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Thursday, August 29, 2013

Back to Velouria

Amanda wearing my "Small Earrings in Yellow"

I'm so happy to announce I will return to Velouria in Seattle next Thursday for a trunk show! Back in my Collections' days, Velouria was one of my favorite shops and I had trunk shows there regularly. My work is available at the shop once more and as I was planning this upcoming trip, I thought it would be wonderful to reintroduce myself with a little show. The shop has new owners and I'm looking forward to meeting them along with their lovely customers. I will have lots of work on hand from my latest collections, "History Repeats," "Regal Graffiti," and "Line Drawings," and will be ready to visit with all of you. The show is next Thursday, September 5 from 5-8pm. Hope you can make it!

My trip to the West Coast begins tomorrow! My first stop is in Seattle for this trunk show and teaching at The Ranch. Then I fly to San Francisco to install "Parallel Constellations" at Gallery Lulo with Raissa Bump and to attend the opening on September 14. I'll be blogging as I go...

Remembering Earrings

Sentiment Earrings

Cat wearing "My Anchor"


Thanks for reading.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Getting Emotional About Art

Mater Dolorosa by Simon Marimion

My friend and fellow Nes Artist, Marlaina Read, is working on an interesting project called "Art and Crying." She is collecting stories from artists that describe emotional reactions when experiencing different forms of art. I participated in the project while I was at Nes and my statement is now on her website along with many others. I find them fascinating to read. My contribution includes two stories, one surrounding my first time with the jewelry collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, while the other happened in Bruges, Belgium at the Groeninge Museum.

French breast ornament from the 1630s

"I study the history of jewelry as part of my practice. I believe it is very important to know about and understand what came before me in my field. I went to London for the first time in September of 2012. The first place I visited was the Victoria and Albert to see its collection of historical jewelry. (Perhaps one of the best or maybe the best in the world?) I got there early and was the first person in the room. I had about 20 minutes to myself before other patrons began to arrive. My breath was taken away upon first entering the space. I was overwhelmed, I didn’t know where to begin. I took a deep breath and collected myself and then started at the beginning. I definitely took some present thinking to get myself there. I took my time and took in as much as I could. Then after maybe two hours I took a break and sat down in front of a computer to look at some of the highlighted pieces. As I scrolled through, I came upon this one particular brooch, a breast ornament from the 1630s from France. It is the piece I use in my longer lectures when I talk about my influences and the importance of the history of my craft in my work. My action was physical and verbal: I jumped out of my chair, I gasped, my heart started to pound. My energy became focused on finding the piece. It was like I was completely alone in that moment. I found the case quickly and stood there in complete and utter awe. I immediately began to cry. Seeing this piece in person was so special. It was like seeing an old, very dear friend, a mentor or some figure like that. Someone very important to me. It was like seeing all my hopes for my work in an object that became beyond beautiful and larger than life. I just stood there with my mouth open and tears streaming for some time, I don’t even know how long. In many ways, I can’t put this experience or the things I was feeling into words beyond what I just wrote. It was absolutely incredible and I will never forget it.

My other experience involves the painting Mater Dolorosa by Simon Marimion (see top image). I saw this when I was in Brugge, Belgium last summer. I was at the Groeninge Museum which is basically a collection of works that show the history of Flemish painting. I had never seen this piece before. I remember walking around the room, looking at the Van Eyck’s and the Bosche and when I saw “Mater Dolorosa,” I was stopped in my tracks. I was across the room and, again, I had this visceral reaction. I gasped, I may have clutched my mouth. It felt like I had tunnel vision, like there was no one else around me. It was just me and the painting, or me and Mary, really. I walked very slowly toward it and as the details came into focus I began to cry. Mary’s expression is so real and feels like it is happening right there and then in that moment. It felt very private. I could feel her pain and her love and her devotion. I stayed with the piece for awhile, again I don’t know how long. I went on to see the rest of the museum but went back to see this piece again before I left. It was hard to leave the museum, to leave it. But, also, I had to leave because it was too much.

After both of these experiences, and often when I see incredible art or hear amazing music, I often need some time alone afterward. Time to just be with the feeling, with the work in my mind. To honor it and to commit it to memory."

I hope you will visit Marlaina's site to read more about this project and the other things she is working on.

photograph by Marlaina Read


Thanks for reading.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

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...

Thanks for reading.

Monday, August 19, 2013

5 Acres and Mountains

view from The Ranch

In just a few short weeks I will be teaching in Snohomish, WA at The Ranch Center for Arts and Crafts. I will be teaching my chains class, "Innovating the Chain," and I am already looking forward to teaching my students about chains and how to think differently when designing and fabricating them. I'm also excited to teach there because it will be my first time and I will be following in the footsteps of some really incredible metalsmiths like Bob EbendorfMarlene True, and Lynette Andreasen. I know there are a few spots left in the class so if you live in Snohomish or the greater Seattle area, you should come! I'll show a PowerPoint to get you inspired, demonstrate a number of techniques, spend time with you individually, and give you lots of time to work. My students and I had such a wonderful time together when I recently taught "Innovating the Chain" at the Pullen Arts Center and I'm sure this class will be no different. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions - amy@amytavern.com.

Snohomish, WA
September 7 and 8 from 10-5 each day
to register, please call 360-568-7709

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

More In the Works


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.




Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

As Per Your Request

Remembering Earrings in yellow

I recently completed a number of custom pieces and special orders...always a treat to make and my clients are so happy. It's a win-win for everyone.

tiny gold faceted earrings

Bow Cluster Earrings in bright silver

Crystal Earrings in navy


More images on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Back to Pullen


I've been invited back to the Pullen Arts Center to teach another class in November. My students and I had such a great time in July and I am very excited to teach there again. This time around I will teach a bezel setting class. Here's the description:

"In this class students will learn how to make a variety of bezels for round and oval cabochon stones and natural-shaped or unusual-shaped stones and objects. We will begin by learning how to fabricate a round and oval bezel and then how to set the stone properly and securely. Later we will learn how to make bezels for other oddly-shaped materials. The focus will be on excellent craftsmanship and special attention will be paid to the back of the setting where details can be added to make the setting unique and personal. The workshop will include several demos and lots of work time so students can practice the different techniques and leave feeling confident with their new skills."

The class runs Saturday and Sunday, November 16 and 17 from 9am-4pm each day. The cost is $165 Residents/$177 Non-Residents and the course number is #149041. You can sign up now by calling Pullen at 919-996-6126.

Feel free to email me with any questions - amy@amytavern.com.

Thanks for reading.


Friday, August 9, 2013

Line Drawings All Week, Part 5


It's the last day of my special Line Drawings series and today's piece is my Hanging Web Earrings.




(The sale ends next Friday!)

See more pics of all the Line Drawings I posted this week on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Line Drawings All Week, Part 3



Today's piece...A Line Drawing Pendant. This style of Line Drawing is my favorite to create. I begin by making individual circles and arcs, then I solder two different clusters of both elements, and finish by soldering the two halves together to create a 3-dimensional form.






Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Line Drawings All Week, Part 2


Today's piece...Arc Cluster Earrings in two versions! A Four Arc style regular price $150, sale price $112.50 and a Three Arc style regular $120, Sale price $95.




Thanks for reading.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Line Drawings All Week, Part 1


There are about two weeks left to my Etsy Sale and all this week I'm going to list a new Line Drawings piece... Today is this "Arc Cluster Pendant." The cluster is composed of seven arcs in varying sizes and comes with an 18" chain. The retail price is $172 and the SALE PRICE is $129.




Thanks for reading.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Guest Star #122...Despo Sophocleous


I discovered the work of Despo Sophocleous when I visited the website of my Montreal gallery, Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h a few days ago. I was drawn to the architectural look of the work and the linkage systems that connect element to element. The articulated forms remind me of construction sites, industrial landscapes, and abandoned buildings on the verge of falling over. Some feel like I are looking at them from the ground while others feel like an aerial view. I am also interested in her subtle details like rivets and those wonderful little spaces in between the wooden and copper pieces.





Thanks for reading.