Ten More Days

Sea and Land, Land and Sky

Parallel Constellations will be on view at Crown Nine for ten more days. It's been great to have the work there because it's among some pretty incredible handmade jewelry by artists from around the U.S. and it's being seen by a different audience every day. I know a few pieces have sold, too, which is very exciting of course! If you live in Oakland, or the Bay Area, I do hope you'll stop by, see the show, and say hi to the wonderful women who work there.

In Tandem

Maps: Magnetic, a collaborative piece with Raissa Bump

Crown Nine is open from 10-6 Monday-Friday and 12-4 on Saturday. It is located at 515 9th Street in Oakland, CA.

Here's a link to Crown Nine's blog and a great post about the show.

Thanks for reading.

More Celebrating

Crown Nine just published a great blog post about the show with more pictures. It really was a fantastic night! And as Kate says on the blog, there is still lots of time to visit the shop to see the work in person and try pieces on... plus, check out all the handmade jewelry currently on view. I am thrilled to have my work alongside such a beautifully curated selection of contemporary jewelry. 

Thanks for reading. 

Celebration

My opening at Crown Nine last Friday was really fantastic... so many friends and colleagues were there, both old and new, and I loved the simple and impactful display created by owner/jeweler, Kate Ellen. It was a great way to celebrate my move and new home. Thanks to everyone who came and to Crown Nine and Kate!

thanks to Mike Holmes for the photo!

The work will be on display through July.

Thanks for reading.

Crown Nine Tonight!

I have an opening tonight at Crown Nine in Oakland, CA! I will be showing many pieces from Parallel Constellations along with some new works to complement the group. I hand-delivered the work yesterday and got to see the store and meet owner and jeweler, Kate Ellen, for the first time. The space is beautiful and Kate is lovely. She is planning to display the work on the surrounding brick walls on unfinished wood boards... and I'm sure the collection will look wonderful in the space. I hope you will join us at Crown Nine tonight from 6-9!

Crown Nine is located at 515 9th Street in Oakland, CA. Please call 510-251-9000 if you have any questions.

Thanks for reading.

But First, a Show... This Friday!

Landmarks, brooch in sterling and brass

I moved to California on Monday, but before I say anything about that I have to tell you, or remind you, that I have an opening at Crown Nine in Oakland, CA this Friday! I will be showing pieces from my 2013 body of work, Parallel Constellations, along with a few new pieces. The work is inspired by maps and cartography, relying on the repetition and accumulation of different elements to convey distances, patterns, natural phenomena, and connections... which all seems very appropriate given moving here just days ago. I will be at the show Friday night, ready to spend some time with you. If you live in the Bay Area, please visit the shop and say hello, try on some pieces, and maybe even walk away with a new favorite for your collection. The opening is this Friday, June 12 from 6-9pm. Hope to see you there. It's just a few days away!

Uncomplicated Path, necklace in sterling and brass

Sea and Land, Land and Sky, necklace in sterling 

Multiple Points, earrings in sterling and brass

Crown Nine is located at 515 9th Street in Oakland, CA. For questions, please call 510-251-9000.

Thanks for reading.

Spring Events, Part 3

My final event in my trilogy of spring events is an exhibition at Crown Nine Jewelry. I will be showing pieces from Parallel Constellations and creating a few new works to complement them. Crown Nine is in Oakland, CA and features work by owner, Kate Ellen, and other artists from around the U.S. I'm excited to have a chance to show Parallel Constellations again in another beautiful space. The show opens June 12. More details to come!

Thanks for reading.

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!

Thanks for reading. 

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! 

Thanks for reading.

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.

Thanks for reading.

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.

Thanks for reading.

Parallel Constellations - The Work

Sea and Land, Land and Sky, sterling silver

Maps: Upland, brass, sterling silver

a collaborative piece with Raissa Bump

Monoscopic, sterling silver

 Equilibrium, brass, sterling silver

Left Turn, Right Turn, brass, sterling silver

See the rest of the work on Facebook and on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

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! 

Thanks for reading.

Pictures of Process, No. 3

Mapping patterns in brass teardrops...

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Pictures of Process, No. 2

Knots made out of chain...

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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...

Thanks for reading.