials "as is" and also made into new things caused me to consider the materials' original intent and invented forms.

display at Hringa and a fishbone bracelet

The window display drew me into this little shop and the fishbone jewelry pulled me in closer.

lace pendant and facade of Aurum

I had read about this shop when doing my pre-trip jewelry research and it was great to visit--lots of variety with the common thread of simplicity and exquisite craftsmanship. I especially liked the lace pieces.

lava fields on the way back to Skagaströnd

I haven't been able to stop thinking about the lava fields since the first time I saw them from the bus all those weeks ago. On this trip I was able to climb around a bit and experience opposites at work--jagged and rough volcanic rock covered in soft and spongy moss. Amazing.

I will be staying an extra week in Reykjavik before I return to the US and I am looking forward to spending more time there. 

It really is a wonderful little city.

More images on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Happiness = A Walk with My Camera

I was out for a walk recently after not walking for a few days due to bad weather and a non-functioning camera when I realized just how happy I am when I'm walking and taking pictures. It's one of my favorite things to do and one of my happiest times during the day. I love wandering, seeing new things or the same things in a different way, and then documenting my observations in photographs. I have no technical or aesthetic training in photography and I prefer using a simple point-and-shoot digital camera. I take hundreds, even thousands, of photos and I believe I have gotten better at it through all this looking and shooting. I have also grown to adore taking pictures.

I looked at my Flickr stats the other day and realized I have uploaded over 10,500 photographs: pictures of travel and things that inspire me, pictures of my work and my process, and pictures of teaching and student work, among many other subjects. Over 10,500! I really try to edit my photos and only post the best ones on Flickr and the best of the best on Facebook. I do hope you will take a look!

I am off to Reykjavik tomorrow to go to a number of museums and galleries and to also attend the Icelandic Tattoo Convention. I'll be back Monday with new posts and more photos, of course!

Thanks for reading.

Evidence of Process

I thought you might enjoy seeing the back of the piece...I think it's pretty interesting. I also thought I would show you my pile of ends and my hands working away. All evidence of how I made the work, all important, and all deserving of some attention.

Thanks for reading.

Done

I completed my embroidered piece on Friday. I estimate I worked on it about 28 days and just over 200 hours. This is the longest I've ever worked on one piece and also the first time I've worked on only one piece instead of several things at once. (I did make those wool necklaces in tandem, but I consider those a fun exercise.) I'm happy with the final composition but as per usual I feel detached from the work. This happened after I completed both solo show bodies of work, too. It's a strange feeling and difficult to describe. I wonder if it comes from simply becoming so close to one's work after being with it day in and day out and the deep focus that occurs during the process. I may never figure it out, but now that I am feeling it for the third time, I'm at least beginning to accept it as a natural part of my process. Anyway, as I said, I am happy with the piece and I am also excited that I accomplished my goal for the first month here at Nes. I'm now working on a title and accompanying statement and will post those for you when they are ready.

Take a look at the near daily progression on Flickr here.

Thanks for reading.