End Of The Week, polymer clay, copper, wood

Primarily a metalsmith, Reaves also works with a variety of media including polymer clay. His life long love of science fiction and toys clearly influence his work.

Obsolete, polymer clay, 17″ tall

Adam, polymer clay, 18.5″ tall

Expendable Youth
copper, brass, silver, acrylic, polymer clay, plastic, steel, 19″ tall

Exit, polymer clay, copper, wood

Bellicose, copper, brass, bronze, wood, 7.5″ tall

“I use robots to create a narrative, representing people in society performing tasks or caught in situations with serious connotations. My goal is for people to look past the facade into the mirror and establish an understanding with the figure and its plight.

Sculptures are presented with recognizable items such as school chairs to allow the viewer to make connections to real world experience. The pieces are approachable, derived from simple design and geometric parts.”

Hornet Ring, copper, brass

Check out this ring – it consists of 75 parts that he connected using silver solder – the helicopter blade spins.  He calls it a “finger riding automation.”

Kevin Reaves website

All Sorts and Cupcake

I shared Kate Church’s work back in 2007 – oh, so long ago – and was delighted to see her continued success with the sculptural puppetry she is known for globally.  Church’s figures are poetic, whimsical, dreamy, and utterly charming.  They begin their lives as pieces of wire, chunks of polymer clay, bits of fabric and lost objects found and now loved. Poetic indeed.

Dreamland

Asleep At The Wheel

Tea and Doormouse

Little Birds

“Sculptural Puppetry: Combining the line and form of sculpture with the playful anima of puppetry. People were always asking me what to call my work. Trying to figure this out … this was what I came up with. It fits quite beautifully. The bodies are built over a wire armature using polymer clay and fibre construction. This is designed to allow motion during and to some degree after the figure is created. It is an inventive process that is both delicate and strong.”

Maybe Kate Church needs an apprentice up there in Nova Scotia?  I just happen to know of one. . .

Kate Church’s website

Rocks Cuff Spiral Cut Out

Muir has a degree in design from Glasgow School of Art and a resume that reads like a travel log, including years of retail in London, PR and marketing in Australia, an antiques shop owner in Scotland and before “returning to a more directly creative path”, a career as a china restorer. Whew.

Big Bangle Beach Rock Autumn

Segment Cuff “Mountain High, Valley Low”

Although you can see the influences of her teachers (to my eye, most specifically Dan Cormier, Donna Kato and Seth Savarick), Muir’s voice comes through loud and clear and these bracelets make a bold fashion statement.

Rocks Cuff Triangle Flame Teal

Rocks Square Cuff Cinnabar

“I am constantly inspired by the colours and patterns that surround me at my home near Nairn, in the Scottish Highlands. I also love Japanese and Chinese decorative art. My jewellery is deceptively simple in form, but the creation and application of pattern is critical. There are no hidden messages; I simply wish to create jewellery which is so beautiful that it speaks to someone else and inspires them to purchase and wear my work.” Melanie Muir

Melanie Muir’s website

Ford & Forlano, polymer, sterling silver

Cynthia Toops
polymer, shell, bone, glass beads, sterling

As Tory Hughes explains, Terra Nova “marks polymer’s recognition as a valid and valuable art medium, and establishes RAM as a museum to be watched.” Hughes is one of eight artists spotlighted this weekend by RAM as the Boundary Breakers in the medium – artists who have been recognized within the field and/or by other contemporary craft disciplines.

Dan Cormier
polymer, aluminum, aircraft cable, sterling silver wire, glass, photocopy on paper, transparent film, vinyl, rubber

Jeff Dever, polymer, wire

The exhibit features over 200 objects made of polymer and tracks the medium’s history.  Read more about the exhibit here. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing polymer out of the shadows and into the limelight.  It’s time to shine.

Elise Winters

Learn how Elise Winters made her vision to elevate the medium a reality.  Winters is the main force behind polymer’s new-found recognition as a respected art medium. RAM’s Bruce Pepich is the other driving force behind this project. Want more? Go see Terra Nova - it runs from October 21, 2011 – February 5, 2012.

Swimmer, polymer clay, acrylic, canvas, wood

Swimmer, detail

Remember the sidewalk scene in Mary Poppins where Mary, Bert and the children jump into Bert’s chalk drawings? In their own way, the paintings have that Mary Poppins effect. I want to jump into them and find out the rest of the story. Hernandez’s distinctive voice is evident in each sculptural painting.

Clown, polymer clay, acrylic, canvas, wood

Waiting Man, polymer clay, acrylic, canvas, wood

Flying Away, polymer clay, acrylic, canvas, wood

Edgar Herndandez’s website
On Etsy

Want To Learn More?

You can learn how to incorporate this versatile medium into your own mixed media art. In August Tory Hughes is teaching A Solid Foundation: Introduction to Polymer Clays for All Media in her Santa Fe studio. Hughes, a premiere polymer artist and innovator (she developed the now-widely-used imitative techniques for polymer) has been working with the medium for 35 years. You will leave the class with more than practical skills – she is a truly inspirational teacher.

There are limited seats available – more information here.