Pearl Stories, No. 6

Kathleen Edwards Hayslett sent her contribution to me in late April. Inside the mailer was a short, handwritten note and a single pearl earring tucked inside a small fabric pouch with a drawstring closure. I read the note first, as I always do, and then opened the little bag to see its contents. Kathleen wrote she had been given a pair of pearl earrings from her dad when she was in her 30s but had lost one of them... and was now passing it on to me for my piece in memory of both of our fathers. This short but poignant message and the simple pearl earring brought me to tears. This kind of connection, this kind of shared experience, is why I make my work and why I wanted to make the Pearl Piece. My intention for this sculpture was reinforced and magnified with Kathleen's simple and layered addition.

Read the other stories:

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

No. 5

Thanks for reading.

Now This October: Persistence

Persistence now opens Oct 3, 2015

My solo show at Sienna Patti Contemporary has been moved from April to October, giving me more time to make the work and to figure out the best way to display each piece. This new work is more complicated than my past work and will require special pedestals or furniture to show it in its best light. The new dates are October 3-30. I am also thrilled to say the exhibition is titled, Persistence.

Because I have more time, I have decided to reopen and extend my call for pearls. I've gotten many wonderful contributions from around the U.S. and several European countries but would love more. The more pearls the better, the richer the layering of experiences. To remind you, here is the text for the original post:

"...please join me now... please send me one pearl. It can be white or off-white, real or fake, round or natural, something you own already, or something you purchase for this piece. It can be a bead or it can be whole. You can mail it to me in the U.S. to the following post office box:"

Amy Tavern

P.O. Box 1895

Richfield Springs, NY 13439

USA

I have started working on the piece, sewing all those pearls together, and now will continue to add pearls as they arrive. I would like your contribution sooner than later to maintain momentum, though. When mailing, please use a padded mailer or add some bubble wrap. Several envelopes arrived with little holes in them where the pearl must have been forced out in the postal sorting machine. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at atavern@gmail.com. Again, I do hope you will consider participating!

Thanks for reading.