My Second Home

roof lines in Grote Markt

I had the most wonderful, but entirely too short week in Antwerp. I spent my days wandering, visiting my favorite places in the city, and enjoying meals with friends. I knew my way around, visualizing in my mind where things were with no need for maps. I loved being there. It was fantastic to see all my favorite things again and to spend time with my Belgian people. It was also interesting to see how things have changed since the summer. What a luxury to revisit!

I saw some incredible jewelry and fashion: I attended the opening reception and artist talk of Karin Roy Andersson at Beyond Fashion, got to see the work of Begoña Prats in person, and went to Mode Museum to see an exhibition of couture textiles. I visited Carolus Boromeus, Conscienceplein, and Vlaeykensgang. I found more graffiti, danced to techno till 4am with my Belgian brother and sister, and got a new tattoo.

It went by too fast.

 Balenciaga at the Mode Museum

 graffiti at Park Spoor Noord

 an icon at Carolus Borromeus, my favorite church

student work at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts

I spent the day at the school with my friend, Jorge Manilla, an instructor there

at the artist talk of Karin Roy Andersson with some of my favorite people, Karen Vanmol, Linda Savineau, and Karin De Buysere

I loved being able to see how things have changed since I left...

I made a brooch about this piece for my Belgian show. It is quite different now.

More images on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Guest Star Friday #117...Karin Roy Andersson

earrings

Last night I attended the opening reception for "Catching Big Fish," a new solo exhibition at Beyond Fashion in Antwerp by today's Guest Star, Karin Roy Andersson. The work is inspired by fish and the ocean. Each piece is made with recycled plastic, sterling silver, and/or gold that is layered and sewn together to reference scales. The forms also resemble fish themselves--new species, just identified. The pieces are incredibly lightweight as well as lush, with wonderful, subtle texture and detail.

brooch

Karin also gave a talk the night before, briefly telling the story of her background and describing this new body of work. I am so happy I was there to enjoy both events and to meet and talk with Karin in person!

necklace

bracelet

(that's Karin in the middle at the opening)

earrings

Thanks for reading.

30 Days and Counting...

 

Burano, Italy 

I leave for Europe in 30 days! The thought of it makes me crazy-excited and also makes my stomach do some crazy flips. I have lots to do before I go and not that much time to do it all. But, I'm relieved to say, there isn't as much to do this time around compared to last year. I was teaching then, moving away from a place I had been for three years, going to SNAG to give a lecture, preparing to travel abroad alone for the first time ever, and taking time to be with my family, all before I left. It was an intense couple of months. This time there is still much to do, but it feels manageable and not overwhelming, at least not yet. Every day is precious, though, and there is no time to waste. To keep things light, I thought I would share ten things I look forward to doing and seeing while I'm traveling, in no particular order:

 Tiepolo

1. Visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, again, just to see the collection of historical jewelry.

2. Take a boat to Burano, Italy, an island known for its tradition of lace-making and row after row of colorful houses.

3. Visit Platin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp--a museum devoted to books and printing. I didn't make it there over the summer and I'm glad I have a second-chance...

4. See ceiling paintings by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and other Italian greats in Venice. I studied ceiling painting in college and can't wait to see some in person.

5. Walk every single street in fortified, medieval Certaldo, where I'm teaching.

6. Tour Alchimia in Florence and meet the instructors and students.

interior of Kántrýbær

 

7. Listen to Patsy Kline while hanging out at Kántrýbær, Iceland's only country bar, located in Skagaströnd where my Nes residency is.

8. Take pictures of the over 700 varieties of lichen with my macro-lens as I hike around Iceland.

photo by Jen Larson

9.Visit as many museums as I can in Reykjavik, including ASI Art Museum to see the work of Unndór Egill Jónsson.

Unndór Egill Jónsson

 

Certaldo, Italy 

10. Eat a Belgian waffle and drink some Belgian beer. Not at the same time, though.

Thanks for reading.

Big Night!

with my gallerists, Karin and Rene

(check out the brooch I'm wearing, a gift from Linda Savineau)

The opening reception for my solo show "Observation/Translation" happened on Thursday, September 6. It was a fantastic night with lots of people in attendance over the course of four hours. Many Belgian jewelry friends came and it felt fantastic to share the evening with them. I still can't believe I have a solo show in Belgium! I am so grateful and honored...it was an amazing night!

 Karin Vanmol, Ria Lins, and Linda Savineau

Thanks for reading.

Now That Went Well!

I gave my lecture last night and it seemed to go very well. It felt like I was having a conversation and as I looked around the room people seemed engaged. This lecture was the first in which I did not have a Powerpoint to lead me through so there were no visual cues to help me. I stood in front of the audience and just talked. I gestured to the work a few times but mostly relied on my memory to guide me through text I had written a few weeks ago. I did forget some things including a part about my process but I added it at the end. When I was finished I got good questions from attendees and then talked with smaller groups about even more specific aspects of the work. Everyone was so kind and supportive! I had fun and it was a great night! 

And tonight is the opening and I am so excited! I am really looking forward to celebrating the work and my time here in Antwerp. The event begins at 6pm.

Beyond Fashion
Pourbusstraat 7
2000 Antwerpen Zuid
Belgium

Thanks for reading.

Almost There...

The opening of my show is just a day away and here I am again, excited and nervous and waiting. Tonight is my lecture which starts at 7pm and I feel almost ready. I plan to sit here in my apartment and read through my notes a few more times. This morning I went to the gallery early to display the work and to create a small installation of process pieces and photographs. I am very happy with the final look of the show.

Here are the details one more time:

Observation/Translation
solo exhibition
Beyond Fashion
Pourbusstraat 7
2000 Antwerpen Zuid
Belgium

The opening is this Thursday, September 6 from 6-10pm

The lecture is today, September 5 at 7pm.

I do hope to see you!

Thanks for reading.

A Tiny and Huge Lace Museum

Last week I left the studio early just so I could go to the Lace Museum at Carolus Borromeus. It is only open on Wednesday for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I'm glad I didn't miss it! When I arrived I had about an hour and didn't want to loose a minute so I asked where I could find it. I was escorted by a very nice woman named Maria who led me through several doors, down hallways, and up a few flights of stairs. When I told her of my interest in lace and embroidery she got very excited and said I was going to "love" the museum. And I did. It's very small, just two rooms, literally tucked away in this giant church. The first room includes various liturgical items and tapestries. The next room and the larger of the two has all the lace, several cases of examples from the 16th-19th century. My favorite pieces were definitely the oldest ones from the 15 and 1600's, pictured here. There were also two women making bobbin lace which is fascinating to watch. Their hands move so fast as they move around scores of bobbins and set pins to create the pattern. This is definitely something I would like to learn how to do someday. 

More pictures from the museum and of Carolus Boromeus Cathedral on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Guest Star #97...Nevin Arig

Today's Guest Star is Nevin Arig. I discovered Nevin's work when I visited Twee Gallery a few weeks ago. At that time her work was on view in a small exhibition. I was attracted to her mix of materials and the graphic compositions of the pieces. They have an ephemeral quality and it feels like she searches for just the right found objects and places them together in just the right way.

Thanks for reading.

Belgium Catch-up: Jewelry Award 12

Isabelle Costy

Last week on my way to the studio I made a special trip to ING Brabo Hall to see "Jewelry Award 12," a student show that focused on the theme of energy. The work ranged from contemporary pieces 

with stones to more sculptural ones, like the tiny Airstream-like piece pictured below. 

Geoffrey Fiems

C. Van Wassenhove

Gisella Gijbels

Thanks for reading. 

Belgium Catch-up: New Shops

I have two new shops in Belgium: M HKA, Antwerp's museum of contemporary art and Creme de la Crema in Roeselare. M KHA now has my work via Beyond Fashion who keeps a selection of jewelry in the museum shop there. Creme de la Crema is a gallery, studio, and coffeelab owned by jeweler Cynthia Jacobs and her husband, Michal Van De Moortel. I will be making a small collection for them (hopefully) before I leave Belgium. The shop has lots of great work including Cynthia's and Jeannette Jansen.

M HKA

Creme de la Crema Gallery

Brooch by Jeannette Jansen

Creme de la Creme Coffeelab

More pictures of Creme de la Crema on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Belgium Catch-up: Contemporary Art

"Misconceivable" by Erwin Wurm, 2012 at Middleheim Park in Antwerp

It's catch-up time. I haven't had a chance yet to tell you about a few things I've seen since arriving in Belgium that I found both interesting and inspiring. Here are a few contemporary art works that I love:

The top image is a life-size boat by Erwin Wurm that drips over the edge of a stone wall at the Middelheim Museum in Antwerp. I saw this from a car one day and it made quite an impression on me in that brief moment. I took a walk there later to see it up close and for more than a few seconds; then I liked it even more.

The next two images are from an incredible contemporary art exhibition in Genk: Manifesta 9, the biennial of European contemporary art. It was held in the complex of a former coal mine complete with crumbling walls and peeling paint. The setting alone made the trip for me, but this piece by Ni Haifeng in particular really got my attention. 

Para-Production by Ni Haifeng

2012 

at Manifesta 9 in Genk

On a recent visit to Knokke I saw "Dune" by Arne Quinze. I love it for its repetition, implied movement, simple construction, and the palette of white and fluorescent orange.

 "Dune" by Arne Quinze, 2010 in Knokke

Finally, I saw this piece by Richard Deacon when visiting an exhibition in the ING Brabo Hall building in Antwerp. (I'll tell you about that exhibition soon.) I love the line of this piece. I also love that I stumbled upon it much like all the other pieces mentioned here. I really had no idea I would see these things until I was in front of them, even the work at Manifesta 9. Yes, I knew I was going to Genk to see the show, but I had no idea just how amazing it would be.

Sculpture by Richard Deacon, 2001 in ING Brabo Hall in Antwerp

More images of Manifesta 9 on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.