I have a big show opening next week!  The show is titled eleMEnTAL and features the work of Tedd McDonah, Becky McDonah, and myself.
I hope to see you all at the reception next Friday, but if you can't make it, the show will be up through August 12th!  Details below!

eleMEnTAL

Featuring Arizona Artists Becky Chader McDonah, Tedd R. McDonah, & Lynette Andreasen

When:

Friday, May 25 - Sunday, August 12, 2012

Where: 

North Gallery: Mesa Art Center, (480) 644.6500

One East Main Street

Mesa, Arizona 85201

This exhibition brings together three Arizona metalsmiths, whose aesthetics complement each other but retain their individual forms of expression. With precious and semiprecious metals and stones, these artists create reliquaries and containers, fishing lures, jewelry and other intimate art objects that beacon closer examination. Beyond the elegant surfaces, the work provides a deeper conversation on relationships, attraction, heritage, status and other implications of society.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 25, 2012 (7-10pm)

FREE and Open to the Public
• Musical Entertainment by JT’s Island Steel
• Artists in Attendance
• Benefit Raffle Drawing (Raffle items on display and tickets available for purchase starting Friday, May 18. Contact Betty at 480-644-6567 for more information or visit Mesa Contemporary Arts’ front desk.)
• Light Refreshments and Cash Bar

Phoenix Magazine

I'm excited to share with you that I've been featured in the May issue of Phoenix Magazine. Check it out on newsstands now...I'm on page 38!

The feature includes a plug for my upcoming 3 person show at Mesa Art Center. The exhibition is called "eleMEnTAL" and includes the work of Becky McDonah, Tedd McDonah, and myself. See details below.

When: Friday, May 25 - Sunday, August 12, 2012

Where: North Gallery, Mesa Art Center, Mesa, AZ

"This exhibition brings together three Arizona metalsmiths, whose aesthetics complement each other but retain their individual forms of expression. With precious and semiprecious metals and stones, these artists create reliquaries and containers, fishing lures, jewelry and other intimate art objects that beacon closer examination. Beyond the elegant surfaces, the work provides a deeper conversation on relationships, attraction, heritage, status and other implications of society. "

Opening Reception:
Friday, May 25, 2012 (7-10pm)

FREE and Open to the Public

YUMA Symposium 2010

Every year I go to the Yuma Symposium in Yuma, Arizona. The symposium has been held for the last 31 years. This was my 7th year at Yuma, and possibly one of the best years so far!

Presenters this year were:
Jennifer D Anderson • printmaking
Sam Chung • clay
Arthur Ganson • sculpture
Zig Jackson • photography
Becky McDonah • metals
Bruce Metcalf • metals
Stephanie Metz • fiber
Pete Pinnell • clay
Betsy Schneider • photography
Lisa Slovis • metals
Patrick Stafford • wood/multi-media
Dale Wedig • metals

My favorites are below:
Arthur Ganson showed videos of his crazy, amazing, hilarious, kinetic sculptures.

Sam Chung demonstrated how he builds his forms from slabs of clay.

Becky McDonah did a demonstration on using the hydraulic press, and techniques for pushing the form farther.

Bruce Metcalf spoke about the writing of his book, "Makers: A History of American Studio Craft", which is scheduled to be released this summer. I am really looking forward to reading this book. I would love to teach a history of Craft class someday! Stephanie Metz is a fiber artist that does a lot of needle felting. This "Natural History of a Teddy Bear" series was strange and fascinating at the same time.Lisa Slovis did a pewtersmithing demonstration on how she constructs one of her vases.Patrick Stafford talked about his work. I really liked the furniture he did with etched metal elements like the tops of these two tables below.Dale Wedig did a demonstration on using indoor ceiling tiles for mold making and casting. He was able to get fairly complex forms in a very low tech way. Im excited to try this with my 3D Design students.

Besides the presenters, there was plenty of fun to be had at the pin swap

These were my pins this year, little glass tubes with red silk and pearls.
Every year the grad students at ASU make a group piece to donate to the auction. This year we made a planter and this happy young man was the winner. Ironically he purchased our piece last year and didn't even know it.

Oh yeah, and of course we all had a blast at the campfire.

Loot

Check out the awesome stuff I got at our last ASU Metals Club Jewelry Sale. I love our club sales...it is so fun to buy/trade jewelry with my talented friends!!

I got these fun little pins, and this ring below from my professor, Becky McDonah. Its an Olive you ring...get it? I LOVE (Olive) you!! SO awesome.This ring was made by my professor Tedd McDonah. I have a couple of his forged rings and they are all super gorgeous. This new one is my favorite. Visit Tedds etsy shop to get your own forged ring, and check out his flickr.

These brooches (and the necklace at the top of the post) are from my good friend and fellow metals grad, Victoria Altepeter. Check out her etsy shop, and her flickr.

If you want to be notified about sales at ASU, go to the ASU Metals Blog and sign up to be on the mailing list.

Bats and Lasers

This semester I am taking a class in the woods department with plans on making use of their shiny new tool...a laser engraver! Today, my good friend Ellie who is a graduate student in the woods department gave me a little training lesson on how to use the machine. We made a little bat wall plaque for my professor Becky (she loves bats). It was a fun little trial run and I can't wait to get in there and make some cool new artwork. I want to engrave on laminate and leather... mostly... I think...now I just need to figure out where to buy laminate!Here is Ellie getting things started on the computer...And now we move to the engraver where she is also showing our friend Lizeth how to use it.And then we wait...

Until...Ta DA!

Stay tuned for more laser engraving extravagannnnzas!

2008 top 10 most Influential Artists To Me

Well, I had planned to do this post on New Years, but that didn't happen. Instead of reflecting back on what I did in 2008, I'd like to reflect back on the 10 artists that most influenced me this year. There are many people who have influenced me, and I am greatful to them all. In this post I am only recognizing ten of them, but I hope to do posts on artists I admire more often this year. I have looked to these artists again and again, all for different reasons. They are a great source of inspiration for me and I am very greatful to them. I hope you enjoy and more fully research them yourselves. They are not in any particular order.

Kristin Beeler - I got to hear her speak at the Yuma Art Symposium and have loved her ever since. Peter Callesen- A wonderful papercut artist. I can look at his work for hours, over and over and over again and never get tired of it.

Melanie Bilenker- Makes the most beautiful drawings of everyday moments with human hair into jewelry.

Jessica Calderwood- Jessica was a graduate student when I was an undergrad. I have looked up to her for a long time. Her work just keeps getting more and more beautiful.

Becky McDonah- My professor at ASU who is a wealth of knowledge, a constant support, and a great inspiration to me.

Lauren Fensterstock- I love her use of materials. Because of her, I consider everything.

Phillip Toledano- An amazing photographer. This image is from a project he did about his relationship with his father. Everytime I go through these photos I cry. They are so beautifully honest.

Megan Auman- A very intelligent educator and metalsmith who I really look up to. I love reading her blog because she is so down to earth and real. I have really learned a lot from her.

April Wood- Just really beautiful work and images.

Miel Margarita Paredes - I am floored by this womans talent with the material. Her work is amazing. I hope to be able to see it in person someday.

If you take the time to look through these artists websites, you won't be disappointed.