Visiting is So Good

I have two back-to-back visiting artist engagements coming up in September. The first one happens at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI, followed by another at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. At RISD I will be talking with students in a professional practices class lead by Jennaca Davies. I plan to describe the path of my career and the choices I've made and talk about how I combine residencies, teaching and travel with jewelry and art making. The following week I fly to Michigan to teach Renee Zettle-Sterling's students. This two-day workshop will focus on process and I will guide students through a variety of hands-on exercises and discussions about how and why they make their work. I will also give a lecture about my own work. I'm pretty excited about both opportunities because I love being a visiting artist. It's always a great way to get deep with students in a short period of time and I'm always surprised with what I walk away with. It's a also a great time to connect with colleagues who also happen to be friends.

Rhode Island School of Design
Visiting Artist
Thursday, September 18
Providence, RI

Grand Valley State University
Visiting Artist
Thursday, September 25 & 26
Allendale, Michigan

Thanks for reading.

Guest Star #133…Renee Zettle-Sterling

from the series "Objects of Mourning: Untidy"

I'm switching gears for today's GS post by revisiting jewelry with the work of Renee Zettle-Sterling. I've been talking with Renee about my work over the last few weeks, looking to her for insight because I admire her work, but specifically, because of its highly-personal content and Renee's use of sentimental, priceless, irreplaceable clothing. For my new work I have been using irreplaceable things, so speaking with Renee has been very helpful.

"Object of Mourning: Permanence #1"

Renee makes jewelry, objects, sculpture and installation. There is also a performative aspect to many of the works shown through narrative photographs. I'm interested in how she creates with different forms and materials and admire her ability to convey experiences and emotions. The work is labor intensive, too, and I imagine this is an important part of the process, adding even more depth and complexity.

"Object of Mourning: Recall #1"

I met Renee a few years ago at the ECU metals symposium. She was the key note speaker that weekend and I really enjoyed her lecture. She talked about objects expressing "universal content" and I think about that a lot still. The source of much of the content in her work is death and mourning. Her experiences are unique to her, but universal with all of us. I think her pieces serve as a way for her to understand and accept and further serve as a vehicle to communicate and connect with others. Her pieces are sensitive, beautiful and articulate.

a page from my sketchbook, notes taken during her lecture

from the series "Necklaces in Mourning"

from the series "Objects of Mourning: Untidy"

from the series "Mourning Brooches"

You can read this article about her use of death and mourning as inspiration. It's a good introduction to what she does. 

Thanks for reading.