Happy Halloween Everyone!

Dave has been helping a friend out with this website for a couple weeks now and the photos just keep on coming! It's a great idea and has gotten some major press… go check it out:

www.yeswecarve.com

If you haven't carved a pumpkin yet and would like to utilize your skills in support of Obama, you too can submit your photos, and even have a chance to win an ipod!

Levi van Veluw

…an artist from the Netherlands that I am currently captivated by. Particularly his "landscape" series. For his full portfolio visit: levivanveluw.com

Hilary Pfeifer

© Hilary Pfeifer

When I was living in Boulder, CO in 2002 I was working with jeweler Todd Reed on a project and while visiting his home studio, I noticed these amazingly colorful sculptures "growing" across the walls of his stairwell. I asked who the artist was and he told me it was Hilary Pfeifer. I've been a fan of Hilary's work ever since. So when I heard about the telephone interview "Insights" with Alyson Stanfield of artbizcoach.com and Hilary Pfeifer, I jumped on the chance to be in on the call. And they did not disappoint. It's a new series Alyson has been promoting lately called "Insights," phone conversations with artists about how they've achieved their level of success. A great idea because instead of having to attend a lecture in some designated location in the US, anyone can participate and be in on the call, right from the comfort of their own home.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Although trained as a metalsmith, Hilary works primarily in wood. Though she cites metalsmithing techniques as playing an important role informing her designs. Colorful and bold with a nod to the organic, her miniature plant-life, creature-esque sculptures captivate the imagination. Although unique on their own, the character of Hilary's pieces truly come to life when assembled in groups, each sculpture relating the next in a conversational way.

Hilary and Alyson discussed the advantages of having a line of installation art pieces that allow collectors to add to as they see fit. Whether one piece or fifteen, arranged in their homes as they please, accumulated as quickly or as slowly as their wallets will allow. I think this is a fabulous way to appeal to a variety of art collecting budgets. I hope to "grow my own" collection of Hilary's work on my walls someday.

It was interesting to hear Hilary talk about the paths she took with her career to get to where she is now. Particularly resonating for me was the way Hilary found a balance with her production work and the one-of-kind gallery pieces.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Check out more from her portfolio here, her production line "Bunny with a Toolbelt" here. And for more upcoming artist talks in Alyson's "Insights" series, click here.

© Hilary Pfeifer

Metalsmith Call for Entries

Metalsmith Juried Exhibition in Print 2009 Call for Entries:

"Saturated: Metal and Color"
Jewelry and metalsmithing in which color plays a significant conceptual or visual role.

Approximately 40 artists will be selected for the publication, which will include four-color reproductions of artists' work. All jewelers, designers and metalsmiths, including students, are eligible and encouraged to apply and need not reside in the United States. All work must be original and produced within the last two years (2007 or later).

Jurors: Jamie Bennett, Professor of Art, Metal Program, State University of New York at New Paltz; and Marilyn da Silva, Professor, Chair, Jewelry/Metal Arts Program, California College of the Arts.

Postmark deadline December 5, 2008.

www.snagmetalsmith.org

Somehow I always miss the deadline for the juried EiP every time it rolls around… this year I will NOT be missing it. I encourage all you metalsmiths out there to do the same!

Arcadium Magazine Feature

My work appears on page 41 of the October issue of Arcadium, a fashion & style magazine out of Hungary. As always, if there are any translators out there…?!

the review

Dave and I went to see the movie I mentioned in last Friday's blog post, Who Does She Think She Is? and wow. This film is so. good. REALLY. Hopefully you're fortunate enough to have it traveling to a city near you. (If not it will also be coming out on DVD!)

I was all goosebumps and tears through a good majority of this film. The movie follow various working artists dealing with the struggles, as well as the joys involved in making art, cultivating relationships and raising children. It examines these complexities while questioning the way our society often forces women to choose between mothering and a career in art.

Under-appreciated, under-represented and generally lacking support by society women have a more difficult time pursuing art careers than men, despite the record number of women enrolled in college art programs. The film makes its point extraordinarily well without beating you over the head with its message. The imagery, the soundtrack and the inspiring, compelling artists the film follows left me feeling elated and determined. Please see this film and tell me what you think!

more info on their website: whodoesshethinksheis.net
NY Times review: movies.nytimes.com

Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy

A fan from Ireland sent me this poem by Marge Piercy which reminded her of my work:

Barbie Doll


This girlchild was born as usual
and presented dolls that did pee-pee
and miniature GE stoves and irons
and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.
Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:
You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,
possessed strong arms and back,
abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.
She went to and fro apologizing.
Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy,
exhorted to come on hearty,
exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.
Her good nature wore out
like a fan belt.
So she cut off her nose and her legs
and offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay
with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,
a turned-up putty nose,
dressed in a pink and white nightie.
Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.
Consummation at last.
To every woman a happy ending.


…Thanks Nicola!

Who Does She Think She Is?

I just saw something on tv about this last night, and then this morning Alyson Stanfield mentioned it on her blog. Watching the trailer just now gave me chills. I HAVE to see this movie:




It's amazing that women in the arts and their lack of recognition, appreciation and acceptance is still an issue even today. We may not always realize it, but it is. More information about the movie here.

PLAY

I've been glued to NPR and all the political/economic coverage on the news these days and have been wondering what it means for the upcoming holiday season and future sales of my jewelry. Sometimes I really abhor having to think about the financial end of my business even though I know it's a necessity.

Lately my studio work has been feeling rather uninspired. I've decided to take some time to PLAY! and see what new ideas I can come up with. Hopefully I'll have some results to post soon. Perhaps I need to blast some fun music instead of listening to all this depressing news in my studio?

If you need a little happiness and a distraction from political/economic stresses I highly recommend renting this movie. Dave and I watched it just recently and really loved it.

definitely been there

by Lev Yilmaz.
Hopefully this is not how my Monday will turn out today cause I really have to get a lot of stuff done.

BUSTed!

This is perhaps the most exciting magazine press I've ever received…
I'm in the new Oct/Nov issue of BUST!

One of my favorite magazines for the past 10 years, BUST is a young women's mag with a distinctly third-wave voice.

(page 32)

The article, while brief, is one of the most well-written, spot-on representations of me and my work. (click the image below to enlarge)

This is a huge deal to me and such an honor… Thanks BUST!

Lisa Kellner

I was turned on to amazing Brooklyn based textile artist Lisa Kellner via Emily Barletta's blog and have fallen in love with this wall piece made of head pins. Lovely. Just had to share! Go see more.

If the Shoe Fits…

I completed this bracelet just this morning for an exhibition call for entry entitled The Perfect Fit – Shoes Tell Stories on exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum from June 6, 2009 to January 3, 2010. Starting in February 2010, the exhibition will travel to exhibition venues around the country.

The shoes were originally cast from a vintage plastic Barbie doll shoe in sterling and then the the heels were extended via hand-fabrication techniques to enable a rivet ball head to connect each shoe link. The clasp is an extension hook off one of the heels.

Fingers crossed that I get in! I submitted a couple other pieces as well, but this was the only new piece.

'cause he knowses I don't do roses

My sweetie surprised me with these 'oh so lovelies' yesterday for our 3 year anniversary. So bright and cheery and just what I needed!

Zoë Newsome

I'm not typically ga-ga over flower forms in jewelry work. I guess because it's such a common, typical theme. However, I was floored when I saw the work of London based jewelry artist Zoë Newsome and her take on the subject. Her metal flowers are like drawings that have sprung to life off the page; so expressionistic, delicate and, well… organic. Even if the theme is a popular one, her visual language for interpreting it is so totally unique, I'm officially ga-ga. Enjoy!