A few weeks ago my Facebook account was hacked and a bunch of bogus e-mails were sent out. Now they've hacked my AOL e-mail account. Luckily Colleen let me know about the strange e-mail she received. I went to my sent box and there they were.
I feel so violated...not really.
I have changed my password to FB, AOL, and my blog.
Hack that!!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Time flies when you're having fun...
Wow...it's been a busy couple of weeks. Anne Mitchell was in town last weekend to teach fusing to the PMC guild. We had a great time and everyone did really well. And after three times, I finally got the hang of fusing. I was slow at picking up this technique....but I really have it this time. I finished off a necklace tonight that I started in class.
Monday, Lou and I went to the Cavs game and watched them finsh off Chicago. Now it's on to Boston. We got the tickets from one of the docs at work and they were great....8 rows from the floor. It doesn't get any better than that....well...I suppose front row would be better :)
Last night we went out to dinner to Gene and Barbara. Gene is Lou's golf buddy. They are such nice people, it's always a pleasure to go out with them. We ate at Nemo Grille in Avon. Great food. We will definetely go back.
Tonight was my first chance to really relax. I finally got up into the studio, which is an absolute wreck. Anne can attest to that. I cleaned it up a little bit tonight and spent the rest of the time fusing. I told Lou I refuse to do anything for two weeks....my inner recluse has to recover. I want to spend the weekend in the studio. He has tickets to the Cavs game on Saturday and I said I would go if he couldn't find anyone else...so he's going with Gene....YEAH....I can stay home and work in clay.
I had a physical last week. I'm healthy as a horse except for a Vitamin D deficiancy...again...still. The doc asked me if I had been taking supplements....No. So she had another level done just to prove to me that I have a problem. Normal is suppose to be around 40 and I am at 5....oops. She said that I am so low that I should feel a major difference by taking supplements she also pointed out all the problems that I could have due to the deficiency...heart disease, cancer...OK, OK...I've heard enough. I got my Vitamin D and will be taking a mega dose each day for 8 weeks. Then I can cut it back a bit. I'll am curious to see if I feel a difference.
That's about it for now. I feel bad I don't have any exciting pictures to post. I'll work on that over the weekend.
Have a good one!!!
Monday, Lou and I went to the Cavs game and watched them finsh off Chicago. Now it's on to Boston. We got the tickets from one of the docs at work and they were great....8 rows from the floor. It doesn't get any better than that....well...I suppose front row would be better :)
Last night we went out to dinner to Gene and Barbara. Gene is Lou's golf buddy. They are such nice people, it's always a pleasure to go out with them. We ate at Nemo Grille in Avon. Great food. We will definetely go back.
Tonight was my first chance to really relax. I finally got up into the studio, which is an absolute wreck. Anne can attest to that. I cleaned it up a little bit tonight and spent the rest of the time fusing. I told Lou I refuse to do anything for two weeks....my inner recluse has to recover. I want to spend the weekend in the studio. He has tickets to the Cavs game on Saturday and I said I would go if he couldn't find anyone else...so he's going with Gene....YEAH....I can stay home and work in clay.
I had a physical last week. I'm healthy as a horse except for a Vitamin D deficiancy...again...still. The doc asked me if I had been taking supplements....No. So she had another level done just to prove to me that I have a problem. Normal is suppose to be around 40 and I am at 5....oops. She said that I am so low that I should feel a major difference by taking supplements she also pointed out all the problems that I could have due to the deficiency...heart disease, cancer...OK, OK...I've heard enough. I got my Vitamin D and will be taking a mega dose each day for 8 weeks. Then I can cut it back a bit. I'll am curious to see if I feel a difference.
That's about it for now. I feel bad I don't have any exciting pictures to post. I'll work on that over the weekend.
Have a good one!!!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
It's a metal smithing weekend
Anne Mitchell is in town. She is here for the weekend to teach low tech metal smithing to our PMC guild. She arrived early afternoon on Friday. We had a few hours to kill so I took her down to the beach in Bay Village. It was windy so the waves were kicking up. This is taken from the end of one of the break walls. If you've never seen a Great Lake before...this is what it looks like.
Anne got splashed with a wave. Here she is taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. :)
It's been fun having time to talk and catch up. And now she has proof that Lou is real (she thought he might have been a cardboard cut-out since none of my out of state friends had met him).
We had a good class today. Everyone enjoyed fusing and did really well. Another class tomorrow and then she is off to Tucson on Monday.
Anne got splashed with a wave. Here she is taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. :)
It's been fun having time to talk and catch up. And now she has proof that Lou is real (she thought he might have been a cardboard cut-out since none of my out of state friends had met him).
We had a good class today. Everyone enjoyed fusing and did really well. Another class tomorrow and then she is off to Tucson on Monday.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
"I Just Love Show Tunes"...
That was not said by me...but I do like show tunes. I like musicals...as preposterous as they seem...people breaking out in song. But I like them.
Apparently so does the hubby. We were both upstairs last night...he was in his office and I was in the studio...they're connected. He had music playing....a compilation of Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes. He was singing along with them....and it was getting weird. When he started signing "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar I told him he was getting scary. He shouted out.....
"I JUST LOVE SHOW TUNES"
Alrighty then. This Mr. Show Tunes....
Apparently so does the hubby. We were both upstairs last night...he was in his office and I was in the studio...they're connected. He had music playing....a compilation of Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes. He was singing along with them....and it was getting weird. When he started signing "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar I told him he was getting scary. He shouted out.....
"I JUST LOVE SHOW TUNES"
Alrighty then. This Mr. Show Tunes....
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Black and Whites
No jewelry pics to post...yet. I have been experimenting and have a few things in the kiln. In the meantime, I've been playing with some pics from Paris and converted them to black and white. Here they are....
What it is about this city that keeps pulling me back? When I'm restless, I think of Paris....and it makes me all the more restless. I know I will never live there, but it has captured my heart in spite of this fact....or maybe because of it.
Au Revoir, Bye-Bye
What it is about this city that keeps pulling me back? When I'm restless, I think of Paris....and it makes me all the more restless. I know I will never live there, but it has captured my heart in spite of this fact....or maybe because of it.
Au Revoir, Bye-Bye
Thursday, April 15, 2010
A must read.......The Artistic Timeline by Michael deMeng
Michael deMeng blew me away with his recent post.....
Assemblog of Michael deMeng: The Artistic Timeline
"I have always held the FIRM belief that artistic ideas belong to no one single person. I have always held the firm belief that Art grows from the ideas of others. If it didnt' we would still be drawing in the mud. Ever single art that has ever existed comes from a gradual development of a concept or a technique. Art movements are about artists working on a similar theme, but from those themes come individuality. If you look at the Renaissance with blurred vision you it would seem that all the artists were sort of copying each other...and guess what, they were. Of course, I tend to think of it less of copying and more of "learning" from new ideas. If you look closely you start to notice subtleties in each artists work. Bosch and Bruegel are very similar...but look closer and they are not. That is the point, there is no possible way for them to be identical, no two minds will never be able to create exactly the same thing (unless you are a forger which is a different kind of thing altogether). Art movements are about trends that are interesting or pertinent to the time of the creations. If there wasn't a fair amount of "learning" from each other there would be no such thing as an art movement. Otherwise Raphael would be doing Renaissance painting while DaVinci would have invented Abstract Expressionism...its not what happens. Artists grow, and expand on the ideas of other Artists.
Now I'm going to pull out a quote from Picasso...well at least it has been attributed to him "Good artists borrow. Great artists steal." The reason this is important is that an artist's role is to move ideas forward. The way they do this is by paying attention to what's going on around them. I promise you that Michelangelo was well aware of what Raphael was doing and vice versa. I view art as a science. Like scientific discoveries, artistic discoveries are built on the bones of its predecessors. It seems ludicrous to me to have to reinvent something that has already been explored. All styles and techniques are worthy to be reexamined and rediscovered. It is what we as artist's do.
So the reason I have sort of a bee in my britches over this isssue is that I am amazed at how many of my students seem surprised that I am willing to share my ideas with them. Of course I'm going to share my ideas. Art MUST grow! It must move forward.
I have absolutely no fear that someone is going to "steal" my style and run with it. Let them, but it won't be my style. They may use my techniques but it will never be mine and anything I do will not be there's. It is probable that other artists using certain techniques of mine will grow in directions that I would have never thought of. In some cases perhaps better. So be it! That is a good thing. If nothing else it keeps me motivated to stay on top of my game.
So for those teachers worried about someone stealing you "secrets"...well you have the choice not to teach or share those secrets. Of course, by now, you know how I feel about that point of view.
The reason I am so avid about this position of sharing is that, to me, art is sacred and magical. It is perhaps one of the most sacred and magical things we have on this earth. The idea of keeping artistic ideas, techniques and thoughts hidden from other artists seems like an spit in the face of everything that I hold as divine in the Universe. It is sacrilegious to everything that I believe as an artist. I believe, as an artist I am here to explore this place through my eyes and hands. At some point I will have shuffled off this mortal coil. What greater honor is there than inspiring others and knowing you have contributed to the continuity of the artistic timeline. Before I die that is what I hope I can achieve, but I can't achieve it unless I am willing to share."
Assemblog of Michael deMeng: The Artistic Timeline
"I have always held the FIRM belief that artistic ideas belong to no one single person. I have always held the firm belief that Art grows from the ideas of others. If it didnt' we would still be drawing in the mud. Ever single art that has ever existed comes from a gradual development of a concept or a technique. Art movements are about artists working on a similar theme, but from those themes come individuality. If you look at the Renaissance with blurred vision you it would seem that all the artists were sort of copying each other...and guess what, they were. Of course, I tend to think of it less of copying and more of "learning" from new ideas. If you look closely you start to notice subtleties in each artists work. Bosch and Bruegel are very similar...but look closer and they are not. That is the point, there is no possible way for them to be identical, no two minds will never be able to create exactly the same thing (unless you are a forger which is a different kind of thing altogether). Art movements are about trends that are interesting or pertinent to the time of the creations. If there wasn't a fair amount of "learning" from each other there would be no such thing as an art movement. Otherwise Raphael would be doing Renaissance painting while DaVinci would have invented Abstract Expressionism...its not what happens. Artists grow, and expand on the ideas of other Artists.
Now I'm going to pull out a quote from Picasso...well at least it has been attributed to him "Good artists borrow. Great artists steal." The reason this is important is that an artist's role is to move ideas forward. The way they do this is by paying attention to what's going on around them. I promise you that Michelangelo was well aware of what Raphael was doing and vice versa. I view art as a science. Like scientific discoveries, artistic discoveries are built on the bones of its predecessors. It seems ludicrous to me to have to reinvent something that has already been explored. All styles and techniques are worthy to be reexamined and rediscovered. It is what we as artist's do.
So the reason I have sort of a bee in my britches over this isssue is that I am amazed at how many of my students seem surprised that I am willing to share my ideas with them. Of course I'm going to share my ideas. Art MUST grow! It must move forward.
I have absolutely no fear that someone is going to "steal" my style and run with it. Let them, but it won't be my style. They may use my techniques but it will never be mine and anything I do will not be there's. It is probable that other artists using certain techniques of mine will grow in directions that I would have never thought of. In some cases perhaps better. So be it! That is a good thing. If nothing else it keeps me motivated to stay on top of my game.
So for those teachers worried about someone stealing you "secrets"...well you have the choice not to teach or share those secrets. Of course, by now, you know how I feel about that point of view.
The reason I am so avid about this position of sharing is that, to me, art is sacred and magical. It is perhaps one of the most sacred and magical things we have on this earth. The idea of keeping artistic ideas, techniques and thoughts hidden from other artists seems like an spit in the face of everything that I hold as divine in the Universe. It is sacrilegious to everything that I believe as an artist. I believe, as an artist I am here to explore this place through my eyes and hands. At some point I will have shuffled off this mortal coil. What greater honor is there than inspiring others and knowing you have contributed to the continuity of the artistic timeline. Before I die that is what I hope I can achieve, but I can't achieve it unless I am willing to share."
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Book Review...Bronze Metal Clay
I have an advanced copy of Bronze Metal Clay by Yvonne M. Padilla. This is another great book from Lark Books. The front section covers everything you want to know about bronze clay...how it's different from silver, tools to use, how to store the clay, how to load the container, firing schedules and more. There is also a nice troubleshooting section.
There are 35 diverse projects. I'm so into doing ancient tribal work that this opened
y eyes to the variety of things you can do with bronze metal clay. Besides necklaces, earrings and bracelets, Yvonne has included projects for house numbers, coasters, belt buckles, vessels, broaches, knobs, buttons, wind chimes, rings and beads.The house numbers have me thinking that you could also do favorite words and names to decorate the walls of your studio or your kids rooms. It's a great book with lots of projects to make and to inspire you.
And now the shameless self promotion....I have two pictures in the book....
Like I said...I'm into making ancient tribal shields...or at least my interpretation of them.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Enough with the sickness...
Lou is back from Korea...and he's sick. I spent the last two weekends sick and now he is sick. I know that I didn't give it to him since he was away for 10 days. What's worse than being sick is watching someone be sick and know that there is nothing you can do...they just have to tough it out.
Went home to visit Mom today. Did her laundry and a quick clean up of the house. It's amazing how well she is doing after her knee replacement. I had her going up and down the stairs to the basement today. She is determined to do her own laundry. She mowed the lawn this weekend too (riding lawn mower). My cousin, Sally, was there when I arrivied. I got to visit with her for a while. Haven't seen her in 3-4 years.
I got a little metal work done this weekend. I need to spend a couple more hours in the studio before I can get something into the kiln. I'm reading "Making the Most of your Flex-Shaft"...It's a page turner. I need to learn how to use if for other things besides drilling.
I have an advance copy of another book....I have two pictures in this one. I will do a book review for you later today. Have to go make dinner.
Went home to visit Mom today. Did her laundry and a quick clean up of the house. It's amazing how well she is doing after her knee replacement. I had her going up and down the stairs to the basement today. She is determined to do her own laundry. She mowed the lawn this weekend too (riding lawn mower). My cousin, Sally, was there when I arrivied. I got to visit with her for a while. Haven't seen her in 3-4 years.
I got a little metal work done this weekend. I need to spend a couple more hours in the studio before I can get something into the kiln. I'm reading "Making the Most of your Flex-Shaft"...It's a page turner. I need to learn how to use if for other things besides drilling.
I have an advance copy of another book....I have two pictures in this one. I will do a book review for you later today. Have to go make dinner.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Back from the near-dead...
Wow....I don't ever want to have a stomach flu again. That was painful, draining (literally) and scary. You lose fluids faster than you can replace them...which is probably why I almost passed out.
Anyway, by Saturday I could eat a little although my stomach hurt. Sunday was much better. I went home to a family dinner. I was ravenous. I kept telling myself to eat slow, eat small. But I felt like a stray cat. Have you ever seen a stray eat. They hover over their food, eyes moving from side to side to see if anyone is going to take away the food...growling if something comes near. That is what I felt like. I filled up a giant plate and ate...and ate. It all tasted so good and I couldn't stop...stray cat syndrome....but I didn't growl or scratch anyone :))
I need to get back to the bench now that I know I"ll be doing a summer show. I'll get up there this weekend. I have no plans...YEAH!!
Anyway, by Saturday I could eat a little although my stomach hurt. Sunday was much better. I went home to a family dinner. I was ravenous. I kept telling myself to eat slow, eat small. But I felt like a stray cat. Have you ever seen a stray eat. They hover over their food, eyes moving from side to side to see if anyone is going to take away the food...growling if something comes near. That is what I felt like. I filled up a giant plate and ate...and ate. It all tasted so good and I couldn't stop...stray cat syndrome....but I didn't growl or scratch anyone :))
I need to get back to the bench now that I know I"ll be doing a summer show. I'll get up there this weekend. I have no plans...YEAH!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Auction for Michele Goldstein on eBay
The auction for Michele and her boys is up on eBay now and will go for the next ~9 days. Click here to see the items. There are pieces from Gail Crosman Moore, Anne Mitchell, Donna Mehnart, Andrea Guarino Slemmons, Anne Mitchell, Barb Switzer, Kate McKinnon, Dustin Tabor, Stephanie Sersich, Jennifer Geldard, Karen Elmquist, Terry Caspary Schmidt, Sarah Moran, and Steph Korsage.....just to name a few.
The pictures don't do the pieces justice. Here are some pics of my piece that is in the auction.
These are great pieces up for auction and its for a good cause.
THANKS
The pictures don't do the pieces justice. Here are some pics of my piece that is in the auction.
These are great pieces up for auction and its for a good cause.
THANKS
Cain Park...YEAH!!!
Other than not being in the bathroom for the last 6 hours (see previous post)...the biggest excitment of the day is that I am accepted into the Cain Park Art show this year.
I wore myself out last summer doing too many shows so I decided to do just one show this summer. I was waiting to hear about Cain Park before I decided which one to do. I received the letter from them today...so it will be Cain Park. It's a nice show and had really heavy traffic last year.
I thought I was going to die.....
really. I've been sick since I came back from Santa Fe. It started as a head cold and advanced to a chest cold. Then came the GI tract. I don't know if it was related to the cold or I picked up a bug....but this was the nastiest GI bug I have ever had. Since Thursday night I haven't been more than a few feet from the bathroom. I'm sure that's more info than you want to know . But last night while being sick...I semi-passed out. I say semi because I could just faintly hear Benny (the cat) meowing incessantly in the distance. It's when he reached out to touch me with his paw that I came to. I remember thinking I might have to crawl to the phone and call for an ambulance. But instead I made it to the couch and stayed there for most the night. I weighed myself this morning....I lost 11 pounds.
After 36 hours of hell...today has been OK. I had the energy to go the store and get some Gaterade, jello, bananas...all stuff to replace electrolyes and put some sugar in the body. I'm hungry but afraid to eat anything heavy. So I guess it's clear fluids for today. Tomorrow I'm suppose to go to Mom's for Easter.
Lou is in Korea and won't be back until Friday. By then I should be all better.
After 36 hours of hell...today has been OK. I had the energy to go the store and get some Gaterade, jello, bananas...all stuff to replace electrolyes and put some sugar in the body. I'm hungry but afraid to eat anything heavy. So I guess it's clear fluids for today. Tomorrow I'm suppose to go to Mom's for Easter.
Lou is in Korea and won't be back until Friday. By then I should be all better.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Goodies from Santa Fe....
I finally had the energy to take some pictures tonight. The last three days were a blurrrrr. I had a fever and every time I put my head down...the room would spin. Today I went into work for 5 hours and then just gave up and came home.
But I am feeling a bit better so I took some pics. I really didn't buy a lot at the show. I did find some brass beads from Cameroon that were worn by the Kirdi. Mixed in are some glass beads from Joanne Zekowski.
Cris gave me one of her enameled hearts.
I also bought a big-ass Peddinghaus chasing hammer. A girl just can't have enough hammers.
But I am feeling a bit better so I took some pics. I really didn't buy a lot at the show. I did find some brass beads from Cameroon that were worn by the Kirdi. Mixed in are some glass beads from Joanne Zekowski.
Cris gave me one of her enameled hearts.
I also bought a big-ass Peddinghaus chasing hammer. A girl just can't have enough hammers.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
I hate colds!!!
Of course I'm sure nobody has ever said they love having a cold. I thought I was getting better on Friday and then Saturday showed up and bitch-slapped me back into bed. It feels like someone has hit me in the head with a hammer...and keeps hitting me. My nose and lungs are raw....pretty picture...huh. What I thought was going to be a good weekend to get things done has turned into a total waste of 48 hours. I'm having a hard time doing things....because I get dizzy moving around. This SUCKS!!! I hate it, hate it, hate it.
I lifted this pic from Karen's blog. Cris and I in Santa Fe at the La Fonda. We managed to take over the fireplace almost every night.
I lifted this pic from Karen's blog. Cris and I in Santa Fe at the La Fonda. We managed to take over the fireplace almost every night.
Bella Art Bench....very cool
I had a chance to talk to two very cool girls....Rosie Wendel and Bev Perina in one of my classes at Santa Fe (a class that never happened...but that's another story). They came into the room and whipped out these art benches. Being a tool whore...they instantly had my attention.
It unfolds like a gameboard. It includes a powerstrip that hooks onto the bench in the upper right hand corner, a magnetic strip in the upper left hand corner with metal containers, a 12" metal ruler which is also held to the bench with magnets, and a tool rack which can be placed on either the right or left hand side. We've all experience the flimsy convention center tables that bounce up and down when you try to do any type of hammering. This bench provides a nice solid work surface. It's also good at home if you work on the dining room table...like I do at times. You can pick it up and move it....easy peasy.
If you're interested, they retail for $89.50. You can get yours by contacting the girls at bellarosestudio@gmail.com
It unfolds like a gameboard. It includes a powerstrip that hooks onto the bench in the upper right hand corner, a magnetic strip in the upper left hand corner with metal containers, a 12" metal ruler which is also held to the bench with magnets, and a tool rack which can be placed on either the right or left hand side. We've all experience the flimsy convention center tables that bounce up and down when you try to do any type of hammering. This bench provides a nice solid work surface. It's also good at home if you work on the dining room table...like I do at times. You can pick it up and move it....easy peasy.
If you're interested, they retail for $89.50. You can get yours by contacting the girls at bellarosestudio@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Home Sweet Home....
We had sooo much fun in Santa Fe but it is good to be home. Missed Lou, missed the cats. Here are some pics...stories later...maybe :)
The weather went from warm and sunny on Thursday to snowy over the weekend. But Santa Fe is beautiful in the snow.
A great big bronze bear scuplture all nestled in snow.
A lone snow covered bench on the way to the convention center
Giant black swans covered in snow.
After walking in the snow...there's nothing better than a plate of spicy hot New Mexican food.
And the major reason for going to Santa Fe was to spend time with friends. Cris and Karen at their artisan tables.
It was a weekend of good food, good shopping (pics later), a fun class, and great friends. We spent a few nights in front of the fireplace at La Fonda just talking and laughing.
Stacy, Karen and Cris....I miss you already!!
The weather went from warm and sunny on Thursday to snowy over the weekend. But Santa Fe is beautiful in the snow.
A great big bronze bear scuplture all nestled in snow.
A lone snow covered bench on the way to the convention center
Giant black swans covered in snow.
After walking in the snow...there's nothing better than a plate of spicy hot New Mexican food.
And the major reason for going to Santa Fe was to spend time with friends. Cris and Karen at their artisan tables.
It was a weekend of good food, good shopping (pics later), a fun class, and great friends. We spent a few nights in front of the fireplace at La Fonda just talking and laughing.
Stacy, Karen and Cris....I miss you already!!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Headed to Santa Fe
I'm off to Santa Fe on Thursday to BeadFest. I have a couple of fun classes but mostly it's just to hang out with the girls. I haven't seen most of them since June so it will be good to catch up.
I've decided not to take the laptop since I have to take tools. Too much to lug around. I hate baggage.
I'll be back on line Tuesday with pictures
Call For Entries...Metal Clay Welcome
METAL Inclinations2 International Juried Exhibition 2010-11 will include selections of the most exemplary fine metal art jewelry created by metalsmiths, silversmiths, goldsmiths and jewelers all over the world.
DEADLINE: June 30, 2010
METAL Inclinations2 will debut on the Internet
October 31, 2010- and run until October 31, 2011
Go to: www.metalinclinations.org/enter.htm to download a prospectus
JURORS:
Jamie Bennett, Bio and art: www.newpaltz.edu/metal/people.cfm#Jamie
Klaus Burgel, Bio and art: www.klausburgel.com
John Cogswell, Bio and art: www.newpaltz.edu/metal/people.cfm#John
Sydney Lynch, Bio and art: www.sydneylynch.com
AWARDS:
$2,000 First place award sponsored by the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths.
$1,000 Second place award, sponsored by Hauser and Miller.
$500 Third place award gift certificate, by Rio Grande.
$200 Award of merit gift certificate, by Pasternak Findings.
$100 Three awards of merit gift certificates by Pasternak Findings.
Enter METAL Inclinations2 directly by using the Juried Art Services website: http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php?content=event_info&event_id=221
METAL Inclinations2 is sponsored by Hauser & Miller and produced and presented by The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths. SMM is a not-for-profit organization of volunteer metalsmiths. The Society's goal is to promote, develop, educate, and encourage individuals who are interested in metalsmithing
DEADLINE: June 30, 2010
METAL Inclinations2 will debut on the Internet
October 31, 2010- and run until October 31, 2011
Go to: www.metalinclinations.org/enter.htm to download a prospectus
JURORS:
Jamie Bennett, Bio and art: www.newpaltz.edu/metal/people.cfm#Jamie
Klaus Burgel, Bio and art: www.klausburgel.com
John Cogswell, Bio and art: www.newpaltz.edu/metal/people.cfm#John
Sydney Lynch, Bio and art: www.sydneylynch.com
AWARDS:
$2,000 First place award sponsored by the Society for Midwest Metalsmiths.
$1,000 Second place award, sponsored by Hauser and Miller.
$500 Third place award gift certificate, by Rio Grande.
$200 Award of merit gift certificate, by Pasternak Findings.
$100 Three awards of merit gift certificates by Pasternak Findings.
Enter METAL Inclinations2 directly by using the Juried Art Services website: http://www.juriedartservices.com/index.php?content=event_info&event_id=221
METAL Inclinations2 is sponsored by Hauser & Miller and produced and presented by The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths. SMM is a not-for-profit organization of volunteer metalsmiths. The Society's goal is to promote, develop, educate, and encourage individuals who are interested in metalsmithing
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sneak Peek.....
I received an advanced copy of Mary Hettmansperger's new book....Mixed Metal Jewelry Workshop.
And if the cover makes you drool....wait until you see the inside. It's beautiful.
Mary gives all the details you need to choose your materials / tools and instructions on how to work with them. The book has 20 projects that use sheet metal, metal clay (silver, bronze, and copper) wire, mesh, screws and my favorite.....galvanized wire grid.
Some of the projects use sheet metal to capture found objects...like ancient coins, driftwood, and metal clay, while other projects use metal clay to capture sheet metal. There's weaving and stitching and extruding....Oh My.
This is definetely one for your library. Mary also has two other books...Fabulous Woven Jewelry and Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet. A great triology of jewelry techniques.
PS....you might be asking yourself how I got an advanced copy....a picture of one of my pendants is in the book. Thanks Mary!!!!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
I could use another weekend.....
It's been a hectic couple of weeks. Mom had a knee replacement 12 days ago and is now home. My brother went into the hospital this week and is now home. I spent the last two weeks working and visiting hospital rooms. I'm glad that they can now recouperate at home.
It's amazing how well my Mom is getting around. She really went through the operation well and is zipping around with her walker. My sister is in from Georgia for the next month to stay with her.
Yesterday we got replacement windows put in upstairs. It took most the day. The house was/is a total wreck becasue we had to move things away from the windows to give them room to work. While they worked upstairs, I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom so at least one room was clean. Once the crew went outside I cleaned up the main bedroom. Today Lou and I worked on our individual rooms. So it's coming along.
I have a confession to make. I hadn't cleaned the upstairs windows in years...like maybe 20 years :) Being old (the windows, not me) they didn't tilt in to clean and I (being scared) wasn't about to get up on a ladder and climb along the roof to clean them. So the only way to have clean windows was to replace them. It just took a long time to do it.
Houses suck the money out of you. When we first moved in 20+ years ago, we had to remove 3 very old, very large trees in the front yard because they were dying. Then a few years later we had to take out an even bigger tree in the back yard because it was hollow half-way up. Last year we had to take out another giant in the backyard because it kept dropping large branches and damaging our house and the neighbors. It got to the point the neighbors asked us if we were going to take it out...hint, hint. Because of their size and precarious locations, it cost $2-3K per tree....so we haven't done much with the house until recently...when the rest of it started falling apart.
In the last 3 years we've had to put on a new roof, had to install a new furnace (and I insisted on finally having a house with air conditioning), sided it and put in replacement windows. This next year I want to finally put some time and energy into the inside. My kitchen has to be 30-40 years old. It has formica countertops...I'm not kidding... and they are staring to come loose. So a kitchen re-do is in our future.
So I could really do with another weekend. It's going to take another couple days to pull the house together, finish the laundry, finish my taxes. I take off for Santa Fe on Thursday for a long weekend at Bead Fest. I'm taking a few fun classes...no new techniques, just fun. It will be nice to just work with metal for a couple days and visit with friends.
Needless to say I don't have any new work to talk about...and probably won't for a week or so. I will have pics from Santa Fe....and I have an advanced copy of a new book that you will all love. I'll blog about that next.
Au Revoir, Bye-Bye
It's amazing how well my Mom is getting around. She really went through the operation well and is zipping around with her walker. My sister is in from Georgia for the next month to stay with her.
Yesterday we got replacement windows put in upstairs. It took most the day. The house was/is a total wreck becasue we had to move things away from the windows to give them room to work. While they worked upstairs, I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom so at least one room was clean. Once the crew went outside I cleaned up the main bedroom. Today Lou and I worked on our individual rooms. So it's coming along.
I have a confession to make. I hadn't cleaned the upstairs windows in years...like maybe 20 years :) Being old (the windows, not me) they didn't tilt in to clean and I (being scared) wasn't about to get up on a ladder and climb along the roof to clean them. So the only way to have clean windows was to replace them. It just took a long time to do it.
Houses suck the money out of you. When we first moved in 20+ years ago, we had to remove 3 very old, very large trees in the front yard because they were dying. Then a few years later we had to take out an even bigger tree in the back yard because it was hollow half-way up. Last year we had to take out another giant in the backyard because it kept dropping large branches and damaging our house and the neighbors. It got to the point the neighbors asked us if we were going to take it out...hint, hint. Because of their size and precarious locations, it cost $2-3K per tree....so we haven't done much with the house until recently...when the rest of it started falling apart.
In the last 3 years we've had to put on a new roof, had to install a new furnace (and I insisted on finally having a house with air conditioning), sided it and put in replacement windows. This next year I want to finally put some time and energy into the inside. My kitchen has to be 30-40 years old. It has formica countertops...I'm not kidding... and they are staring to come loose. So a kitchen re-do is in our future.
So I could really do with another weekend. It's going to take another couple days to pull the house together, finish the laundry, finish my taxes. I take off for Santa Fe on Thursday for a long weekend at Bead Fest. I'm taking a few fun classes...no new techniques, just fun. It will be nice to just work with metal for a couple days and visit with friends.
Needless to say I don't have any new work to talk about...and probably won't for a week or so. I will have pics from Santa Fe....and I have an advanced copy of a new book that you will all love. I'll blog about that next.
Au Revoir, Bye-Bye
Monday, March 8, 2010
Yikes...
The week flew by and the weekend went even faster. Mom had a knee replacement on Tuesday so the entire week was spent running between my office and her room. Luckily the surgery was at my hospital. Lucky for two reasons...we have some of the best doctors and all I had to do was walk across the street to see her. On Friday they transferred her to the rehab hospital in Lakewood. She is doing really really well. She's suppose to be in for two weeks but they are now talking about only keeping her a week.
Went to the auto show this weekend. I am looking for something a bit larger than the car to carry art show stuff. I'm having a hard time moving to an SUV. I'm a car girl. I love to drive and I love cars...sporty, fast cars. But I need one vehicle that I will enjoy driving and be able to carry everything. I am seriously looking at the Ford Edge. The back seats lay down as well as the passenger seat in the front. It has a huge amount of room and still gets 25 mpg on the highway. I am going to wait to buy until the 2011's come out. Then they will want to deal on the 2010's.
Lou dropped a bomb on me this weekend. He has been offered a full time position in.....Abu Dhabi...Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emerate. The first thing out of my mouth as the uber supportive wife that I am...."I'm not moving to Abu Dhabi". They already asked Lou what I do and wondered if they could find a job for me too. But there is no research at the hospital in Abu Dhabi so they don't have a position for me....which is a good thing because..."I'm not moving to Abu Dhabi".
Yikes....He will end up going...he wants to go....whether it is full time or part-time we haven't figured that out. It's going to suck to be alone. I don't mind being alone occassionaly...I even like it. But for extended periods of time...it's going to suck. Maybe it will only end up being a few weeks at a time. Who knows.
Went to the auto show this weekend. I am looking for something a bit larger than the car to carry art show stuff. I'm having a hard time moving to an SUV. I'm a car girl. I love to drive and I love cars...sporty, fast cars. But I need one vehicle that I will enjoy driving and be able to carry everything. I am seriously looking at the Ford Edge. The back seats lay down as well as the passenger seat in the front. It has a huge amount of room and still gets 25 mpg on the highway. I am going to wait to buy until the 2011's come out. Then they will want to deal on the 2010's.
Lou dropped a bomb on me this weekend. He has been offered a full time position in.....Abu Dhabi...Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emerate. The first thing out of my mouth as the uber supportive wife that I am...."I'm not moving to Abu Dhabi". They already asked Lou what I do and wondered if they could find a job for me too. But there is no research at the hospital in Abu Dhabi so they don't have a position for me....which is a good thing because..."I'm not moving to Abu Dhabi".
Yikes....He will end up going...he wants to go....whether it is full time or part-time we haven't figured that out. It's going to suck to be alone. I don't mind being alone occassionaly...I even like it. But for extended periods of time...it's going to suck. Maybe it will only end up being a few weeks at a time. Who knows.
Monday, March 1, 2010
L.H.O.O.Q
I'm still hashing over this idea of originality and authenticity.
Originality.....At what point does the piece that inspired you....become yours. Never...it wasn't yours to start with....after you've changed it 10%... 25%... 50%??
Marcel Duchamp took the Mona Lisa....put a mustache and goatee on her and gave it the title L.H.O.O.Q. (a reference to ML having a "fire down below") and created a piece that is used in law schools as an example of a derivative work. Not a copy...but a work consisting of modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship.
The changes were minor. The transformation of the original from an iconic piece of artwork into a parody (and incensing the entire popultion of France) is what made it a derivative work and an original in it's own sense.
Using the photo in the previous post as inspiration, I've transformed it into the images below. Are they transformed enough to be considered derivative or original? Whose to say? Not me.
Authenticity...if authenticity as defined by Jim Jarmusch is something that speaks to the soul, then they are authentic. And being authentic is good thing.
Originality.....At what point does the piece that inspired you....become yours. Never...it wasn't yours to start with....after you've changed it 10%... 25%... 50%??
Marcel Duchamp took the Mona Lisa....put a mustache and goatee on her and gave it the title L.H.O.O.Q. (a reference to ML having a "fire down below") and created a piece that is used in law schools as an example of a derivative work. Not a copy...but a work consisting of modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship.
The changes were minor. The transformation of the original from an iconic piece of artwork into a parody (and incensing the entire popultion of France) is what made it a derivative work and an original in it's own sense.
Using the photo in the previous post as inspiration, I've transformed it into the images below. Are they transformed enough to be considered derivative or original? Whose to say? Not me.
Authenticity...if authenticity as defined by Jim Jarmusch is something that speaks to the soul, then they are authentic. And being authentic is good thing.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Originality...Authenticity....Creativity
I stumbled on this about a month ago and Catherine posted it on Facebook.....
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to."
— Jim Jarmusch
It's an interesting quote and one I would certainly like to see discussed at length....originality, authenticity, and creativity. .
I'm not sure I agree that nothing is original. Sometimes I see art work that blows me away and wonder.....where in the world did the artist come up with that idea. Were they inspired by something or did the idea just come to them. I once saw Yanni in concert....yes...I saw Yanni. During the concert he stopped and took questions from the audience. Someone asked how he composed his music. His answer stunned me. He said that the music would just come to him....complete. He could play it forwards and backwards in his head. Truely a gift....a gift that 99% of us don't have.
Me....I slog through the creative process and that's where I identify with the quote. There are things that make my little heart go pitty pat....ancient cultures, tribal cultures, iron work, rivets (oh the Eiffel Tower has 2.5 million rivets), industrial salvage ...and the list goes on. So I visit museums, read books, drive through Cleveland looking at old buildings and churches. Inspiration doesn't hit me like a thunderbolt but seeps in. Sometimes I have to take an piece or a technique and work it over and over again before it moves in a new direction. SLOG
So, here is an inspirational piece that I found in the Louvre...for the life of me I can't remember what it is but I liked the shape of it.
and turned it into this.....which I will use as texture for a tribal pendant.
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to."
— Jim Jarmusch
It's an interesting quote and one I would certainly like to see discussed at length....originality, authenticity, and creativity. .
I'm not sure I agree that nothing is original. Sometimes I see art work that blows me away and wonder.....where in the world did the artist come up with that idea. Were they inspired by something or did the idea just come to them. I once saw Yanni in concert....yes...I saw Yanni. During the concert he stopped and took questions from the audience. Someone asked how he composed his music. His answer stunned me. He said that the music would just come to him....complete. He could play it forwards and backwards in his head. Truely a gift....a gift that 99% of us don't have.
Me....I slog through the creative process and that's where I identify with the quote. There are things that make my little heart go pitty pat....ancient cultures, tribal cultures, iron work, rivets (oh the Eiffel Tower has 2.5 million rivets), industrial salvage ...and the list goes on. So I visit museums, read books, drive through Cleveland looking at old buildings and churches. Inspiration doesn't hit me like a thunderbolt but seeps in. Sometimes I have to take an piece or a technique and work it over and over again before it moves in a new direction. SLOG
So, here is an inspirational piece that I found in the Louvre...for the life of me I can't remember what it is but I liked the shape of it.
and turned it into this.....which I will use as texture for a tribal pendant.
Twisted Nursery Rhymes
These can in my e-mail at work today......Not quite like I remember them..... Simple Simon is my favorite.
Mary had a little pig,
She kept it fat and plastered;
And when the price of pork went up,
She shot the little bastard.
Mary had a little lamb.
Her father shot it dead.
Now it goes to school with her,
Between two hunks of bread.
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To have a little fun.
Stupid Jill forgot the pill
And now they have a son.
Simple Simon met a pie man going to the fair.
Said Simple Simon to the pie man,
'What have you got there?'
Said the pie man unto Simon,
'Pies, you dumb ass' !!
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings' horses,
And all the kings' men.
Had scrambled eggs,
For breakfast again.
Hey diddle, diddle, the cat took a piddle, All over the bedside clock.
The little dog laughed to see such fun.
Then died of electric shock.
Georgie Porgy pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
And when the boys came out to play,
He kissed them too 'cause he was gay.
There was a little girl who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very, very good.
But when she was bad........
She got a fur coat, jewels, a waterfront condo, and a sports car.
Mary had a little pig,
She kept it fat and plastered;
And when the price of pork went up,
She shot the little bastard.
Mary had a little lamb.
Her father shot it dead.
Now it goes to school with her,
Between two hunks of bread.
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To have a little fun.
Stupid Jill forgot the pill
And now they have a son.
Simple Simon met a pie man going to the fair.
Said Simple Simon to the pie man,
'What have you got there?'
Said the pie man unto Simon,
'Pies, you dumb ass' !!
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings' horses,
And all the kings' men.
Had scrambled eggs,
For breakfast again.
Hey diddle, diddle, the cat took a piddle, All over the bedside clock.
The little dog laughed to see such fun.
Then died of electric shock.
Georgie Porgy pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
And when the boys came out to play,
He kissed them too 'cause he was gay.
There was a little girl who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very, very good.
But when she was bad........
She got a fur coat, jewels, a waterfront condo, and a sports car.
Monday, February 22, 2010
ARGH.............
Toilet seats. I know it's not what you tune into my blog to read about...but I'm frustrated with our toilet seat. We have been in the house for 20 some years and some things just never seem to get done. We are just too busy and let other things take priority. So it's time to change out the toilet seat...not that it's 20 years old...but time to change it. Even though the nuts are nylon, the still won't come off the rust bolts. The bolt heads are corroded and won't hold a screw driver so I've been trying to work from underneath using two sets of pliers. No luck....just alot of WD40 all over the toilet, the floor and me. The bolts are a little loose but not loose enough to get a hacksaw underneath them. I could just scream.
My plan was to do somthing small each night after work so the house doesn't seem like such an overwhelming task. So much for plans. HGTV....where are you when I need you....come over and fix my house.
My plan was to do somthing small each night after work so the house doesn't seem like such an overwhelming task. So much for plans. HGTV....where are you when I need you....come over and fix my house.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Really....the weekend's over already
Where did it go?? I worked on Saturday...on multiple fronts....cleaning, cooking, and getting some time in the studio in-between chores. Had a family dinner today at Mom's house to celebrate my brother's birthday. He's old...LOL. I can say that...I'm the baby of the family.
Mom's having surgery soon and she's scared so I think this was also a time to be surrounded by her family. It's hard to be courageous going into something that scares you. There are a lot of quotes about courage to the effect that courage comes after you go through the think that you fear...the ability to be scared but do what you need to do anyway. I wish we could take away her fear but the best we can do is be there for her.
And tonight I am making Jambalaya for a pot luck lunch tomorrow. So I have to cut up veggies and meat and throw it all in the slow cooker over night. Luckily it is an easy recipe. I love slow cookers....cutting up veggies at 11pm....not so much.
So, here's to next weekend....hope it gets here soon.
Mom's having surgery soon and she's scared so I think this was also a time to be surrounded by her family. It's hard to be courageous going into something that scares you. There are a lot of quotes about courage to the effect that courage comes after you go through the think that you fear...the ability to be scared but do what you need to do anyway. I wish we could take away her fear but the best we can do is be there for her.
And tonight I am making Jambalaya for a pot luck lunch tomorrow. So I have to cut up veggies and meat and throw it all in the slow cooker over night. Luckily it is an easy recipe. I love slow cookers....cutting up veggies at 11pm....not so much.
So, here's to next weekend....hope it gets here soon.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
It's Etsy Time
I've been busy putting jewelry on Etsy. My plan was to do this back in.....August. I'm just a few months late. This one will go up tomorrow. Then another round of photography and I can put up more.
I'm torn about doing shows in 2010. I relish the thought of a year of nothing but designing for me...but I have a concern that if I don't do shows this year, I won't be able to get into them next year. I think I will apply for a few and make the decision later. I got a promotion at work so there is an expectation that I will increase the level of effort I give there. It's always a balancing act. Where is a rich man when I need him....I just had to marry for love.....silly, silly girl (just kidding honey).
I'm torn about doing shows in 2010. I relish the thought of a year of nothing but designing for me...but I have a concern that if I don't do shows this year, I won't be able to get into them next year. I think I will apply for a few and make the decision later. I got a promotion at work so there is an expectation that I will increase the level of effort I give there. It's always a balancing act. Where is a rich man when I need him....I just had to marry for love.....silly, silly girl (just kidding honey).
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)