Yearly Archives: 2010
marta rudnicka: apple of my eye
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I’m easing back into the real world after several days off – you too? I thought we would start the week with a concept that is always popular: removable, interchangeable art/jewelry.
[nonmember]This archived post is for Members Only. Click here to become a member or to get a one day pass. If you are a member, please login to view the post. [/nonmember] [private_archives]
As part of her thesis project, Poland’s Marta Rudnicka created a ring with a removable ‘eye’ made of silver and enamel. She now creates these rings for customers, giving them many rings with one purchase – love it.
You can see her full portfolio here (love the glass rings too).
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giving thanks.thanks for giving.thanksgiving.
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As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches I want to pause and say a heartfelt thank you to all who have made a donation to help me move my apprenticeship project forward.
[nonmember]This archived post is for Members Only. Click here to become a member or to get a one day pass. If you are a member, please login to view the post. [/nonmember] [private_archives] In this difficult economic time dozens of you have entrusted me with three or five or twenty of your hard-earned dollars and I am deeply grateful.
I’m not quite there yet, but the Washington DC internship is much closer to becoming a reality because of you.
Entrust, photo taken by Chris Chapman on Flickr
I have just started this journey – me, a fifty-something woman – reaching outside of my comfort zone, traveling across the country to bring you this first-hand account:
A behind-the-scenes look at the life of today’s working contemporary fine craft artists. To my knowledge this hasn’t been done before – certainly not this way. I plan to be on the road for more than a year, assisting artists for 4-6 weeks at a time while I learn, write, photograph and shoot video of their everydays to document the experience.
Your support is crucial and I already feel you cradling me in your hands as I take baby steps, then skip along and eventually leap with abandon into the working world of the artists you enjoy seeing featured on Daily Art Muse.
Entrust, carved oak, 8.5 ft. x 10 ft.
John Merrill, sculptor
I have dipped my toe in the water with my first apprenticeship, assisting an artist on the coast of Connecticut. Although I have only been working with her a few hours a week for the last four weeks, this has become an excellent opportunity for me to let my ideas about the project take form, become more clear and begin to set them into motion.
I expect the Washington DC internship to be more active and in-depth as I will be assisting several artists there in a large art complex. I am ready to sweep a lot of floors!
Entrust,
photo taken by Ministry, found on Flickr
I am thankful for so much, but this year my message of thanksgiving is directed completely to YOU and your enthusiasm for the project, donations, emotional support, and your loyal visits to this blog every day, every week.
I am taking the rest of the week off to continue streamlining my plans for the project and to work on some of the new and exciting things that will be coming soon to Daily Art Muse. Have a happy, healthy, safe and wonderful holiday.
daMuse behind, in front of the lens
If you are interested in learning more about the apprenticeship project, or to make a donation, click here.
Many thanks…see you next week.[/private_archives]
cayce zavaglia’s embroidered portraits
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Originally a painter, Cayce Zavaglia still thinks of her embroidered portraits as paintings. Zavaglia might use wool, but her work borrows techniques from drawing and painting.
[nonmember]This archived post is for Members Only. Click here to become a member or to get a one day pass. If you are a member, please login to view the post. [/nonmember] [private_archives]Frustrated by the limitations of the range of colors available to her, she created a system of sewing the threads in a particular sequence that give the allusion of specific colors or tones.
{please click on the images to enlarge – don’t miss this!}
Sophie
Hand Embroidery: Crewel Wool and Acrylic on Linen, 14 x 35 inches
Sophie, detail
Zavaglia explains, “The direction in which the threads were sewn had to mimic the way lines are layered in a drawing to give the allusion of depth, volume, and form. Over time the stitches have become tighter and more complex but ultimately more evocative of flesh, hair, and cloth.”
Dad
Hand Embroidery: Crewel Wool and Acrylic on Linen, 14 x 39 inches
My work unabashedly nods its head to the tradition of tapestry and my own love of craft. Using wool instead of oils has allowed me to broaden the dialogue between portrait and process as well as propose a new definition for the word “painting”.
Dad, detail
Creating each portrait has become a meditation on her relationship with the subject. The mother of four young children, Zavaglia explains below (an excerpt from a recent interview on mr x stitch) how she came to use her art as meditation. Poignant. Lovely. Real.
As I am only interested in documenting those dearest to me, I only sew portraits of family and friends. I never do commissions. At the time of my first pregnancy—when I was starting this series—I was thinking a lot about family. This coincided with the events of September 11, when amidst tragedy, the most important thing in the world was family. With these issues in mind, I wasn’t interested in painting those I didn’t know, but rather discovering more about those I did know. Studying someone’s face for 6 months—detailing every mole and hair—has allowed me a meditative sort of reflection on these relationships.
Read the entire interview here.
More images at Lyons Wier Gallery (NYC)[/private_archives]
