I meant to post this a few weeks ago but you know me, always a little late to the game. Click here to go to the article on the Seattle Times website.
Either way, take a read!
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Still At Your Service
In early February Niki Johnson (my curatorial collaborator), and I both flew to Seattle and settled into a busy week. After months of working together via email and Skype (with Niki in Milwaukee and me first in New York and then in Thailand), it was a welcome change to spend time together in real life--instead of virtual internet space. Despite a few hiccups, which included an unfortunate couple of days being really sick (I blame all that airplane air), and a few broken plates, all went well and we are extremely proud of the exhibition. Plus, we also met some super great people and connected with friends we hadn't seen in awhile. So, um, yes, I would say that we had a pretty great time.
We had scheduled two days to install the exhibition and spent the rest of our week in the Northwest promoting and giving presentations about the show. We first made our way south to Portland, Oregon to give a presentation about AYS at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. While there we met with Dylan Beck, who heads the ceramics program, and his lovely crew of ceramics students. Then I headed solo to The University of Oregon at Eugene where I met with the BFA Metals students and presented on my work in the evening. The day was wonderfully inspiring and I am grateful that I was able to spend some time with both Lyndsay Rice, who is currently running the Metals Department, and Anya Kivarkis, who heads the program at U of O, but is on sabbatical.
... And then we drove back up to Bellevue for a docent tour Friday afternoon, and a curator talk on Saturday. One of the artists in the exhibition, Giselle Hicks, was able to make it out to Bellevue to join us on Saturday and present on her work. It was so great to get to know Giselle and to finally put a face and personality to her artwork.
When Niki and I first showed At Your Service back in 2012, we knew from the beginning that we wanted the exhibition to grow. There was just too much wonderful work out there that we kept seeing and that we wanted to include. So when the Bellevue Art Museum responded with interest in At Your Service we were thrilled. The larger space and longer timeframe made it possible for us to reach out to a wider group of artists. We were able to maintain the original group of six but also include the work of four additional artists.
The final line up includes Ariel Brice, Gesine Hackenberg, Molly Hatch, Giselle Hicks, Garth Johnson, Sue Johnson, Emily Loehle, Caroline Slotte and of course myself and Niki.
At Your Service will be on view at the Bellevue Art Museum through September 21st.
Take a look at the updated At Your Service website to see images of the work in the show and to read about the artists.
Here are some snapshots of the final layout at BAM. Unfortunately all I had was the camera on my phone, which was not too happy with the lighting conditions. We are planning to have the exhibition professionally documented before it comes down so I will be sure to post new images.
And now we are in the process of coordinating with the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft to bring AYS there in 2015. We are really happy to see the exhibition continue to travel and excited to watch it further evolve a new space.
* * * * *
We had scheduled two days to install the exhibition and spent the rest of our week in the Northwest promoting and giving presentations about the show. We first made our way south to Portland, Oregon to give a presentation about AYS at the Oregon College of Art and Craft. While there we met with Dylan Beck, who heads the ceramics program, and his lovely crew of ceramics students. Then I headed solo to The University of Oregon at Eugene where I met with the BFA Metals students and presented on my work in the evening. The day was wonderfully inspiring and I am grateful that I was able to spend some time with both Lyndsay Rice, who is currently running the Metals Department, and Anya Kivarkis, who heads the program at U of O, but is on sabbatical.
... And then we drove back up to Bellevue for a docent tour Friday afternoon, and a curator talk on Saturday. One of the artists in the exhibition, Giselle Hicks, was able to make it out to Bellevue to join us on Saturday and present on her work. It was so great to get to know Giselle and to finally put a face and personality to her artwork.
* * * * *
When Niki and I first showed At Your Service back in 2012, we knew from the beginning that we wanted the exhibition to grow. There was just too much wonderful work out there that we kept seeing and that we wanted to include. So when the Bellevue Art Museum responded with interest in At Your Service we were thrilled. The larger space and longer timeframe made it possible for us to reach out to a wider group of artists. We were able to maintain the original group of six but also include the work of four additional artists.
The final line up includes Ariel Brice, Gesine Hackenberg, Molly Hatch, Giselle Hicks, Garth Johnson, Sue Johnson, Emily Loehle, Caroline Slotte and of course myself and Niki.
At Your Service will be on view at the Bellevue Art Museum through September 21st.
Take a look at the updated At Your Service website to see images of the work in the show and to read about the artists.
Here are some snapshots of the final layout at BAM. Unfortunately all I had was the camera on my phone, which was not too happy with the lighting conditions. We are planning to have the exhibition professionally documented before it comes down so I will be sure to post new images.
Monday, February 24, 2014
And here we are nearly four months later...
... Where after being sucked into a black hole time warp, I have returned to earth. Okay, that's not really what happened.
Apparently moving to the other side of the world is full of a lot of settling in. I arrived in Chiang Rai this past November and Anthony and I got right into getting our new home in order. We have had a steady stream of friends and family to host which has been a wonderful way to see the country and begin to feel grounded. There is nothing scarier yet more eye opening than leaving everything you know to live somewhere foreign. But I am loving it.
As timing would have it, about two and half months after arriving, I had to make plans to return to the states. But just for a visit. And for a really wonderful one at that. Earlier this month I was in the Northwest where Niki Johnson and I installed the most recent iteration of At Your Service at the Bellevue Art Museum, just outside of Seattle.
So, I am going to make this a double post to break up the last four months. First, a really brief look into some of the amazing things that are feeding me excitement and inspiration. And then a little about my new studio set up and new piece.
• • • • •
But work must prevail. I wanted, and had been planning, to make a new piece for At Your Service. Light and Shadow, Part One, was included in the original exhibition but needed a real makeover in the installation method. It was clunky and complicated and needed streamlining. I also wanted to expand on this series, which I plan to continue working on in the future.
It also seemed a good opportunity to jump headfirst and settle into my new studio here in Chiang Rai. Making artwork has always been what truly roots me to a place. Making Light and Shadow, Part Two was no exception. Getting my hands dirty (and my arms sore from sawing and sanding) is what makes me feel like I am at home. Navigating a new city to find materials is not only exciting but it is orienting. And working in my studio all day long for two weeks was absolutely the best.
It also seemed a good opportunity to jump headfirst and settle into my new studio here in Chiang Rai. Making artwork has always been what truly roots me to a place. Making Light and Shadow, Part Two was no exception. Getting my hands dirty (and my arms sore from sawing and sanding) is what makes me feel like I am at home. Navigating a new city to find materials is not only exciting but it is orienting. And working in my studio all day long for two weeks was absolutely the best.
 |
| Just getting started here and going for it. Testing out cutting the plastic plates and pouring resin to flatten out the backs (for hanging). |
 |
| All the pieces cut and laid out. I wanted to make sure that everything lined up and that I was not missing any parts. |
 |
| The back of each piece piece had a piece of resin which created a flat pad. I planned to epoxy a piece of steel the resin to these pads so that all the pieces would be magnetic. This way there would be a bit more room for error during installation |
 |
| Then I gold leafed all the pieces and sprayed them with about five coats of acrylic gloss.
And then I finalized the template that I would use to line up where the magnets would go on the wall. I packed it all up in tissue paper and padding so that I could bring it on the plane with me. With no wall to do test hang on (and yeah, not really enough time either), I just had to trust that my system would work during install (okay, okay, I did do some small individual tests). Though I felt pretty darn confident that it would all work just fine, there was that little bit of anxiety that would't go away until it was actually up in the gallery.
|
 |
| My strange package that I hauled from one side of the world to the other --much to the airline's chagrin I should add. • • • • • |
Thursday, November 7, 2013
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.
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.
See you in Thailand!
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!
*****
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.
*****
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!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
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.
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).
*****
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
*****
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
*****
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.
*****
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!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
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/
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/
Sunday, June 9, 2013
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.
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.
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