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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Hollow Form Rings

Pam
The latest batch of great work from my champs...hollow form rings, a perfect beginner project because it combines the most basic techniques of sawing, piercing, filing, and soldering as students learn all about construction. For this project I asked my students to make a hollow form ring with at least two scored and folded sides. The ring at the bottom is the one I made during the hollow form demonstration.

Pamela

Angie

Amy

Anna

Ian

Jenny

Kathie

Rachel

Mary

Amy Tavern

More on Flickr!

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Process Exercise No. 1

Angie

I introduced the first process exercise to my students on Thursday--3D sketching with common materials. I gave each student a large, light-weight cardboard envelop to use along with two different kinds of string and some tape. They got one hour to make a piece of jewelry...they all seemed to enjoy the exercise and I like the results. Every week I will give them new materials to work with and then on their own they will make a new piece. At the end of the session they will have eight pieces they can analyze to discover more about their own process and interests. I will be doing the exercise each week, too. I am curious to see what happens now after making "Collected Memories: 1974-Present," which is based on this exercise.
Anna
Ian
Jenny
Kathie
Mary
Kathie
Pamela
Rachel
Amy
Amy Tavern
More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Champs' First Earrings


 Amy

We had our first critique Monday morning. The project was to make three pairs of earrings using the basic techniques they had learned during the week--one symmetrical pair, one asymmetrical pair, and a third pair with at least two rivets of any style. I was impressed to say the least. They worked hard and it shows. To see more please visit, my Flickr site. 
 Angie
Anna
 Ian
Jenny
Kathie
Rachel
 
Pamela
Mary
Pam

Thanks for reading.

Friday, March 16, 2012

So I'm Teaching for Eight Weeks...

all set for my explanation of hammers demo

My Spring Concentration class began on Sunday! With just a few days behind us, we have already covered sawing, piercing, filing, sanding, roll printing, texturing, annealing, riveting, design layout and measuring, dapping, jump rings, and earring findings. I keep firing info at my students and they are keeping up like a bunch of champs! I even gave them an assignment on the first day with a 10am (sharp!) deadline the next day. 
I have structured the class into five units, each focusing on a specific form of jewelry: earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, and brooches. I think this will be a great way for my beginners to work with limitation and focus. Each week we will begin with a PowerPoint presentation on one jewelry form and the techniques and projects that follow will focus on that form alone. There will be a critique each week as well. As the weeks progress students will add to and build on their skills so that during the last three weeks they can focus on more complicated ideas of their own. Technique demonstrations and practice will be complemented with an exploration of process through a variety of exercises including writing and one-hour 3D sketching.


I'll post as much as I can over the coming weeks...


Thanks for reading.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Guest Star #91...Michael Rybicki

Today's Guest Star is Michael Rybicki. After my GS post on Elizabeth Boyd Hartman a friend sent me Michael's website knowing I would be very interested in his aesthetic. Michael's work is precisely what I've been looking for--it has that wonderful balance of the aged and industrial and quiet, refined elegance. And, there are grids everywhere! I am also fascinated by his innovative, non-traditional use of enamel (which I have been working with recently) and the resulting textures and forms it creates when treated like concrete.




Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

"This is It"

My residency officially ended last week...I wrote "this is it" on a huge piece of paper taped to a wall in my studio when I first moved in and "it," meaning my residency, truly was. It was IT and one of the most remarkable times I have ever experienced. I reread my application recently to remind myself of what I said I would do with my three years. I talked about transitioning from production to one-of-a-kind jewelry, starting a new studio practice, and finding my voice as a studio jeweler. I was happy to realize I did pretty much everything I said I would...and so much more happened, too, more than I ever expected or even imagined.
Variegated Necklace from my Ratio Collection, 2003

I was making production work when I came to the program, and although I loved it, it just wasn't enough. I wanted to make work that was more challenging both technically and conceptually and I wanted to explore how I was going to do that. I am well on my way to defining this for myself now and I use those words because I know this discovery will be life-long, not something I figured out in three years. I believe my residency gave me the tools I need to keep moving forward with my work, to understand it better, to make it stronger.

The unexpected things that happened begin with discovering my fascination with process. I don't remember ever using the word process when talking about my work until I spent some time in this program. Then, rather naturally, I became devoted to the why and how behind my work. It is important to me to understand these things and to be able to speak about it in a simple and clear manner. I often say I wear my heart on my sleeve personally and I believe this is also true in my work. I like sharing all the steps that go into making something and see no reason to keep any of them secret or to talk about my process and my jewelry in a way that is vague or overly intellectual.
lecturing at the Kenan Institute at UNC School of the Arts
photo by Robin Dryer

I am also fortunate for the many teaching and public speaking opportunities that came up over the past three years. I remember the first time I gave my resident PowerPoint presentation during Spring Concentration 2009. I was terribly nervous and afterward I vowed to get better at it. I wanted to be more comfortable and to learn to manage my nerves. I can now give a talk without notes and I am finally beginning to feel like myself up there in front of everyone. (And yes, I still get nervous but nothing like how I used to feel!) My teaching opportunities have been varied and rewarding and I believe I am now a better instructor. I have more experience, skill, and confidence which comes from lots of preparation and practice. I see each experience as a moment to became better and I learn something new every time.
And then there's my work...I can't begin to describe what this residency has done for my jewelry. I am in awe sometimes when I consider what I was making before and what I am making now. I loved what
I did before--I got to make jewelry everyday and I liked my designs. I still get to make jewelry everyday but now it has more depth, it challenges me more, it excites me more...I love it more.
a shadow puppet made during a stressful day preparing for a show
in the first year of my residency

I will be forever grateful to Penland for giving me this precious time.

This really is it.

Thanks for reading.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Some of the Best Things I Make

My friend, Elizabeth Brim, celebrated a milestone birthday in late 2011 and I made her a pearl necklace. Elizabeth loves pearls, wearing them practically everyday along with a signature bow in her hair. When I was deciding what to make her I knew it had to include pearls so I made my version of a pearl necklace using pink spray paint over natural pearls. I also added two big black satin bows to reference her blacksmithing background and her love of the macabre. She looks beautiful in it (see top image).
  
I have made other pieces recently for friends that are now among my favorites. I realized as I made the latest one that when I think about someone specifically while I am making the piece, it turns out stronger and more beautiful. It can be an intense thing for me to do this--thinking about what the person means to me, about things we have done together, about what he or she likes...it simply helps me to create better work. (And also knowing how happy the gift will make the person, that's a wonderful feeling, too.)


 arc earrings for Janet
 brooch for Mike
earrings for Tara

More images on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.