All Entries in the "Metal" Category
patricia lemaire’s traces of life
Sculptor and jewelry artist Patricia Lemaire lets silver, nickel silver and ordinary materials like plants, bone and urchin quills tell her poetic narrative. The unconventional materials – fragile (plants), poor (bone) and misappropriated (urchin quills) – find new meaning as Lemaire uses them to express the “fragility of life and womanhood” in a collection of jewelry and sculptures.
Salutation, brooch
Salutation, detail
La Passion, sculpture
Brooch
Douxpiquants, brooch
Promenadebucolique, sculpture
“Diverting them from their usual context, they take a new direction. They take shape in unlikely juxtapositions, sometimes to the verge of collapse, calling or referring to an absent body, dreamed, fantasized. Traces of life, steeped in contradiction, oscillating between strength and weakness, attraction and repulsion, pain and stroke, sacrifice and offering.”
More of Lemaire’s work at Galerie-Orfeo
so young park explores the cycle of life
With two Masters degrees – an MFA in metals and jewelry from Kon-Kuk University in Korea and a second MFA in metals and jewelry from Rochester Institute of Technology in New York – So Young Park explores the cycle of life in an extensive collection of jewelry and sculpture.
Working mostly with silver and gold, she pierces the metal with hundreds of small beaded pins to add texture and movement and uses tiny concave circles to represent single cells, explaining that the work expresses “hope, desire and the power of life through organic plant forms that are artistically rendered in a simplistic, geometric and sophisticated manner.”
More at Aaron Faber where So Young Park’s jewelry will be part of next month’s exhibit, Working in Metal: Three Women.
linnie mclarty’s pin-less poppi brooches
Linnie Mclarty’s collection of Poppi brooches attach to clothing with no pins, allowing the wearer to adorn even delicate fabrics. The clothing becomes part of the art, providing an ever-changing backdrop for the jewelry. This hip designer showcases her work with high drama at its best. Eye-popping photographs highlight the uncomplicated shapes while giving us something to think about regarding body adornment.
Metal, enamel pin-less brooch
Inspired by fossils, plants and aquatic life forms, the award winning jewelry artist believes that “the right piece of jewellery can put a positive spin on your entire day.”
hannah livingston’s jewelry lets personal narrative blossom
I’m partial to vessels and for decades I have had a keen interest in containers as art (remember my first blog?). When I look at jewelry, or learn a technique meant for jewelry, my mind does an instant translation and I see beyond the jewelry in front of me – I see the possibilities for a vessel. Hannah Livingston’s jewelry was a delightful find – no translation necessary.
Lion Leg Box Necklace {top, open; bottom, secret compartment}
Hidden Box Bangle
Livingston brings a childhood fascination with concealment to her work as she explores the notion of sentimentality, questioning why people attach meaning to inanimate objects. The oxidized silver and gold boxes, adorned with ornate details inspired by antique furniture, contain a single sheet of parchment for the wearer to begin their personal narrative. Larger boxes also have a hidden compartment to hold your secret. The collection includes Secret Box Earrings and a Casket Ring.
Antiquarian Boxes
Cabinet Trinket Box with hidden compartment
Edward Lapel Pin
“In the same way that photographs become visual maps of family history, I endeavour to create a generation spanning experience, whereby the pieces act as vessels for emotion and attachment, and signifiers of relationships, time and place. The pieces act both as a curiosity and trinket, allowing the wearer to create their own story and attach their own meaning. Each piece gently waiting for its history to begin.” Hannah Livingston
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victoria altepeter’s nebulae: a star is born
The massive, dense clouds of gas and dust in space that make up a nebula is the place where stars are born. Using silver, shibuichi, bronze, copper, nickel, red brass and stalactite slices, metalsmith Victoria Altepeter interprets this special place in our universe with her new series Nebulae.
Altepeter, currently the resident artist at Arrowmont (read about her experience here), creates sculpture for the wall and jewelry inspired by the universe and it’s vastness. As I looked at each piece I realized that I wasn’t sure which ones were the larger wallpieces and which were brooches – I love when that happens. I didn’t add descriptions on purpose today. Can you tell which of these are for the wall and which are adornments for the body?
The combination of polymer clay and metal is becoming popular as a mixed media option. Polymer clay artist Judy Belcher tapped Altepeter to create a collaborative piece for the invitational exhibition Exploring Connections – part of the upcoming Synergy2 conference in Baltimore later this month – I can’t wait to see this in person at the conference.
Victoria Altepeter lives in that special place in the universe – the place where stars are born. Hot stuff!
Find more photos like this on crafthaus
More from Altepeter on Flickr.
anna atterling’s pralines and bonbons
Who knew pralines and bon bons could look this delicious in metal? Anna Atterling did. I didn’t find much on the web in English about the Swedish artist except that she makes jewelry and loves it. That’s enough for me. The images of her silver sheet pralines are wonderful (click each to see a larger view) and a fine example of how good photography can enhance an artist’s work. Atterling’s portfolio is here.
salima thakkar: exploration as inspiration
Some artists put their ideas down on paper in a sketch or words as a way to capture the idea for possible use at a later date. When Salima Thakkar has an idea she skips that step entirely, choosing instead get to work immediately by exploring, experimenting and exploiting materials. The Belgian jewelry artist finds inspiration in the process of trial and error.
Modular Bracelet, patinated silver tubing, 18kt yellow gold
Bracelets and necklaces in Thakkar’s Modular collection are meant to suggest animal scales. When worn on the body the small, angular chunks of silver tubing that connect in repeating patterns wrap around a wrist or neck like a second skin.
Ring, black rodium plated silver, diamonds
Ring, patinated silver with inlay of 18kt yellow gold, green tourmaline
I’m also intrigued by the distinctive style of the rings in her Grid collection and the way she sets the precious stones. Thakkar, who holds degrees from both The Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp and The Royal College of Art, London, has a portfolio that includes ten different collections – take a look here.
Modular Bracelet, patinated silver tubing, 18kt yellow gold
Ring, ebony wood, 18kt yellow gold, from the Sweets & Treats collection
karen searle: inspired by the feminine impulse to nurture
Fiber artist and author Karen Searle’s wire sculptures create lines, movements and shadows that “suggest the energy of a human presence.” Searle knits and crochets a variety of materials including wire, flax paper and linen, addressing the concept of women’s work.
How My Mother Dressed Me, detail, copper wire, hand knitting, dresses 6″ high
Flax Vessel, knitted and crocheted Japanese flax paper, linen; 36″x16″
Body Bag III, tote bag, knit linen, flax fiber and rope, 18″ high
She has even knitted together pieces of birch bark as a metaphor for women’s work and women’s lives – all of which the artist suggests involve mending and piecing together, scavenging and adorning.
Essence: Long Dress, life-sized wire sculpture and shadow
Bark Quilt, birch bark, rayon thread, glass beads 36″ x 60″
“My imagery is inspired by womens’ lives and womens’ bodies, and by the feminine impulse to nurture.” Karen Searle
Searle, who has an MFA from Minneapolis College of Art & Design, teaches and exhibits across the country and abroad and is the author of Knitting Art: 150 Innovative Works from 18 Contemporary Artists
pflipsen olivova studio: sculpture meets jewelry
Husband and wife team Katia Olivova and Steve Pflipsen have only been collaborating in art and life for a few years, but their work is already strong and boldly executed. Olivova, born and raised in the Czech Republic, comes from a family of successful glass artists. After studying at the secondary school of glass making in Kamenicky Senov, she apprenticed for both her mother, jewelry artist Marie Olivova and her father, renowned Czech glass artist Ladislav Oliva.
Red Coral Necklace, metal, coral
Olivova’s technique of using solder to fill the negative spaces between the wires on hand-wrought wire frames allows her to create her pieces directly on glass, stone, bone and a variety of other materials. I particularly like the sculptural quality of the necklaces in the collection – and the droplet sculptures are stunning (see picture below – for more sculpture images go to the sculpture section of their website). Be sure to check out their Etsy shop.
River Drop, wall sculpture, glass, metal
Opal Glass Bloom
Marble and Pearl Neckalce
Pflipsen, who grew up in Minnesota, holds a BFA in glass from the University of Wisconsin. In 2003 he met his future wife when he spent six months in the Czech Republic studying Bohemian glass techniques. Today he blows the glass for their sculptures and jewelry.
Garnet Front Hook Necklace
Moonstone Spiral Necklace
Pearl Rosette Pin
Pflipsen and Olivova have an Etsy shop
inni pärnänen: the possibility of materials
For jewelry designer Inni Pärnänen, the thrill lies in the possibility of a material or a technique. The Finnish artist explores parchment paper, cow horn, wax, fine silver, copper and paint, allowing the materials to define the work with surprising results.
Brooches, parchment, silver
More! brooch, copper, paint
Polymorphous, necklace, etched silver, steel wire
The soft shapes, crisp geometric lines, quiet shades of neutral, bold splashes of rippling color, subtle textures, shadows and light Pårnänen achieves with these materials are beautiful and beg to be touched. I wonder what will capture her curiosity next?
Necklace, cow’s horn, silver, steel wire
Ordinary Beauty, ring, burned/dyed paper, cotton thread, wax
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lisa and scott cylinder: accidental beauty
Lisa and Scott Cylinder, partners in life and art, see beauty in unexpected places. The artists share a love of and a commitment to confident exploration with materials: found, manufactured or hand made. Each Timeflyer bird brooch below starts with a face made from the reverse side of a vintage enameled pocket watch face – turn the piece over and the back of the brooch reveals the watch face.
{click on the images to see them large}
“Our jewelry occupies an odd space somewhere between logic and intuition. Sometimes an idea dictates which path we follow and, at other times, materials lead us.” Lisa and Scott Cylinder on Velvet Da Vinci
Wood Stork Brooch
The couple crafts their Musical Instruments collection by choosing a part from a carefully deconstructed instrument and then reconfiguring the part by adding metal, resins and wood to give it a new life as jewelry. They call the results to their approach ‘accidental beauty.’
Bing Clarinet Key Brooch
See more at Velvet Da Vinci and read their entire artist statement here (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
sara fox: playful and elegant
Growing up around a passel of boys Sara Fox was more comfortable holding a hammer than a hairbrush. The softer, playful side of this tomboy-turned-metalsmith emerged when she discovered felting, offering a way to incorporate a need for color and texture into her work. The simple shapes and bursts of color sprouting from Fox’s jewelry keep it fresh, surprising, joyful.
My metalwork is the architecture for my felted shapes. I begin with flat sheets and wire of sterling silver and then build the 2-dimensional pieces into 3-dimensional forms. When I felt I get back to the basics – the wool fibers themselves. Using wet and dry felting techniques I start with loose wool and sculpt my shapes, which I then combine with their silver complements. In the end, each piece is a reminder that we can be elegant and playful at the same time. Sara Fox
Fox talks about her work in a short video on the press page of her website.
More images at Covet Gallery.
myung urso: curator to curated
An MFA in fiber arts and an MA in museum and gallery management helped Myung Urso build a successful career as a curator, art director and gallery owner. Curating fine craft sparked an intense interest in contemporary jewelry and in 2006, after moving to Rochester, NY, Urso realized her dream of becoming a jewelry artist.
Pearl Garden, brooch
loofah, freshwater pearl, oriental ink, acrylic paint, sterling silver, thread, lacquer
Sky and Mountain, cotton, oriental ink, sterling silver
Tempo, silk, oriental ink, acrylic paint, sterling silver, thread, lacquer
The South Korea native stitches together the best of her history, education and life experience, carefully pairing materials like cotton and sterling silver or loofah and pearls. Urso’s jewelry has been exhibited in prestigious shows around the country, including the Philadelphia Museum Craft Show and SOFA NY.
Trace, silk, oriental ink, acrylic paint, sterling silver, thread, lacquer
Tide, cotton, oriental ink, acrylic paint, sterling silver, thread, lacquer
Sprout, paper, oriental ink, sterling silver, thread, lacquer
Calligraphy and sewing serve as my fundamental techniques, which I have practiced throughout my lifetime. I also found that my elderly mother’s traditional way for the preparation of food, such as the shaping of rice cake and arranging vegetables for winter storage, combined with my previous work experience as a reporter and curator for art and craft have shaped my own interpretation of contemporary jewelry. Myung Urso
joan dulla: recreating myself and ‘making’ money
I’m slowly getting back to my daily rituals and routines after months of upheaval (all good). It’s great to be back in the studio after such a long time away from art-making and I’m realizing that the time away has helped me look at my art-making differently; has shifted my focus; has given me several ‘aha’ moments to ponder. Joan Dulla’s crocheted wire sculpture “Recreating Myself” is perfect for how I feel today.
Recreating Myself
Changing My Mind
Glory Necklace
Best known for her crocheted niobium wire jewelry and sculpture, Dulla’s most recent work includes woven, crocheted money. Money. I need a Money Urn. That’s up next for me.
Money Urn
Money Collar
Money Bracelet
Previous post about Dulla here
francesca vitali: when paper meets metal
Francesca Vitali spent several years living abroad working on her PhD before settling in the United States to follow her dream. A biochemist with an eye for design, Frucci found her way to Penland School of Crafts and the Revere Academy to study jewelry, eventually relocating to Rochester, New York where she splits her time between careers in science and art. We took a quick look at Frucci’s work on Daily Art Muse back in 2007. In her most recent collection, Frucci uses rivets to connect the folded and woven recycled paper with metals.
Sheller Bracelets, copper, paper
Click on the image of the Rosario necklace detail (above) to see several images of this piece, including an image of multiple Rosario necklaces worn at the same time. Nice.
Bacello Pendant, copper, paper, pearl
Annabella Ring, paper, copper
“Paper crosses our everyday life continuously and in multiple forms: magazines, maps, shopping bags… I enjoy the idea that fragments of our lives will remain trapped in my paper jewelry.” Francesca Vitali
Find more photos like this on crafthaus
Frucci was a Featured Seller on Etsy. Read her interview here.
More Frucci jewelry on her Flickr site.
Roadside Scholar’s 2008 interview with Frucci.
