In the Mail via Heat-Exchange

I finished the work just a few days ago and sent it off after a bit of a struggle to complete it. I often drag my feet at the end and this time around was no different. It’s those small details that cause me to procrastinate. Anyway, I am pleased with the final pieces…I also wrote a short statement which I am really happy I did. It helped me to make sense of it all. I have posted it below.

“These works are about singular moments collected while observing the winter landscape around my current home in North Carolina and my childhood home in New York State. The moments were solitary and quiet; some deliberate, others accidental. Through a process of experimentation with liquid enamel on steel, I reinterpreted and captured these moments, presenting them in ghostlike translucency, as echoes of the memories. Each enamel piece is also accompanied by found objects that are aged and worn. When arranged together, the enameled and found objects establish a narrative for the recollection of my observations.”


I posted more images on Flickr, including some details.


Thanks so much for reading.


To read the original post, please visit the Heat-Exchange blog here. 

The Hive

My champs are hard at work...less than two weeks left! Everyone is working independently on their own projects and it feels like a hive in here. I love it!

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Studio Visits

Angela Bubash

We recently visited three local jewelers in their studios: Angela Bubash, Deb Karash, and Stacey Lane. I think it's good for students to see where and how artists work. Angela's studio is in her home, Deb's studio is located away from her home, and Stacey's studio is in a small building in her backyard. Each woman had great things to say about being a working jeweler, they explained their processes, and talked about juggling busy schedules and their work.

Deb Karash

Stacey Lane

P.S. As an extra treat Stacey read one of her favorite books to us: Thirteen by Remy Charlip and Jerry Joyner.  A truly lovely story...

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And Now for My Assistant

I have one fantastic assistant: Ian Henderson. Not only is he incredibly helpful to me and generous with students, but also just a delight to have around. He's been practicing his engraving over the past few weeks and used one of my tattoos as a guide for his brooch. Nicely done, my friend. Nicely done.

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A Few Brooches by My Champs

Mary

For Brooch Week (Week Five) the assignment was to make a brooch at least 3" x 3" and incorporate a tab setting, large-format prong setting, or bezel setting or a hollow form. I also asked them to pay close attention to the back of the piece, adding thoughtful details and pin mechanism.

Rachel

Angie

Pamela

Pam

More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Visiting Artists

During Week Three and Week Four I hosted two different visiting artists: Seth Gould and Janet Link. Seth is a metalsmith and a current Core Fellow here at Penland while Janet is a draughtsman and painter  from Raleigh, NC. Seth demonstrated making chasing tools and Janet led a day of drawing basics. Both workshops were fantastic--I was impressed with both Seth's and Janet's ability to communicate technique and process to my students and it was great to see them in their individual elements.

Hammer Study, Planishing Hammer #1 by Seth

Widget by Janet

More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Back to the Champs, Part 2...

 Rachel

Week four bracelets!

Angie

 Amy

 Ian

Mary

 Jenny

 Pam

 Pamela

Kathie

Thanks for reading.

Back to the Champs, Part 1...

Pamela

Teaching has me busier than ever and also my camera finally died after four years of abuse by me...between the two I am finding myself blogger-challenged. Time to get back to what my awesome students are doing...

Week Three - Necklaces 

Amy

Anna

Kathie

 Pam

Rachel

Ian

Mary

More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.