Five Days

I just got back from a wonderful 5-day visit to the Penland School of Crafts. The reason for the trip was to be a visiting artist for current Fall concentration instructor, Adam Whitney. I spent two days with his class teaching chains and connections. I did a few demos and gave a presentation about chains and another one about my work. It was great to spend time in the studio. I enjoyed Adam's students and loved spending time with Adam, himself. He's a good friend and we hadn't seen each other in two and half years (!) because he was teaching in Malaysia. We had a lot of catching-up to do.

Adam demonstrating how to use the metal crimper

I also went to two different openings, one for the resident artists on Friday and the other for the Core Fellows on Saturday. Both shows were wonderful! The current residents are such a strong group and it's exciting for me to see as a former resident. They make me so proud! The Core Fellows are also making incredible work as they seem to get more sophisticated every year. The resident opening was in Asheville at the Asheville Area Arts Council Gallery and the Core Show happened in Northlight on the Penland campus. It was also my pleasure to serve the Core Fellows supper on Saturday before the opening. Core Show day is my favorite day of the Penland year and serving dinner to these lovely people feels very special. 

The rest of my time was filled with visits with friends, thoughtful discussions about art, and walks around the campus. I love every moment of my time at Penland and it always feels like coming home.

sculpture by resident artist, Tom Shields

Penland's Core Fellows

the view from the porch of the metals studio early one evening

Thanks for reading.

"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.

It's Still Love, Despite the Heartbreak

Today is my three-year residency anniversary! I moved here on January 4, 2009 and the above image shows what I saw as I moved boxes into my studio. The panorama below is how it looks like now. I absolutely love this space!

Back in January, 2009 I settled into a corner at first, basically the size I was comfortable with. A few months later I repaired walls, painted, added more furniture, hung artwork, and spread out. I believe the size of this studio affected my work in a positive way: its vastness allowed my work to literally grow. Over the last three years I have kept the room about the same, but changed the arrangement and displays every so often. The latest version is by far my favorite.

At this point, I only have two months left as a resident. It's hard for me to believe my time here in this capacity is coming to a close. It has flown by and has been truly remarkable. I knew it would be fantastic, but I had no idea how it would really look or what would happen. I had my list of plans and goals, of course, but I left room for the unexpected...these three years far exceeded my vision. I feel excited and humbled, but also sad (and often very, very sad). This is my home and the one place I have felt more like myself than any other place I have lived. I know the opportunity I was given is precious--intense time to explore one's work and focus on making things does not happen like this in the "real world." I have also met some amazing people and had some incredible conversations and experiences with them...I have wonderful friends and colleagues.

To celebrate my three years, I asked my friend Dana Moore, to take pictures of my studio. I have added them to a flickr set that I hope you will view. She did a beautiful job capturing the space and all it's lovely natural light and character. (Thank you, Dana!)

Thanks for reading.

Open House...Now with Privacy Envelopes

My last open house as a resident at Penland was this past Friday. I spent part of the day rearranging and curating my collections as a way to both honor my studio and process the many thoughts in my mind about leaving. I also hung part of my collection of privacy envelopes on a wall. (I've been collecting them for about two years.) I have a new series in the works that will incorporate embroidery and privacy envelopes with metal. These works-in-progress are hanging next to the envelope collection.

I enjoyed spending time with my objects in this manner and even added some of my work among souvenirs from trips, family heirlooms, and found objects. Arranging is a big part of my process and always inspiring for me to do. When I was done I sat on my sofa and relished my space.

More on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

The Barns 2011

Like Home No. 1 and No. 2

A new resident artist show, "The Barns 2011," opens at the Penland Gallery this Friday. I installed my Silhouettes on one of the walls last week and it's wonderful to see them in an offical gallery setting versus in my studio. They are accompanied by two new necklaces and a brooch. The silhouettes for the necklaces are among those in the installation so people can see the connection between my process and my finished pieces. I also turned a small silhouette into a wearable brooch by making a prong setting for it. This is an idea I have been considering for a long time and there will be more in the future.

 

a silhouette brooch

 uninstalling the wall in my studio

 a mock-up installation of a selection of silhouettes on the gallery floor

a process shot with title idea

Lots more pictures of the installation at the gallery, my process, and the finished works on Flickr.

The Barns: 2011

Work by Penland's current resident artists
September 27- November 27
Reception: Friday, September 30, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Penland Gallery

Thanks for reading.

Thoughts on Twigs and Trees

March is here and so is the beginning of the third and final year of my residency. Needless to say, time flies and I can’t believe I only have a year left. I would like to share my thoughts on this subject with all of you, but honestly, there is just too much to say and I'm not able to quantify or define it succinctly in words yet. Instead, I want to talk about the twig necklace pictured above.

I took my first Penland class in the summer of 1999. The class, “Intimate/Monumental,” was taught by Heather White van Stolk and focused on casting. I cast many natural objects over those two weeks and made a series of rings, necklaces, and brooches. On the first day Heather asked us to collect materials around the Penland campus and to make a wearable piece of jewelry using them. This twig necklace is the piece I made that day and is very special to me. It marks the beginning of my relationship with Penland and is the ultimate souvenir from a pivotal moment in my life. Looking at it now, it also symbolizes some of the fundamental interests that are still important to me now: line, asymmetry, and simplicity.

As I embark on these next 12 months I will be looking at this necklace as an important reminder of so many things. I will also be thinking about something a friend said once about looking at one tree at a time instead of the whole forest. One tree keeps things in perspective, while the whole forest can be overwhelming. I believe this will be my mantra for 2011.

Thanks for reading.

...with the New Year

work-in-progress table

I am back from a wonderful Holiday break with my family in Upstate, NY. I haven't done anything at my bench for a few weeks but I have been thinking about my work a lot; and by work I mean not only my jewelry, but my accomplishments, my goals, and the fact that I am about to begin my final year as a Penland Resident Artist.

This Holiday season was very different for me simply because I no longer make my collections. There was no sale, no website preparations, no sale newsletter, no big orders to fill. Instead, I made work for my galleries and enjoyed a very quiet December. I had time to get organized, prepare my books for tax time, and do some archiving. But mostly I've had time to think about what I've done so far and what I want to do in the coming year.

My main goal is to create a major body of work, the culmination of everything I have learned since I began my residency. I spent the first two years exploring techniques, materials, and concepts in order to develop a strong formal vocabulary and aesthetic. This vocabulary now encompasses my interest in the layering of line, specific shapes, and negative space and my use of alternative materials, namely spray paint. Now I believe it is time to add personal content and meaning to my work, using my formal approach as the foundation. This new work will be about my personal history with jewelry and I plan to draw on my memories of jewelry since childhood. This will be the first work I have made that includes truly personal content and I am really excited about it. I want to approach the project slow and steady and would like to take the entire year to complete it. I will present more information as the work develops, of course.

Over the next week or so I will bring 2010 to a close by catching up on things I haven't had a chance to blog about yet. Then it will be to new projects and events.

Thanks for reading.

14 hands, 3 years

the residents have a group exhibition opening this friday at the caldwell arts center in lenoir, nc. today we are driving our work to the gallery and will be helping the staff and volunteers install the show. i will have 3 groups of work on display including regal graffiti, line drawings, and my latest borderlines (see the work i made for "the barns 2009").

fourteen hands, three years: penland resident artists
jan 15-feb 12
opening reception fri, jan 15 from 5:00-7:30pm

thanks for reading.

sale today!

margaret couch cogswell (fellow resident artist in book arts/mixed media) and i are having a special holiday sale today:

4-5:30
2nd floor textiles studio
penland school of crafts

we are preparing for the new year and new work by "cleaning house" and will have all kinds of older work on sale along with other great stuff - all priced very low. refreshments served!

if you are in the area please stop by!

thanks for reading.

the barns: 2009 opening

the barns: 2009 opening reception is this evening at 7pm at the penland gallery. the show features the work of penland's current resident artists. i checked it out the other day - it's a wonderful show of diverse work that all looks great grouped together side by side. i added more pictures of the work i made for the show to my flickr page - more views and details.
thanks for reading.

the barns: 2009

i handed in my work for the penland resident artist show, the barns: 2009, a few days ago. since returning from the american craft exposition i have worked non-stop on this new body of work. i was concerned when i began that i could be getting myself into a world of trouble because i did not have a lot of time - less than 2 weeks. getting started was a struggle as sometimes starting is the hardest part. once i did though the work just came and making it became one of the most enjoyable experiences i've had in my studio yet. i will post more photos on flickr soon.
the exhibition opens september 29 with an opening reception on friday, october 2 from 7-8:30. the show closes december 6.

i am currently on vacation and will return to my studio next tuesday. see you then and thanks for reading.

penland residency

i am incredibly happy to announce that i got an artist residency at the penland school of crafts. the residency is three years long and i will be moving there early next year. i can't begin to express how excited i am! this residency is the chance for my work i've been wishing for. it will give me time that i don't usually have to experiment and explore techniques, materials, and concept. i'm also planning to redevelop my drawing skills and hope to make this medium a part of my work as an artist. this also means i will be cutting back on my collections, which i already started to do by retiring many pieces. making the collections more manageable will give me more time to work on my studio jewelry.

heather white

it is such a tremendous honor to have been selected for this residency. i started going to penland nearly 10 years ago. my first class was with heather white. the following year i took a class with lori talcott and that's when i met joanna gollberg. in the years since i have been a studio assistant, a substitute metals coordinator, a volunteer, and an instructor. penland has been a huge part of my career and this opportunity to live there and make my work is just so special.

lori talcottjoanna gollberg

thanks for reading.