It's Been 10 Years, Part 6

one of my absolute favorite pictures from my original collections by Hank Drew, the Bamboo Necklace

One final 10-year post, and in this one, I want to say thanks to the people I consider part of my "team." My photographer, Hank Drew, my graphic designer, Brandon Dawley, my editor, Katey Schultz, and my mentor, Lori Talcott. I have worked with these wonderful people for years and I am grateful to them for their expertise, hard work, insight, and patience. Hank started taking pictures for me in 2004 with my production collections and is now taking beautiful images of my larger, more sculptural and installation-based work. I have known Brandon since high school and he's been creating logos, ads, banners, and posters for me for a long time. He also got my new website going. I met Katey at Penland in 1999 and recently she began editing for me from grad school essays to artist statements. Lori was one of my first teachers and continues to guide me today. In fact we had a long talk just a few days ago about grad school and, as always, she questioned, challenged, and supported me. These gifted, generous individuals know my work, they pay attention, they listen, they advise, and they communicate effectively and thoughtfully. There is a balanced, natural give-and-take that occurs between us and we work well together. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with them and consider each of them a friend, too. I hope you will take some time to visit the links included in this post and check out their incredible work.

 current installation shot by Hank Drew, 

Silently (I Saw a Robin Today)

the logo Brandon designed for my solo show I Live Here Now

Lori in her studio

Artist Statement

I am devoted to observing the world that surrounds me and questioning the human condition through the lens of my own life experience. Through a variety of traditional and exploratory multi-media techniques, I create jewelry, objects, and installations that hint at memory, time, loss, and the layered sense of self I believe we all carry. I intuitively select materials and forms to represent the intangible and to create abstract narratives. Using my own memory of people, places, and objects, I seek to communicate the duality of the human experience, convey emotion, and connect with others.

my most current artist statement written with help from Katey

Thanks for reading. 

With a Ribbon

complimentary holiday gift wrap, new this year

Something new this holiday… complimentary holiday gift wrap! Plus, all new stickers and business cards created by my awesome graphic designer, Brandon Dawley. All orders will receive this festive red ribbon for every item purchased along with cards featuring the wedding dress piece from "I Live Here Now" and lovely stickers with my logo. Please stop by the Shop today!

AmyTavernJewelry Annual Holiday Sale on Etsy

Happy Holidays!

screen shot of a Google+ Hangout with Brandon…

that's his desktop on the screen and me watching as he put the finishing touches on my cards

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Hot Off the Press

I just got these beautiful posters for my upcoming show at Cherry Branch Gallery. The design is by my friend and graphic designer, Brandon Dawley, who has been designing for me since the beginning. I hung some posters around town which felt rather nostalgic since most communication for events like this tends to be solely online these days. The show opens September 6!

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New Year, New Website (and New Studio and New Work!)

amytavern.com

I am very pleased to announce my new website! The URL is the same, but the look is quite different. I've been wanting to overhaul my site ever since my last year as a Penland resident artist. Finally, I had the time and resources to do it, and with the help of my friend and graphic designer, Brandon Dawley, I now have a new site--a simple portfolio style with photo sets for each body of work and project. I've also include a set for my Arrangements and some of my favorite Pictures. Brandon and I used Krop and chose the Grid template. It was very easy to use and the process went quickly. Then I spent the last few days detailing it. I'm really happy with the results and hope you will take a few minutes to visit. I will continue to update it regularly with new work and would like to add some of my writing somehow. Please check back for updates…and I will post them here, of course.

As I was walking over to my studio this morning I was thinking about how much is new in my life: so much of it began just a few weeks ago or is happening right now at this very moment! I have a new home and new life, a new studio, a new website, I'm about to make new work…it's a lot of change and it can feel overwhelming at times. But, it mostly feels really, really good and very, very exciting. I look forward to sharing my New Year with all of you and wish each of you all the best in 2014!

Thanks for reading.

New Website is Coming!

a little glimpse of the new site

I am super excited to tell you I have a new website coming and it will be here tomorrow! I've been working with my graphic designer and friend, Brandon Dawley, to create a simple, user friendly portfolio site. I'm overdue for a new website and pleased to finally be moving forward on this project.

What a great way to start the new year: a new website AND a new studio! Oh! And new work! I'll start making the "homeland" part of my upcoming solo exhibition next week.

Happy New Year to all of you! 

Thanks for reading.

more BMAC

this week and last, i've been busy preparing for the BMAC show. i mentioned my schedule a few days ago... i'm doing a fairly good job at sticking to it. a friend and fellow craftsperson, krista, reminded me about unforeseen happenings and how something always seems to pop-up unexpectedly. she's completely right! so, to combat this problem i have "padded" my schedule with extra time (what, extra?!) to accommodate for various hijinks.

next week i get to make my display pieces, the fun part. i haven't committed to anything yet, but i do have a list of ideas. my studiomate, friend, and fellow BMAC vendor, joanna gollberg, gave me some of her old stuff. i see lots of potential!
what i have committed to are new postcards, posters, and a banner. the postcards and banner were designed by brandon dawley.
thanks for reading.