Monday, August 31, 2009

The Best Part About Teaching...

Is getting to learn! This semester I am teaching Three Dimensional Design, which is a beginning level class required for all art majors. I spend hours and hours researching, searching for artists and work to show my students. The first project I am having them do this semester is a paper sculpture project, and I found some pretty great stuff for them to get inspired by. I also started a class blog for them:
Go check out what they are up to and definitely check out all the links. It took me two years to complile that list of artists for the paper sculpture project! Oh, and as the semester progresses I will be posting a section of links associated with each project, so in a couple weeks there will be plenty more to browse. Here are just a couple of things I found when researching paper sculpture:Jen StarkPeter Callesen beautiful large scale papercut and folded sculpturesYuken Teruya (above and below) paper cuts from food wrappersBert Simmons (above and below) Realistic computer modeled,printed, and folded 3d paper portraitsAnnie Vought (above and two below) Hand cut paper LettersChris Natrop large scale papercut installations

Friday, August 28, 2009

Hand Me Down Pearls

I finished a new piece yesterday...
It is titled, "Hand Me Down Pearls".
Materials are found antique silver platters, copper, silk thread, and pearls.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Unresolved

I started these pieces last semester but never finished them. They are laser engraved and burned wood circles (about 6" wide), set in a hand pierced copper backplate and hung on the wall. The patterns are little doily silhouettes of hand shadow puppets. What I still need to figure out is what to put in the middle. I was thinking some sort of little jewelry piece...maybe a brooch??? I dont know yet...I figured if I posted it here I would feel more accountable to get something done. Also, I am beginning my LAST YEAR (woooohooo!!!) of grad school on Monday and have lots of show deadlines coming up early in the semester so I'm hoping to resolve some unfinished pieces instead of starting all new ones. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

MJSA

This year I was very fortunate in being awarded a scholarship from the MJSA Foundation(Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America). It is an honor to have received this award and I am very grateful! Head on over to MJSA's website to read about the other recipients.

Monday, August 17, 2009

New Website

I recently got a totally new website up and running (thanks to my husband who did it for my birthday!) I'm still working on a few things...mostly the news page and the portfolio page, but head on over and check it out...and then tell me what you think! Thanks!

Oh, and the website was created by the nicest guy ever, Mike from YES Hosting. He was super easy to work with, worked around my crazy schedule, did things faster than I could keep up with, and was very affordable. He made sure everything was exactly how I wanted, which was very important to me because I am an artist and the way I am visually represented on the web says everything about me! I highly reccomend Mike and Yes Hosting! Seriously, if you need any web work done, check him out!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Artist to Artist: Shoshona Snow

A couple of months ago I was part of an artist to artist swap that was organized by Emily Watson on Flickr. Basically we were all assigned someone at random and we had to send them something that would inspire them to make something either with that object or inspired by that object. I was assigned to work with Shoshona Snow (a very talented ceramicist.) Well I was totally scared about what to send so I send a bunch of random stuff. Sorry Shoshona!! The box above is all the stuff I sent her to work with (and all the photos in this post are hers.) Well she took molds of a few of the things I sent her...
And then she came up with this beautiful stuff!!!
When I got it in the mail I couldn't even believe how gorgeous it was! SOOOO beautiful!!

Go check out her etsy shop and her blog, and buy her stuff because you will love it!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Reclaim Reuse Renew

Just wanted to let you all know that I have 3 pieces in the upcoming exhibition Reclaim, Reuse, Renew at the Atrium Gallery at Ball State University.  The exhibtion will be open to the public from Tuesday, August 25 through Saturday, September 26, 2009.

The opening reception will be Thursday, September 4, 2009 from 4-6 pm.

Atrium Gallery

Ball State University

Art and Journalism Bldg, 101

1101 N. McKinley Ave.

Muncie, IN 47306

 765-285-5916 (Gallery Associate)

Stop by and check it out if you happen to be in Muncie Indiana...and then send me some pictures!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Last Arrowmont Post: The Resident Artists

Okay....this is it for my posts about Arrowmont! I saved the best for last! One of my absolute favorite parts about going to Arrowmont this summer was getting to meet the resident artists. One of my best friends, Victoria Altepeter, is the new metals resident this year. The other residents are Martina Lantin (ceramics), Thaddeus (TJ) Erdahl (ceramics), and Kent Perdue (wood). They are a very talented group and it was so fun getting to know them.
Each week they did open studio tours for everyone to come in and see what they were up to.
Here is TJ in his studio.Victoria's studio.Martina's studio.
Kent's studio.
Take a look at their work on the arrowmont residents blog, and also each of their individual blogs. Seriously, well worth your time!
They put up an exhibition of their work this summer right before I had to go home. It looked so good! Check it out...Kent Perdue's chair rings and bench (above and below).TJ's work. (above and two below)Victoria's belt buckles and brooches (above).Martina's wall tiles/plates (above).

Okay...now you have a taste, go check out their blogs!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum

If you are ever in Gatlinburg make sure to stop by the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. Trust me, its a MUST!Crocodiles! Eggplant!!Unicorns!!!Frogs!!
FEET!!! Lightbulbs!!Flies!!!
Toliets!!!
Shells! Cacti!!