Friday, March 7, 2008

Printed Textiles

This semester I have been taking a printed textiles class and have been loving it! This was my first ever screen print on fabric. Here are some progress shots. I started out with white cotton and printed a simple shape and repeated it randomly in varying colors. Then I added some larger shapes. And some dotted outlines...Here is the final product! I added some profiles and silhouettes.

Then I did a registered repeated pattern. Its supposed to be hands, but I think it is hard to tell.

Not sure what I am going to do with these fabrics now... any bright ideas?

Yuma Presenters

The presenters at the Yuma Symposium were awesome and gave great lectures, I listed the artists whose lectures I went to here if you want to check out their websites. The image above was one I took during a demo that David Clemmons gave (it was awesome!)
Diane Falkenhagen, metals. Diane's work (below) was so inspiring to me, it gave me all these ideas for new work and new techniques. Her jewelry is so clean, and so feminine...I love it!
David Clemons, metals

Robin McClosky, printmaking

Yuma is a really great Symposium and I am already looking forward to next year!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Yuma Symposium: The Breakdown

Well, if you read my previous post, I'm sure you all can see how much fun the pin swap is, but there are so many other things to tell as well!!The 3 day art symposium takes place in old downtown Yuma. Mostly we hang out a lot at Lutes Casino (not a real casino) and the old theater...This was some of our crew this year...From left: Jonathan, Ellie, me, Jim, Flavia, and Jacie.Almost all of us shared a hotel suite, and just in case you were wondering, 7 people in one suite is too many!But, we had a GREAT time!We were espcially glad that Ellie, a woods grad student, came along to join in the fun!One of my favorite parts of the symposium is the pin auction. Each year an auction is held to raise money to keep the symposium going. I always try to buy something, but this year I got to donate a piece as well. I scored this amazin ring by awesome metalsmith Andy Cooperman...
This necklace below was my contribution this year. I was a little sad to see it go, but was happy that it went to such a good new home. This sweet girl from Cabrillo College will take good care of it I'm sure!
Another fun part of the symposium is the student show. Here is Ellie next to her piece.
She creates really beautiful minimal wood forms. These are bent laminated, hollow constructed, veneered and covered with vintage wallpaper. Gorgeous. I love her work!
Here I am next to my piece...
Here is a better shot...

Then each night there is a bonfire where lots of people just hang out and talk. One of the things that I love about the Yuma Symposium is that you get to go and hang out with really well known people in the metals field in a really casual setting. It is a great way to network and get your work seen by people who really know their stuff. Another highlight of the symposium is the saw file solder sprints. Here we are getting pumped.
The saw, file, solder sprint is a relay race for metalsmiths. The object is to make a simple band ring. ASU has won several times. Each team competes for artist made trophies. Our studio has a whole shelf of trophies, but there is always room for more!

Jonathan went first and had to saw out the ring blank.
Then I went and had to file and form the ring.
Victoria went last and had to solder. We didn't win this year, but are already getting ready to reclaim our title next year.It was a ton of fun and I am already looking forward to next year! My next post will be about all the presenters and artists that I saw/met at the symposium, so check back!

Friday, February 29, 2008

Yuma Art Symposium Pin Swap

So, I know it is taking me forever to post about the Yuma Syposium that I attended last weekend, but there are just so many photos, and there is so much to tell! I am going to first post just about the pin swap, and then I will post about the rest of the symposium.

Well, the weekend kicks off with a crazy PIN SWAP! All symposium attendees are encouraged to make trade pins to bring and swap. Its a great way to meet people and come home with awesome accessories!

These were my pins this year (bad castings of hands, ah well)...
These are some of my favorite pins that I traded for...
This one above has to be my absolute favorite. Traded by Doug Macdonald, who has at times been a foe, but I think has now passed to friend:) (Joking by the way)
Its fabulous...there aren't even words... This is a kiln cast glass moon by friend and fellow grad student Victoria Altepeter. I think it looks like a goldfish in a fish bowl.
This one above is by Betsy Douglas. She made 130 pins to trade this year and was at the first ever Yuma Symposium (29 years ago!). Thats old school! One of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet in the world by the way, and also an ASU alum!
Tedd McDonah, asu professor, was trading his fishing lures...SWEET!
I really liked this one because it remined me of my hometown (Tucson)! Actually, now that I think about it, so does this one below...
This little ant was made especially for me (no one else got one exactly the same) by Lauren Diggs, thanks Lauren!
This one above was made by ASU alum John Hayes.
I love my new baby anvil!!!
Someone was also passing out old costume jewlery at the swap. I can't believe I got this little beauty. It goes perfectly with my current work. You will see this again for sure!
And last but not least, this pin made by my professor Becky McDonah because there is always something else to do. Like how I am blogging when I need to finish a scholarship application, AND photograph student work, AND grade, AND go to the studio, AND prepare for teaching this week AND....
Check back soon for my post on the rest of the symposium!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

New Piece

I just finished this piece at 2 am this morning! I started it last weekend when I took a workshop with Andy Cooperman. It is a belt buckle and will contain a lock of hair. I finished it just in the nick of time as I am leaving in about two hours for the Yuma Symposium (a weekend full of mostly metalsmithing artist lectures and workshops) and I needed a piece to exhibit in the student show. I will have a full report on the Symposium when I return!