The Interview

Raissa Bump and I were recently interviewed by Missy Graff of Art Jewelry Forum about our show "Parallel Constellations." Missy asked us questions about the concept, collaborating, and what we are reading, among others. I think it's a nicely balanced interview--Raissa and I share our individual perspectives and, when paired, they create a complete story.

Link to the interview on AJF.

Sincere thanks to Art Jewelry Forum and Missy Graff. A true honor. Thank you!

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Parallel Constellations - The Final

thanks to the Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco 

for the great images

Just a few final thoughts about my two-person show with Raissa Bump...The entire process was wonderful from start to finish. It really and truly was. Two years ago we were invited by Gallery Lulo to do this show over lunch on a beautiful California day. In January of this year we began developing the concept and started making the work. Over the following months we talked frequently, discussing progress, problems, and triumphs.

photo: Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco

Working with Raissa couldn't have been easier or more lovely. We worked beautifully together as we shared ideas and challenges and made decisions regarding various aspects of the exhibition. We were also supportive of one another all along the way. I arrived in San Francisco a few days before we installed the work and spent most of my time with Raissa in her home and studio. We talked more about the work and the process and even made new pieces side by side. It felt fantastic to have an equal partner in a big project like this. It was good to know I was not alone, while being challenged in new ways to do well. I loved every minute! I'm glad we had that time together before the opening. It felt like the perfect end to the story. It felt really special.

Raissa was the person who encouraged me to get back into one-of-a-kind work several years ago when I was feeling discouraged by production jewelry. Since then we have become good friends and close colleagues. Being in a show with her was a wonderful way for me to honor our relationship. It was also a wonderful new way to experience what I do. I am honored to be in a show with such a dear friend and colleague and it was truly an absolute pleasure to work with her.

Thank you, Raissa! 

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Parallel Constellations - The Opening

thanks to Nat Hansen for the wonderful photo of Raissa and I during our artist talk

What a wonderful opening it was! The work looked beautiful, lots of people came, and we gave a casual, yet intimate talk. It all felt incredibly natural and personal, right on par with the entire process from developing the idea to making the work to collaborating to installing the finished pieces in the gallery. What an absolute pleasure to celebrate with a dear friend and colleague after two years of planning and working.

Thanks to everyone who attended the opening - it felt truly special. Huge thanks to the Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco for making a special trip and for all the great questions and conversation. And, finally, sincere thanks to Karen and Katrina of Gallery Lulo for taking us on and for being so supportive throughout the process. 

Thanks to the amazing Suzanne Pugh for these great photos, too! (top and bottom)

More images on Flickr.

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Parallel Constellations - The Install

Raissa and I installed the work on Friday before the opening and it really could not have gone better. We began with our collaborative pieces because we knew we wanted them together--it was a simple, defined place to start. Then we moved on to our black and white necklaces. Next we began working with a grouping of tables, selecting one for her pieces, one for mine, and the other two for a mix of our work. Finally, we added more work to the walls and in the end, filled the space. 

The process was easy as we exchanged thoughts on what would be the best use of the space and the best places for our pieces. Karen and Katrina, our gallerists, were very supportive. They were open to our ideas and helped us to fully utilize the gallery. Our choices and the way the installation unfolded felt natural and unforced. 

More images on Flickr.

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In Tandem

A few images of Raissa and I in her studio working on the final pieces for the show as well as titles and other show-related details. It's been great to work alongside her the last two days since we've been planning this show from afar for two years! 

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Pictures of Process, No. 3

Mapping patterns in brass teardrops...

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Pictures of Process, No. 1

For the next three days I will post photos of my process as I work and complete new jewelry for Parallel Constellations. Today's image: chain links...

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More In the Works

the latest announcement from Gallery Lulo with two collaborative pieces

Raissa Bump and I have been working away on pieces for our exhibition, "Parallel Constellations." Every week or so we check in with each other and talk about ideas, progress, and problems as we also catch-up and commiserate. We often find ourselves in similar places in our work and our lives and always say goodbye at the end of the conversation feeling inspired. There is an ease and simplicity to this process that has been just lovely. I am enjoying thinking about maps, mapping, and connections in different ways as I work. I often think about the physical distance between Raissa and I (she lives in CA, I live in NC) and the moments in which we have been in the same place at the same time. I like thinking about us moving about our days in studio and out and the maps we create as we go. I am also loving making lots of chain. The exhibition opens on September 14 with an artist reception from 5-7pm.

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In the Works

Raissa Bump and I have been working separately and collaboratively for our upcoming exhibition, "Parallel Constellations" at Gallery Lulo. The process has been pretty wonderful so far and we are enjoying the challenges of developing and making new work. Next week I'll share more about our concepts and our process, but for now we want to share a little glimpse of what we've been up to...

The show opens on September 14.

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Parallel Constellations

details of the first pieces - Raissa right, mine left

I'm finally able to share some information about the two-person show I'm doing with Raissa Bump at Gallery Lulo in September. Raissa and I started planning in January and recently wrote our first statement about the exhibition for the Gallery Lulo website. We've started making work, too, but we can't really divulge much right now as it's all very, very fresh.

Parallel Constellations

New Work by Raissa Bump and Amy Tavern 

September 2013

Since meeting in the fall of 2007, Amy Tavern and Raissa Bump have been having conversations about what interests them, business, jewelry, one-of-a-kind and production work, lifestyles. This happened effortlessly and with open doors and hearts. For this exhibition they continue those conversations--focusing in on ideas around mapping and constellations. These two concepts serve as the starting point for new works. They have set up some permeable perimeters to work within, knowing this exhibition will unfold in ways they can foresee and, hopefully, in ways that are surprising. They will make their own works in their studios, as they always do, as well as exchanging some pieces in collaboration, something new to them. The work will speak to their own and combined aesthetic as it develops under the umbrella of the same constellations and over thousands of miles.

The opening reception is Saturday, September 14 from 5-7 at Gallery Lulo in Healdsburg, CA.

Raissa and I at the opening reception of my solo show at Velvet da Vinci in 2011

I will say this: I am so excited and honored to have a show with such a dear friend and incredible artist. Raissa has played a big role in my career. We met at Penland in 2007 when I was her assistant in her Fall Concentration class. I was struggling with my work then and coming to that crossroads where I knew I needed a huge change. She was the one who encouraged me to revisit one-of-a-kind jewelry and that is when I started my Line Drawings series. I am grateful for that time we spent together because of how she helped me and because it is the foundation of what has become a wonderful friendship. I look forward to working with her in the coming months and then to celebrating with her in September.

 Thanks for reading.

More of What's Next

I am fortunate to have several shows in the works for the coming months and for 2013. During the holidays I will have work at Light Art + Design in a dedicated metals show. I will also have earrings at an earrings show at J. Cotter Gallery.

twisted wire necklace by Raissa Bump

I am very pleased to say I will have a two-person show with my good friend, Raissa Bump, at Gallery Lulo next September. We have been emailing back and forth a little about the show, but have no firm ideas yet.

Finally, my brooch, "Bruised, Once Broken" will travel to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock next August as part of a traveling Rapheal Prize Exhibition.

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Guest Star #86...Niki Ulehla

While in San Francisco I took a drive to Healdsburg to visit Gallery Lulo. At that time, Niki Ulehla had a solo show on view with jewelry, paintings, and sculpture based on her dreams. Niki combines precious and found materials in unusual ways and creates jewelry that is curious and imaginative, disjointed and abstract. I really like this quote from the Gallery Lulo website: "Through these divergent techniques where play and exploration are among the most fundamental concerns, I work to create unique pieces that are simple and refined, albeit a little bit crazy."

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I Left My Jewelry in San Francisco: Part 2

I drove to Healdsburg, CA with Raissa Bump to visit Gallery Lulo and have lunch with owners Karen Gilbert and Anne-Kathrine Schjerbeck. Lulo has represented my work for the last two years so I was excited to see the space and spend time with Karen and Katrina.The gallery is lovely--white walls, simple and elegant design, minimal jewelry displays. Currently on view is an exhibition of jewelry and paintings based on dreams by Niki Ulehla. (The collection is very interesting and I will talk about it a different post very soon.) I left the gallery with a pair of glass and metal earrings by Karen Gilbert.

 

At lunch at Bistro Ralph, we talked about having a two-person show for Raissa and myself sometime in 2013. I'm really excited about this possibility! I've thought about doing something like this with Raissa since we met in 2007. After lunch, we drove through the grapevine-lined countryside and then down Highway 1. We stopped in Point Reyes for some thrifting and a beer. It felt like we were on a road trip.  

More images on Flickr.

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gallery lulo

here are a few images of the pieces i made for my new gallery, gallery lulo, in healdsburg, ca. i completed these pieces in may and worked on them for a long time, mostly because my ideas were just not happening. now i think the trouble stemmed from what i did during the winter: a lot of thinking instead of making. i had a lot on my mind after those 4 months and it got "sticky" in there, as i've been saying to myself. i had much to sort through and it was hard for me to get going again at the bench, to switch gears from thinking to making. but when i got back from my vacation mid-may, things started to click and this group just came together. now i find the best way for me to work through the thoughts is to just keep making things.


more images on flickr.

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ahhhhh vacation and i love reading

rian je jong: brooch-autum I, 2004, black and red coral

i am back from my vacation and i am feeling incredible focused and "on" in the studio. the time away was exactly what i needed! (time off is so important.) i am about to finish a new group of work for gallery lulo--it's been a challenging process and was slow going before my break. then when i got to work on monday, the work just came together and i am very pleased...more on that later. in the meantime, while i was on vacation, i read 30 minute earrings from cover to cover. it was fun to study the projects and read about the designers.

then i read an entire metalsmith magazine, something i have not done in years. the issue (vol. 30, no. 1) included a great article on rian de jong. i was familiar with her work already, but really didn't know that much about her. the article is a nice mix of information about her jewelry and her life--both very interesting! i also enjoyed reading "the unimportant collector" by ron porter which i can totally relate to because i am one of the collectors the author describes. the issue had so many good articles in it including the reviews and studio visit and the little gem about stanley lechtzin by harlan butt. i have often felt alienated by the tone of the magazine over the years, but this one was an exception and has renewed my interest in the publication. i will read the latest issue from cover to cover, too, i'm sure.

i also read the creative habit by choreographer twyla tharp. i loved it so much i only took me two days to read. i highly recommend it! it's all about the creative process and has some excellent exercises to bolster one's creativity. and finally, in addition to my regular stack of fashion mags and fiction, i read trust the process by shaun mcniff, another excellent book on the creative process. wow, i am so inspired right now!

thanks for reading.