Some other news

There are a few other things that are happening/happened/in the works right now.

I recently returned from a most amazing weekend in Chicago attending the SOFA expo at Navy Pier. While there, I participated on a panel with three other Windgate fellows to discuss our experiences with and since receiving the award and, most importantly, met many other past and current Windgate fellows who all convened for the weekend to get to know one another, talk shop, and just plain have fun.

The Windgate Award has been given by The Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design since 2006 (my year) to undergraduate seniors working in craft mediums or processes. The award offers the financial means to be supported in further research, take on large scale projects, or really to do whatever seems necessary to continue working and moving forward. It is a truly amazing award and opportunity. Read more about the fellowship program here.

The CCCD will be showing this exhibition at their soon-to-be-open-brand new space. Check it out if you are in the Asheville, NC area!

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Also, remember that exhibition that Niki Johnson and I organized way back, called At Your Service? Well, it lives! We will be doing a second iteration of the show (with a TBD new title) at the Bellevue Arts Museum just outside of Seattle, WA. This new exhibition will expand on the themes of the At Your Service by including more artists and artwork and be up from February - September 2014. We are very excited about all of this and are looking forward to seeing how else the show may grow and evolve.

I will post more info and news about the show as it unfolds.

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And... I will be moving to northern Thailand in ten days! Yup. Let the countdown begin! Anthony, my  (recently made official) husband, is already there working on his PhD dissertation research. I will be joining him for a year and making art, traveling and seeing how I can bridge eastern and western ornamental language in my work. Definitely stay tuned for images and musings during this sure-to-be amazing trip.

See you in Thailand!

Wedding Bands

This past spring and summer was full of celebration as many friends and family made their unions official. I was asked by five dear friends of mine to make their wedding bands (two couples and one groom--his bride-to-be had chosen a fabulous vintage band). And, as it turned out, I ended up making my own too!

Being entrusted with the task of making such important and symbolic objects is truly wonderful. I loved working closely with everyone to make sure that they were happy and satisfied with something that would not only be a reminder of love and commitment, but that they would all be wearing every day.

Ian (& Jen)

May 18, 2013

Ian had tried on some rings and knew exactly what he wanted.

His band is 14KY with a high polish finish 

(though it is beginning to show the warm glow and 

gentle wear of four months of use).

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 Ellie & Jamie

August 24, 2013

Both Ellie and Jamie wanted softer textures for their bands. 

Jamie went with a 14KY band with a brushed finish.

Ellie, wanting something to complement (not match, yet not overpower)

 her platinum engagement band, chose a 14KW band with a satin finish. 

Photo by Molly DeCoudreaux

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Jackie & Michael

August 24, 2013

Michael was interested in a band that would not feel too bulky but that had 

classic characteristics. His is a high polished 14KW band. Jackie seized the

 opportunity to do a custom design. We worked together to create a band that 

reflected some of the shapes on her engagement ring. The 14KW band is 

the perfect companion to her platinum engagement ring.

It matches just enough. 

We worked with professional stone setters who set diamonds all around Jackie's

band and engraved custom text on the inside of both rings. 

Photo by the happy couple

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Me & Anthony 

September 1, 2013

I made a stacking 14KY bands for myself. I wanted something both

a little geometric and textured. I figured I would do one of each. 

Anthony has a similar version of the bottom band but with a brushed finished. 

I have no photo because he is on the other side of the world. Literally.

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And coming up, Jon & Rebecca! They will be married in March 2014.

Their rings are currently in progress but check back soon for more photos! 

Home Sweet Home

One of my favorite upstate New York cities (and where I used to live once upon a time), Kingston, has an outdoor sculpture show every two years. This year's exhibition is titled Texture of Place and was curated by Sarah Bachelier. 

The works in the show will be up through October and can be seen along lower Broadway and along the Rondout waterfront. 

My piece, Home Sweet Home is all too appropriately placed in front of the visitor's center. Below are some images of the install (which was smooth as can be!) and the final piece. 

Here is a brief article about the show:

http://www.hudsonvalleyalmanacweekly.com/2013/07/04/kingston-sculpture-biennial-opens-this-saturday-at-ask/ 

Re:Position photos

Follow this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yqcvisualarts/sets/72157633464874779/

to see images from the Re:Position exhibition as well as the other four shows that were up at Toronto's Harbourfront Center during the Society of North American Goldsmith's conference.

These photos have been generously made available by the conference coordinators, Melanie Egan and Paul McClure.

Piecemeal Jewelry updates

Check out the recently updated Piecemeal Jewelry Etsy shop!

www.etsy.com/shop/piecemealjewelryshop

There are new pieces for sale with more in the works. The photos were a collaborative effort with make up artist Arielle Toelke and photographer Micah Eisenmann. Many thanks to them for making the jewelry pop!

Here is a peek:

     

                     

Enameling Class

I will be teaching a 9 week enameling course on Thursday evenings starting next week at Brooklyn Metal Works. If you ever felt enamored with this ancient art form and wanted to learn more, then this class is or you!

The course will cover the basics of adding color to metal, and go over such techniques as painting with enamels and working on a three dimensional form. You will leave the class with a few finished pieces and the knowledge to continue working on your own.

Check out the Brooklyn Metal Works website for more information:

http://bkmetalworks.com/welcome-to-brooklyn-metal-works-enameling/  

Ridgewood Market

I will participating in the April Ridgewood Market this Sunday at Gottscheer Hall (657 Fairview Ave, Ridgewood, NY). I have lots of new goodies (soon to be available on etsy) and some oldies too. There will be a variety of vendors and also some apparently killer bakeries setting up shop.

Come if you can!

Check out the Ridgewood Market site for more info: http://www.ridgewoodmarket.com/

website update and other news

I finally updated my website with new work from this past spring, summer, and fall.

Take a looksie! www.ameliatoelke.com

In other news, I will be participating in a group exhibition this spring and showing alongside five great artists--Boris Bally, Cal Lane, Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Meghan Price, Jonathan Wahl, and Zeke Moores.

Curated by Melanie Egan and Paul McClure, Re:Position "brings together six artists who mine the past and present to create works that in various ways comment on consumerism, social mores, and the dialogue between the functional, decorative and art object." The exhibition will be on view at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

I will also be doing a short presentation of my work in the emerging artist Rapid Fire Presentation at this years Society of North American Goldsmiths Conference.

And hopefully there will be more to come in 2013!

Sentimental Hearts

Two new pieces have made there way into the piecemeal jewelry shop -- and just in time for Valentine's Day!

These Sentimental Hearts are oh so appropriate for the upcoming holiday, and certainly just as lovely any other day of the year. Plus they are all packaged and ready to gift to your sweetheart or pal.

Heart n' Key Necklace

Broken Heart Necklace