Monthly Archives: May 2010
chama navarro’s polymer
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Berries and mushrooms found on the forest floor were the inspiration for this flexible bracelet and necklace made by Spain’s Chama Navarro. The flexibility of polymer covered wire allows the pieces to be worn in different ways – short, long, twisted or winding down the neck.
FFFFlex Necklace, polymer, wire
FFFlex Bracelet, polymer, wire
FFFlex Necklace, detail
Navarro also puts her own spin on polymer and stainless steel thread bobbins – a technique introduced by Seattle artist Cynthia Toops a few years ago.
Bobbins, polymer clay
Urban Gardens Ring and Earrings
Her over-the-top polymer collar using Maggie Maggio’s watercolor technique is another example of work that pays homage to the artist who originated the idea while allowing Navarro’s style to shine through.
Polymer clay collar – watercolor technique
I don’t speak Spanish, Google’s translation tool is not always reliable and this glimpse (below) of the Urban Gardens necklace left me wanting more. I couldn’t find a picture of the whole necklace – if you’ve seen it, let us know!
Urban Gardens, polymer clay and…?
Navarro also works with glass.
mobilia gallery to show marilyn da silva’s new collection of work
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Marilyn da Silva’s new collection of work will be on exhibit at Mobilia Gallery in Cambridge Massachussetts from May 8th – June 5th. For these sculptures da Silva utilizes a unique method of drawing on copper that she developed, using gesso and colored pencils to color surfaces that have been hammered, fabricated, etched or chased.
Beauty Secrets
copper, sterling silver, bronze, wood, gesso, colored pencil, printer’s ink
7″h x 10″w x 12″d
Beauty Secrets, detail
Peacock Tales
copper, sterling silver, brass, wood, gesso, colored pencil
7″h x 10″ x 8″
The Trouble with Magic
copper, sterling silver, bronze, wood, gesso, colored pencil, paint
7 1/2″h x 11″w x 13″d
Each sculpture explores surreal and dream-like situations and many incorporate birds as metaphors for everyday experiences. da Silva’s previous body of work includes etchings that depict birds in their natural environments with removable birds that can be worn as brooches.
Shadowbox panel with removable brooches
“Birds have been an integral part of my work since 1999. They act as metaphors for everyday experiences, from personal to universal, in my sculptures and wearable pieces. I do not think of myself as a bird watcher and believe that birds spend more time observing us.” Marilyn da Silva
Marilyn da Silva is a professor and program chair in jewelry and metal arts at California College of the Arts. Her work is in several permanent collections.
