Guest Star #120...Adam Grinovich

I'm not sure how I found the work of Adam Grinovich, but I do think it happened when I was traveling. I visited his website again the other day and was drawn to his use of non-metal materials like horse hair, pitch, and leather. The pieces that use textiles in a sculptural way are particularly appealing to me. While maintaining their inherent qualities, the textiles, namely fabric and thread, are transformed into something else. Then I read his statement on Klimt02 and became even more curious because he writes about being "interested in moments," something that resonates with me directly in my own work...because of jewelry's intimate nature, it is an ideal vehicle to capture and portray, even hint, at a point in time that is now gone.

 

 

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Lecture!

This weekend I head to Raleigh to teach my chain making class, "Innovating the Chain," at the Pullen Arts Center. I'm really excited to teach again, especially this class because I'm all about chains right now. I know it will be fun. Then Saturday at 5pm I will give a lecture about my work. The talk is free and open to the public. I hope you will join us!

Artist Talk

Pullen Arts Center

105 Pullen Road

Raleigh, NC 27607

919.996.6128

Saturday, July 20 at 5pm

free and open to the public

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LIVE! "I've Been Gone for Three Months and Now I'm Back" ETSY SALE

My latest Etsy sale, "I've Been Gone for Three Months and Now I'm Back," is live! As a big thank you for following my European travels, your comments and kind words, and your patience while I was away, I am offering 25% off and free shipping (for orders in the U.S.) on all jewelry. It's also a way to celebrate being back in the U.S. and the reopening of my Etsy shop, AmyTavernJewelry.

The sale runs until Friday, August 16.

AmyTavernJewelry on Etsy

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"I've Been Gone for Three Months and Now I'm Back" Etsy Sale!

My new Etsy sale, "I've Been Gone for Three Months and Now I'm Back," starts tomorrow at 9am EST. All collection jewelry will be 25% off and shipping will be FREE! The sale will run for one month, ending on Friday, August 16. I do hope you will visit the shop...and in the coming weeks I'll be adding new pieces so stay tuned here and on Facebook.

My Etsy Shop - AmyTavernJewelry

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Guest Star Friday #119...Helga Mogensen

I mentioned Helga Mogensen here recently when I saw her work at Kirsuberjatréð in Reykjavik. The next day I went back to meet her after we exchanged some Facebook messages. It was wonderful to see her and have a few moments to talk.

Helga's work combines silver with found materials like driftwood and fish skin that she collects and it tends to be very personal, focusing on themes of family and capturing moments. In person the pieces are tactile and have lovely, subtle details.

To read a great post on more Icelandic jewelry, including Helga and my other Icelandic Guest Star, Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir, visit this link: Design March Reykjavik.

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Things I Like RVK

derelict space

Some final pictures of things I saw in Reykjavik that gave me pause as I wandered...

turquoise container

silhouette of where a house once was

cracks on a gravestone at the old cemetery

mass of rope at the harbor

pallets near the harbor

More on Facebook and Flickr.

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More Jewelry RVK Part 2

Also on my last day in Reykjavik I went to the National Museum of Iceland to see two jewelry exhibitions: Icelandic Silverwork and A Part-Time Silversmith. The first exhibition shows a variety of traditional silver jewelry and objects and focuses on the techniques used to create them. I was astonished by the collection, the details, all that handwork...I just wished I could have gotten closer to the pieces. The other exhibition recreated the studio of turn-of-the-century metalsmith, Kristófer Pétursson. Everything was labeled perfectly and because none of it was behind glass, I was able to get really close. I loved seeing the personal details and the signs of years of use marking all the tools and benches.

More images on Flickr.

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