Victoria Altepeter

20 Questions

2011-04-06T09:32:00.001-07:00

I am really excited to be participating in an upcoming exhibition at the

Tempe Center for the Arts:

"So often, the contemporary art realm is faced with the question "What is it?" This exhibition helps the viewer answer that question and embraces the unusual, quirky and off-beat appeal of

artworks that do not always fit into categories such as painting, drawing and sculpture.

Each artist created a site specific installation or environment for the artwork placed in this exhibtion. The TCA worked with artists, creating story lines, questions and conversation topics for audiences. Several types of interactive games are being made available including brochure scavenger hunts for adults, coloring pages and worksheets for children and social media options

such as Twitter, Facebook and online blogs.

The exhibition featues 12 Arizona artists working in a variety of media and themes, playing with the popular game "Twenty Questions"

Participating artists include:

Ron Bimrose, Tempe

Miro Chun, Phoenix

Mitch Fry, Phoenix

Corinne Geertsen, Mesa

Mary Bates Neubauer, Chandler

Kimberly Nikolaev, Chandler

Christy Puetz, Phoenix

Joe Willie Smith, Phoenix

Kaori Takamura, Carefree

Beata Wehr, Tucson

Denise Yaghmourian, Phoenix

I will be posting images of these amazing artists work soon, but for now, check out the links! I have been working on my Nebulae series- it has grown and multiplied and will include around 25 pieces for the exhibition.

If you are in the area, be sure to come by the Tempe Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 23

from 7-9 for the opening reception. Many of the artists will be there! If you have not yet been to the Tempe Center for the Arts, go! It is an absolutely gorgeous building that looks on to Tempe Town Lake, with many art pieces installed on the grounds. The structure actually mimics nearby Hayden Butte, complete with a copper roof.

Stay tuned for more!

NAU Students

2011-03-28T13:36:00.000-07:00

For the first time, I have been teaching full time. I'm instructing at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, and loving it! The only downside? Workign on my own pieces has taken a major back seat. It rarely happens these days! We have been covering marriage of metals, hollowforming, hydraulic press forming and embossing, enameling, a variety of casting techniques and much more... Here is a small sampling of some of my students work here at the mountain campus:

Erica Lund

Josh Schretenthaler

Lia Sawalqah

Doris Benally

Theresa Wallace

Ben Alonzo

Interested on the happenings in our metals department? Check out the Metals Club Blog!

500 Silver Jewelry Designs

2011-03-21T17:33:00.001-07:00

I just recieved my copy of the new Lark Book: 500 Silver Jewelry Designs in the mail! This book contains an image of a belt buckle I created in grad school-part of the series below-and was chosen by juror Talya Baharal.

The image below is included in the book. I am so excited to be a part of this, and have been glued to the pages as this book contains silver designs that are unexpected and manipulate the material (silver) sometimes beyond recognition. Its a page turner, and will be available in stores very soon!

Dynamical Balance

Silver, nickle, holloformed and fabricated, marriage of metals

2009

Yuma 32 Pins

2011-03-02T14:26:00.001-08:00

check out some of the beauties i traded for at the yuma symposium:

betsy douglas, ellie richards, james thurman

maureen brusa zappelini

patty smith, mary chang, fred zweig

leon nash- available for sale here

lynette andreasen

already thinking about the pins i'll make for next year! ...and better start making trade pins for snag!!

To Yuma and Back

2011-02-28T16:07:00.001-08:00

ok, its been a while. and no, i have not been in yuma this whole time! teaching here at nau keeps me more than busy, and in the studio working less and less. those to-do lists just get longer and longer, and time shorter...

i attended the yuma symposium last weekend, and had a blast catching up with old friends and meeting new. it is so inspiring and refreshing to listen to other artists talk about their work and process. i was able to talk one student into going, and i know he will be attending for years to come. please click on the link to learn more about this great opportunity to listen, learn and meet some amazing people. there is so much more that happens here besides what the symposium has to offer- i highly recommend a trip to the symposium next february!!

michael dale bernard giving a post lecture demonstration of powder coating

the asu gals

my student matagi sorensen and i at the student show

lute's famous "especial" mmmmm

lute's casino- where the pin swap and lots of fun happens

can't wait until next year!

Small Metals, Big Ideas

2010-11-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

Check out what the ASU graduate students and faculty are up to on this video about the exhibition Small Metals, Big Ideas showing until November 28th at the Night Gallery in the Tempe Marketplace. Grads, faculty and alumni have work on display. While all the metalwork was created at the ASU metals shop, it is incredibly diverse! Stop by and check it out, or watch the video, which aired on Phoenix' PBS station:

Small Metals, Big Ideas

Craft in Appalachia

2010-10-02T18:16:00.001-07:00

Blogging has taken a back seat to teaching and preparing for the Philly Craft Show, but I wanted to share an exhibition that is currently showing at The Slocumb Gallery, at East Tennessee State University. I was invited to be a part of this exhibit, which is showcasing artists who are crafting in Appalachia. Artists that have affiliation with The Appalachain Center for Craft, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and Penland School of Crafts were included. The postcard really has me curious about the exhibition, giving viewers just a glimpse of what they will see at the gallery.

Participating artists:

Victoria Altepeter

Anastasia Azure

Jeanne Whitfield Brady

Linda Darty

Catharine Ellis

Thaddeus Erdahl

Bill Griffith

Lisa Klakulak

Sung-Yeoul Lee

Sarah Perkins

Vince Pitelka

Norm Schulman

Melody Tiemann

Jerilyn Virden

Christine Zoller.

The work ranges all craft media. I am bummed I'm not able to see it in person! A big thank you to Karlota Contreras-Koterbay for organizing and installing the exhibition! I am delighted to be a part of it.

Some of the work I sent away included a tea infuser, a wall piece, a selection of brooches and a selection of a small series of wall pieces:

What I think is so neat about this exhibition is that some of the participating artists are doing more than just exhibiting- there will be a panel discussion following the reception on October 7th, as well as workshops in fibers, ceramics, and metal throughout the week. Wouldn't it be great to be in East Tennessee these days?

August in Flagstaff

2010-08-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

Flagstaff in the summertime is quite a treat. That is, if you are unaffected by forest fire, or mudslides caused by torrential monsoon rains. This summer has been especially hard on Flagstaff, but the beauty must be shared! August is especially gorgeous, with the simultaneous bloom of millions of sunflowers and other variety of wildflowers. I live just south of town and am surrounded by National Forest. Thats right, trails that connect to secluded and well traveled lakes, wild animals, and lots of elk! I am loving it. I even have to make hummingbird rescues from time to time when they whiz into our house. Hope you enjoy the views:

Out the backyard after a monsoon.

Lake Mary- just two minutes down the road from my house!

Winston enjoying some fetch in the crystal clear waters of Oak Creek.

Sunflowers-

are EVERYWHERE!

A far off view of the San Francisco Peaks from Lake Mary Road.

The road home! I live a minute off this road, it is such a pleasure to drive to work!

Its Winter Park time!

2010-08-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last March, I participated in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival in Winter Park, Florida. Winter Park is a suburb of Orlando, a really pretty town! I The application is now online for anyone interested in showing. Just click on the link! I was selected to exhibit as an emerging artist, and this opportunity is what I am really wanting to share with you all.

It was such a positive experience. The WPSAF has been running a program for many years that helps emerging artists- those who have not had the experience of showing at a larger festival. They pay for your travel to and from the event, put you up in a nice hotel, pay your booth fee, advertise for you in their festival book; even pay for your meals!

This experience allowed me to talk with other artists there, those making a living doing shows like this one. I learned about how to survive on the road, how to set up a booth that will attract attention and is easily packed down for transit. I got so much good advice there. This experience gave me the confidence to apply to the upcoming Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show.

I will never forget the people I met at this Festival! From the other emerging artists- Richard Auger and Jon Nate Cotterman, to experienced artists like Janine DeCresenzo and Jamie Lampert, what an awesome experience!

Thank you to the folks at Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival once again!

Here, There and Everywhere!

2010-08-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

Since finishing up an extremely magical residency at Arrowmont, I have been city hopping! I made my way West again, stopping to be with family and friends in St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, and Phoenix, now I am home again in Flagstaff, Arizona. FINALLY!!In August, I will once again be spending my days at Northern Arizona University. This is the school where I completed my BFA in metals with Joe Cornett. I will be teaching in the Jewelry and Metals department at the School of Performing and Fine Arts. I am very excited, and cannot wait to meet the students and see them through the rest of their journeys as undergraduates. I’ll be teaching five sections of class, including: two advanced techniques courses, casting, a calss that gears students up for their BFA exhibition, and 3-D Design. I have a lot of students! This will be a new experience in so many ways. I am so grateful to have had the Arrowmont experience preceding this as it gave me a chance to reflect and grow as an artist and as a thinker.

The San Francisco Peaks during monsoon season

Though the Jewelry and metals program is scheduled to close in two years, I have high hopes for the future. All in all, I am grateful for the experience to teach on a higher level and affect the lives of the next generations of metalsmiths and makers! (and in Flagstaff, to boot- I love this town!)

Winston takin a breather on the trail

Oh yeah, I have had a new friend with me since leaving Arrowmont! His name is Winston- he’s a two year old pit bull terrier/ Greater Swiss Mountain dog mix. He’s a stud, and keeping me on my toes! Its nice to have a buddy to hike all the trails that are right out my backdoor!

More on Flagstaff and the University to come! Thanks for reading!

2010 Artist in Residence Exhibition

2010-05-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

So... I want to finally share some images of the 2010 Artist in Residence Exhibition. Jill Greene, Arrowmont's in-house photographer captured the exhibition and the opening reception for us, and we are so lucky for that! Check out what the Thaddeus Erdahl, Martina Lantin, Kent Perdue and myself were able to accomplish in our eleven months spent in Gatlinburg, Tennessee as resident artists:

The Residents!

Martina Lantin

Kent Perdue

TJ and his girlfriend, Stephanie Stuefer

Thaddeus Erdahl

Me and Martina

Vic

Two of our most favorite people on campus- Darren and Maxine!

Hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of what we worked on. I'll be adding more images to my flickr and crafthaus pages soon! Time is ticking here in East Tennessee, we will be parting ways this weekend... it seems like only a short time ago that we were all meeting each other for the first time on campus at Arrowmont. Next post: where are we headed?

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show

2010-05-18T18:50:00.000-07:00

This year, I finally applied.... I finally did it! And the outcome?

This November, I will be exhibiting in the Philidelphia Museum of Art Craft Show as an Emerging Artist. I am really, really excited! There is so much work to do! Because I participated in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art and Music Festival, I understand a little better than before what it will take to do a good job at this event.

On my checklist:

lighting

back and side walls

jewelry display cases and tables

business cards

packaging

marketing brochures

signage!

and of course, new work!

I have lots to do between now and November 9th! If anybody has advice, I am all ears!

Resident Open Studio

2010-05-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

Our days are coming to an end here at Arrowmont, so the residents got together to throw an Open Studio one last time. It was an all day affair, to make sure we could visit with as many people as possible. We grilled, had a fire in the pit, ate good food and laughed. It was awesome to see old students, Arrowmont staff and Board members, and friends.

Thaddeus Erdahl

Martina Lantin

Kent Perdue

This is my studio- and some new work...

An Arrowmont family photo- with Bill Griffith, the Assistant Director here at Arrowmont.... and Zoe- Bill's dog, our mascot! It was a great day. Thanks for coming to visit everybody!

Soon I want to share our resident exhibition with you all. I posted a video Kent made a while back, but I'd like to show photos of the exhibition, and share some of my new work, and where I'm headed next.

Two weeks to go here in the Smoky's, time to get busy art making and trail blazin'!

Interview

2010-05-04T19:44:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked to do an interview with the website Love to Know. I know little about these guys, except for the fact that they have done interviews with other metalsmiths that I admire. Check out what came from our conversation here. I enjoy doing things like this- it helps expand the horizons of those we know, and can help clarify things we are thinking but not neccesarily sharing all the time. I also think it is great practice in learning how to describe your work and talk about yourself.

Ahhh.... spring!

2010-04-16T14:25:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time since I have witnessed spring in a green area, having been living out west for a while... check out some of the luscious blooms, all right here on the Arrowmont campus:

Martina planted these tulips!

I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful spring!

Making time for etsy...

2010-04-14T11:37:00.001-07:00

With all the leftovers from Winter Park, it is about time I get things rolling into my online shop in Etsy. Here is a sampling of the goodies available, all torch fired enamel:

New Tool!

2010-04-14T10:43:00.001-07:00

I've been waiting for this guy for a long time! It will form disks 2" to 3 1/4" I think I'm in love!

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

2010-04-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

(emerging artists booths)

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. I was chosen as an emerging artist from a group of applicants... if you are interested in these kind of events, and haven't done a major one, apply for this opportunity! The board provides each emerging artist with an all expense paid trip to Winter Park, Florida to show and sell their artwork. It was a great chance to talk with other exhibitors and get their advice on booth display and set up, pricing, traveling to and from festivals economically, etc. I learned a wealth of information from Janine DeCresenzo, a former Arrowmont artist in residence.

(my booth, and Ryan!)

There were two other emerging artists at the event, and we were placed together at the park. Jon Nate Cotterman is a glass artist from Cleveland, Ohio. It was awesome to meet him and his girlfriend Tony. Jon creates functional and sculptural glass, which is absolutely gorgeous. Richard Auger is a photographer and a Florida native. He photographs primarily at night, with very long exposures. The images are usually landscapes, and are quite interesting. Please check them out through the links!

All in all, it was a lot of work preparing for the show. But worth it? Definitely! My boyfriend, Ryan, came out early to help me construct hanging "walls" and earring displays to show wall pieces and the many torch fired earrings I have been working on. They were light and easy to set up when we arrived. On the last day of this three day event, an afternoon storm came through, and the hanging fixtures began to sway, along with the tent walls- it felt like we were on a ship! I know I'll need to keep working on these designs- weights? or maybe cables to attach the hanging fixtures to the ground?

My favorite part of the festival was meeting people. The other artists and board members were awesome. So friendly and wanting to help out in any way possible. The visitors- over 350,000- were pretty neat too. I met people from all over the state, many of whom had been to Arrowmont for classes or to teach, even a couple who had been in over the summer and had been in my studio for an open studio night. The most memorable was Judith. She has lived in Winter Park for many, many years. She came by each day with stories, and even flowers from her garden. She is very supportive of the arts, and found her appreciation through working for the local Morse Museum for many years. The museum is home to "the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Amazing that this place was so close to the festival, with such treasures inside!

(Judith and myself)

On the last day of the event, the skies opened and the crowds cleared. The rain was falling sideways! So much water accumulated so quickly at our feet. We were standing in inches of water in no time. Judith came back to see if we were okay and needed help! I love this woman! I learned a valuable lesson because of this rain: Take booth shots as soon as you set up!!! I was waiting until the end... but the end wasn't so pretty. Bad mistake!

I'll leave you with a shot of the Spanish moss. It hung everywhere, and was so magical. I hope you have the chance to check out the other emerging artists, and encourage you to apply for this opportunity!

2010 Artist in Residence Exhibition

2010-03-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Kent Perdue has been busy.... check out the video he made of our exhibition!

It shows a little from each of us. I'll be posting pictures of the exhibition soon. Things have been a little hectic for me, I've been running around the south visiting places and showing work. I can't wait to share a bit of what I've been doing very soon! Until then, please enjoy the show!

2010 Arrowmont Artists in Residence Exhibition from Kent Perdue on Vimeo.

In the works...

2010-03-04T01:49:00.000-08:00

This week the residents here at Arrowmont have been preparing for our exhibition- to showcase the work we have created during our time here. The exhibition opens Friday... so you can guess that we are working hard and around the clock to make sure everything is done- well done! Each day the space is drastically changing. It is neat to see how well our work fits together, and I am excited to share images of the show with everyone very shortly!

its the little things

2010-02-28T00:06:00.000-08:00

from firescale to ice crystals, patina to powdered glass...

i've been busy at work and amused by the smaller, spontaneous happenings... in the studio and out:

ReFined:Back to Basics

2010-02-18T11:21:00.000-08:00

Images of the ReFined:Back to Basics exhibition are online! The show was juried by Lisa Gralnick, someone who I really, really admire. The exhibition is showing in a gallery at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. I can't wait to get my catalogue and browse through all the work. My professor at ASU, Becky Chader, was included, as was my instructor Tedd McDonah, and fellow grad Lauren McAdams, now assistant professor at SFASU, where the show is taking place. How neat that we could all meet up via our work in Texas!

MTSU Visiting Artists

2010-02-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, Kent, TJ and I made the cold and snowy trip to Murfreesboro, about 3 hours west of Gatlinburg, to present artist lectures to the students and faculty of the art department at Middle Tennessee State University. We were invited by Erin Anfinson, who we had met here at Arrowmont when she was a faculty member during the fall session. She is a faculty member and painter at MTSU. The lectures went well, and we all learned a little more about each others work and got to see pieces we hadn't before.

This is the Todd building, which houses the art department and galleries. It was beautiful. The facilities were relatively new, and very up to date in terms of technology and equipment. I was very impressed. The faculty members were so talented, as well as the students. I wish I had more photos to share, but we were pleased to be able to see student work hanging everywhere, due to a recent critique. After our lectures, we spent one on one time with individuals having studio visits. It was neat to talk to these guys, working in different mediums.

In between Gatlinburg and Murfreesboro, there is a tiny town called Crossville. It is home to a massive treehouse- I mean huge!! It is built entirely from scrap wood, and has different rooms, porches, swings... anything you can dream. Even a stained glass window! We had to stop and check it out.... I found out about this treehouse on a blog I read called This Tiny House. When I found out it was in Tennessee, it wound up on my "must- do while in Tennessee" list. Check out more pictures on my facebook page. The snow made this place that much more interesting, drifts in the rooms and on the stairs, blowing in through the reclaimed windows. Such a cool place, makes you feel like a kid again!

Wednesday was action packed and filled with good story telling- we had about 8 hours in the car together! Thank you very much to Erin Anfinson and MTSU for having us come out.

Daily Art Muse

2010-02-10T18:02:00.000-08:00

My work has been featured on the Daily Art Muse today! Thank you to Susan Lomuto, author of this site, for featuring my work. I am flattered! This is a great blog to keep up with, featuring artists of all media and career paths- get your daily dose and check out her site!

Surfaces

2010-02-08T01:14:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been sneaking in moments to play in the studio. Unsure of what will become of some of this, I'm having lots of fun reticulating yellow brass and sterling silver. These first couple of images are parts are destined for a wall piece- fusing silver and copper filings to copper sheet.

patinated with liver of sulpher:

To fuse filings, start with a clean copper or silver surface and cover with flux. When the flux looks clear and glassy, sprinkle clean silver and/or copper filings onto the surface and continue to heat until the metal is glowing red. Pickle, and clean with pumice and a brass brush.

16 gauge yellow brass

more 16 gauge yellow brass, patinated with gun blue

this last image is of a piece of reticulated 18 gauge yellow brass

Its easy to reticulated brass- just heat the metal until red hot and pickle eight times. Then, heat the metal until evenly warmed. Using a sharp, hot flame, heat up an area of the metal until it is near melting point. Move the flame away slowly, and you will see the metal begin to buckle. Keep moving across the metal until you have completed reticulating the piece. Definitely work with good ventilation, and my best advice is to work with a piece of metal that is about 3 inches by 3 inches to avoid melting through until you get the hang of it.

I am so enjoying the instant gratification of such dramatic texture. In three short weeks, I will begin to teach a class here at Arrowmont about surfaces. I can't wait to share this with the students. What I think is so great about these techniques is in their simplicity. All they require are metal, a little flux, a pickle pot and a torch; pretty minimal for such interesting results. Start adding patinas, and the sky is the limit...

Charmed

2010-02-08T00:37:00.000-08:00

The Charmed Exhibition is online! Many thanks to Sharon Massey for her hard work putting the show together and photographing the many charms to put online. Its so cool to see what the other participating artists have created. Some of my favorite charms were created by Becky Chader, Cappy Counard, Lynette Andreasen, Margaux Lange and Kat Cole... Check out all the work, made by hand by an array of artists, at the Society for Contemporary Craft website.

Saturday Mornings

2010-02-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

Saturdays are not for sleeping in these days...

I have been working with a great group of kids from the area on metalworking projects. I am teaching a class called "Manipulating Metal", and each week, we tackle new skills. Candy Tate, who has been working with metal for years and taking classes at Arrowmont, meets with us each week as well. So far we have met three times, and have covered carving and casting with cuttlebone, sinking and bouging, texture, soldering, forming, finishing and patination. Today we completed footed dishes:

I am so proud of them all! Each step of the way they have been attentive to process and detail, all the while gossiping or talking football... will it be the Saints or the Colts tomorrow??

Here is Damon, deep in conversation, and notice the beautiful cuttlebone creation around his neck! And yes... thats his copper dish!

This is William, his piece is in the foreground. I had the pleasure to meet him during Art Reach in November.

These guys are great, and it is a lot of fun to teach such an animated group. They work together so well, and I can't be happier to see them each come in every Saturday!

As for me, studio work is coming along steadily. With our resident show just around the corner- opening in four weeks- it better be! Here is a taste of something in the works... it is inspired by a past piece, but will be completely different in appearance. Stay tuned!

New Work: Nebulae

2010-01-25T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a series I call Nebulae. A strange word, I know... but it is the plural for nebula. Nebula are really special places in our universe- the place where stars are born. Nebula are dense, massive clouds of gas and dust. Some block light from other sources, some absorb light, some produce their own light. I think they are really interesting, and thanks to the Hubble telescope, we can feast our eyes on an array of images from space showing nebulae. Check out the Hubble site if you have a chance. You will get lost in wonder. Meanwhile, what do you think of my own depictions? Comments are welcome!

These pieces are on average 4 x 4 x 1", and made with silver, shibuichi, bronze, copper, nickel, red brass, and stalactite slices I found at the Tucson gem and mineral show.

This one (above) is my favorite!

Bad Blogger!

2010-01-11T12:03:00.001-08:00

Well, I hope everybody had great holidays with family and friends! I have been consumed in work over the last month or so, and have completely left the blogging for later. I have been all over the place since the last post... from Arizona across Missouri and back to the Smokey's.

In Arizona, I participated in the Mesa Art Festival, held for the last few years right before the holidays. This year I was awarded a second place prize! It was a lot of fun to see friends there and meet new ones. My boyfriend, Ryan, was there for support... it was good to have time together!

Here we are, setting up...

And a sampling of some of the work I had created for the show:

rings with patterned metals

torch-fired enameled ornaments

lotsa earrings!

lots more necklaces!

...and now the feat of getting them up on etsy!

I've also been working on some other things:

an engagement ring commissioned by one of the staff here at Arrowmont, for another staff member- how exciting! Darren and Maxine were engaged to be married on December 15th. They met here, and they are two extremely hard working, funny and warm people. Congrats to the two of them!

For an exhibition entitled Charmed at The Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, a set of charms. They are made with patterned metal, shibuichi, and sterling silver. The images doesn't quite show the tubes that are holding each piece together... lots of cutting! The show will be posted online, and the charms will be available for sale. There are lots of participants from all over the country, and I am very excited to see what the others have come up with!

This piece is a tea infuser. It was made for the eXtreme tea exhibition that will take place in Houston during the SNAG conference. Check out the link! They choose my image as one of four for their card! It is about 5 1/2" long, and made from patterned metals, silver and nickel. The tube rivet allows the piece to swivel open and closed to add loose tea.

Judy Belcher and myself put together this piece utilizing her polymer clay skills put together with my metalworking. The piece was a collaboration for the Synergy II conference in Baltimore. This is an international show in which polymer artists were to collaborate with others and see what results might come. I had a great time collaborating with Judy, and I am anxious to collab with others now! We were featured on Polymer Clay Daily a while back- how cool!

Whats next? Tomorrow will be the first day of teaching community classes, I'll be teaching Rings and Things. Students will learn all the basics of metalworking. It will be a blast! Our resident artist exhibition is right around the corner as well- we start installation on March 1st! Yikes!!! The residents will also be going to Middle Tennessee State University in February to give an artist lecture... Stay tuned! I'll have so much more to share coming up. And I am hoping to stay more current with the blogging! until next time- vic

DC Craft Show Artists...

2009-11-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

I collected cards from people I talked to at the show. There was so much to see, so much that I really enjoyed. As I sifted through the cards I had collected to look at web pages, I found that some of the artists did not have websites. Some did, but were not updated with current works, and some people were linked onto the webpages of the galleries or art centers they were a part of. I had always just assumed that artists in shows such as this one were fully linked on the web. It seems as though I'm not the only artist craftsperson without a website after all. As I continue to contemplate and organize for my own fully functional site, check out the work of some of the artists showing in DC:

Carolyn Morris Bach- a jeweler creating intricate and whimsical pieces with precious stones and metals, depicting animals, plant forms- stunning work

Jeong Ju Lee- she is a resident at Penland, and works in metal

Sandra Byers- a sculptural ceramicist who works in porcelain

Linda Kindler- Priest- a jeweler creating delicate forms depicting animals through chasing and repousse on gold, coupled with precious stones.

Jaclyn Davidson- a metalsmith who currently works with blacksmithing techniques to create jewelry, embellished with gold and diamonds

Scott Nelles- a foundry worker who creates whimsical, humorous functional sculpture

Robert Farrell- a metalsmith creating functional and non- functional work, jewelry

Myung Urso- a fiber artist and metalsmith, who stitches hand dyed, printed fabrics and thread to metal frameworks for the body

Baharal- Gnida- a team of two that create gorgeous jewelry, structural and seductive to the eye

Biba Schutz- a metalsmith creating for the body, patinated, bold designs

Jennifer Falter- a ceramicist from Springfield, MO, creating simple forms of white clay, then coating with black slip. she carves through the black slip to reveal designs of flora and fauna.

Check these guys and gals out- you won't be disappointed. I am so inspired by these people and what they can accomplish with their hands. Time to get my hands busy in the studio!

DC Craft Show

2009-11-16T14:24:00.001-08:00

Over the first weekend of November, I was able to attend the DC Craft Show, as an assistant to Joan Dulla. The show was held in the Washington Convention Center, in the heart of the district. There were 190 artists showing, and it was a beautiful mix of work.

Joan's money teapot made the cover of the program, what a great surprise for her, not to mention the publicity! Joan was interviewed on the local Fox network the day before the show's opening.

This was Joan's booth, her cousin Lucy joined as well. We had a blast! Joan taught me lots about the business: the real deal, as opposed to just talking about things. I learned a lot! I was given time to go explore and talk to other artists vending. Getting different perspectives, different ideas about the way things work. Here is a view from above, only showing a portion of the hall the Craft Show filled.

I have been reading Madeleine Albright's book, Read My Pins. It's a good one, whether you are into jewelry, politics, or just body adorment in general. The former secretary of state was in attendance, and gave an interview with a book signing. It was pretty neat to listen to the stories come from her, not just pages in a book. She's a smart and funny woman to say the least!

My next post will be about some of the artist's I really enjoyed at the show. If you are ever in the vicinity of DC during the times of this event, it is well worth the trip! Thanks, Joan!!

Art Reach

2009-11-09T13:24:00.001-08:00

My latest bunch(most of them!) of kids for Arrowmont's Art Reach program! These guys are high school seniors, we had a blast cuttlebone casting with pewter.

Arrowmont has been running a program for years that allows students of all ages in area schools to come in for a day and participate in an art class. This year, there is a photography class, two different ceramics classes, a wood turning class, and a fibers class making batiked bandanas. It is great for the kids because they are getting to experience things outside the norm: art in school is limited in this area to say the least, most students spend about 30 minutes per week with their art teachers. I really enjoy my time with these kids, and I want more! They are a treat to have on campus, and so much fun to work with!

These last two pieces are from my fifth graders! They are both T's, but for very different reasons. The first is a "power T", significant in the football culture here, and the second, a very feminine initial! I wish I had more to share, but the time flies and before you know it were out of it! Today's group had a great cast and some very refined work.... can't wait to see what next week will bring!

Low Tech Casting

2009-10-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I took part in a class based on low tech ways to cast metal here at Arrowmont. Elizabeth Hake was our instructor. She is a former Arrowmont resident artist and lives in Asheville, where she teaches and makes lots and lots of jewelry. You can find her work in a few different books about recycled jewelry, and the 500 Series from Lark. We explored cuttlebone casting, in conjunction with mat board and ceiling tile, broom casting, and more. We used pewter, bronze, and silver...It was a blast! Here is a taste of what the weekend was like:

Lots of molds!

Elizabeth Bray, casting silver

Elizabeth Hake, Kent, and me

ACC 2009

2009-10-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the privilege to attend the American Craft Council's 2009 conference in Minneapolis. I was excited to be there to hear speakers like Sonya Clark, Richard Sennett, Faythe Levine, and Natalie Chanin to name a few. I was also glad to be there with friends, and had the pleasure of making many new friends. The Minneapolis art community was stellar- lots of great things going on at the Northrup King Building and the Northern Clay Center, wonderful people and lots of treats for the eyes.

The conference was fast paced, lots of information- that which was being blogged live by two metalsmiths for SNAG. The official SNAG bloggers were Harriete Estel Berman and Emiko Oye. Click their names to read their takes on things. I am still soaking it all in. So many new aspects to consider, books to read, people to talk to! One thing I can say, and I think many will agree, is that I was surprised at the amount of time spent on Martha Stewart and DIY. Will craft ever be defined? I liked one man's response to the question- Just keep making!

room with a view!

...another room with a view: Richard Sennett speaking Friday morning.

me and Judy!

good friends Ellie Richards and Lynette Andreasen

Lynette, Barbara Smith, and myself

Tea Infusor

2009-10-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

Just a little something I have been working on in the studio... This is my first attempt at anything related to the table- its a tea infuser. I fabricated this piece to enter an exhibition that will show during the 2010 SNAG Conference in Houston. I know the competition will be fierce, so I'm not getting my hopes up, but had to try!

I wanted the piece to be simple, and carry on the same designs and techniques I usually use in my work-marriage of metals, mokume gane... The parts swivel on a wire rivet, but I think I will change this to a tube rivet, for strength and appearance.

Now I just need to decide on the blend of tea to try it out with! (and the right mug, all my ceramicist friends!) You can click on the images to get a better look...

5 x 1.25 x 1.25"

Torch-fired Enamels

2009-10-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

What a great week! Our class with Marjorie Simon flew by, but not before she could share a variety of skill sets with us. She shared torch firing enamels, fold forming, embossing and the hydraulic press, solderless pin backs, and a variety of cold connecting techniques. We had such a great group, some who had never touched metal, gallery owners, even the vp of the Enamelist Society. And we all come away with new knowledge, and pieces to show for it!

Marjorie even brought some of her own work with her, to show examples of the ways that she uses the skills she was sharing. They were just gorgeous.

And student work a plenty:

Vicki Mathieu

Diane Howey

Robin Lathroum

Cynthia Hicks

...and these were my samples, which you probably recognize from the last post. I fold formed everything and used etching creme galore. I really liked the effect of the matte finish on such vibrant colors.

The last thing I tired was embossing in conjunction with enameling. I used steel binding wire, then some blues. I also used the solderless pin back Marjorie taught us. It was a good solution to making a lightweight, wearable piece. I donated this brooch to Arrowmont's silent auction, which took place the Friday evening. Auctions at Arrowmont are a lot of fun, and support the student scholarship fund. I was happy to see this brooch go home with Bill!

This week long class was incredibly enriching, and I will have a lot to think about in the studio! It was great learning from Marjorie and I know enameling will be showing up in my work from here on out!

Torch-fired Enamels

2009-09-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

This week I am lucky enough to be studying torch-fired enameling with Marjorie Simon! It is only day two, but we have covered so much. Marjorie is teaching solderless settings for our enameled jewels, cold connections, and everything in between. I am having a blast, and know enamels will begin to have a presence in my work!

Check out the endless samples:

...and some of the beginnings of my own samples, over fold formed copper...

Can't wait to see what the rest of the week will bring!

Studio work

2009-09-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

So its been a while since I've posted! A lot has been going on and I am excited to share the news as things unfold. But for now, take a peek at some of the work I have been creating here at Arrowmont. I have sorta left off with my ideas from graduate school with the sculptural pieces I am sharing here. I have also been making lots of production work, getting ready for a couple fine art holiday sales on the books.

Building studio components, creating new work, collecting tools and gear, making teaching aids, I am loving life at Arrowmont!

This is a wallpiece. It is about 14"across, and about 10" high. There is a stalactite slice cold connected onto this piece, with three grey pearls.This piece was made as a trade with another metalsmith, Joan Dulla. Check out the side view:

This next series is of five copper domes, formed hydraulically, which have a 6" diameter. They include various gems and minerals, such as ammonite, iolite, psalamaline, garnet, chalcedony, carnelian, and a slice of stalactite. These are talking about presence in deep space, and the void that surrounds. Sort of a smaller version of some very large ellipses I worked on in graduate school. I will be taking portfolio shots soon, and these will show the elements which are cold connected on them much more clearly.

So... I have been working on lots and lots of jewelry... I love making jewelry! It really feels good to be able to start and finish a piece in the same day! (although the patterned metal in this ring definitely took longer than a day!!) This is probably my most favorite piece of jewelry I have made since completing grad school. It just found a home in Chicago! I have been working on hollowrings, earrings, as well as various pendents. I am doing lots of exploring in metal and sketching ideas for production lines. I'd like to have two or three cohesive bodies by Christmastime so that I can start approaching galleries. I'll definitely post pictures of progress and hope for your feedback!

Crafthaus

2009-09-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

This week I have been lucky enough to have been chosen as a featured artist on Crafthaus. And to boot, I get to share this with five other artists, including Lynette Andreasen, one of my best friends and former studio mate at ASU!

Thank you to Brigitte Martin, who is the creator and editor of Crafthaus and the director of Luke and Eloy Gallery in Pittsburgh. Crafthaus is a great place to see what's happening outside your own studio, to network, and to keep up with what your friends are creating in their studios. Check it out!

Color on Metal

2009-08-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

I have been working on completing a set of patina and texture sample tiles for the Mesa Art Center in Mesa, Az. I love color on metal and will try anything to make this happen. The smell of ammonia is no stranger in my studio, or how bout the aromatic scent of rotten eggs via liver of sulpher... ahh the beauty of it all.

The close up is of liver of sulpher with gesso on top, then there's gesso with cupric nitrate on top, a piece of opper with vinegar and fumed in ammonia, and copper etched with pnp paper in the back... The following show peanut oil, ferric nitrate over gesso, and fumed ammonia with salt. I had a lot of fun making these, and am happy to pass them on!

Streams and Hikes

2009-08-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been making efforts to get outside. Not only to explore more of the new surroundings, but to get feeling more fit. All that time sitting at the jewelers bench for those late nights in grad school has left me, well, a bit more roundish. Fishing and hiking has been amazing here, there are springs and streams around every bend in the road and on the trails.

Along the Porter's Creek trail, remnants from the past- the Ownby's barn and farming area, with spring house, and beyond this, the Smokey Mountain Hiking Club camp house. Really neat places to explore deep in the forest.

The rain has caused many kinds of fungi to grow, some that I've never laid my eyes on. Growing up in St. Louis, but coming most recently from Arizona, its like I' seeing things for the first time again in many ways:

Bridges cross many creeks and streams along the trails throughout Great Smokey Mountains National Park, some more scary than others. (Especially with a team of horseflies and bees, mosquitos and their friends on you all the while!)

The time spent in the woods and on the water surely has me thinking about new work. Inspiring? Incredibly! I can't wait to get into the studio and see what happens next!

A new face for an old friend

2009-08-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

My first year of graduate school, I bid on a rusty old anvil, and ended up with it! It is an almost 200 pound cast Vulcan. (I'm learning things about it her as I go.) It has been waiting for me in St. Louis, where my family lives, until I had a studio destination and the tools to fix it up. Check out the gouges... This is a shot after I got through all the rust and filth on the face. It looks good compared!

I started out using a 36 grit sanding disk, I must have gone through 7 or 8...

I moved on to a 50 grit sanding disk. Things were looking better, but not great. Turns out that the anvils horn must have broken off under the hardened steel top plate and fixed with weld. The color differentiation is pretty obvious in person, but not so much in the photo. The pits are definitely obvious!

After 6 or 7 50 grit disks, I moved on to hand filing the edges of the face, because they were completely rolled over. As I work on this beast, I imagine what the former life of this anvil was like... was it on a farm- used to correct equipment, or used in a smithy until the bitter end? Whatever the case, she was well used. This will be a good facelift, and new life. There is still loads of work to be done. I'd like to get the face as flat as possible, and sand up to a 400 grit. Stay tuned for updates, I'm not nearly finished!

Meet the Fam

2009-08-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

Meet my new roommates! This is Kent, TJ, Martina and I enjoying ourselves at the midnight Fourth of July parade in Gatlinburg.

Kent comes to Arrowmont straight out of his BFA program in craft studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He is a woodworker and makes anything from boats to rings to furniture...He's an adventurist. And not scared of anything:

TJ is a sculptural ceramicist who just completed his MFA at Florida State University in Gainesville. He makes lots of figures, busts, and everything else that goes along with the work:tables, support structures, drawing... his work is amazing! Check out his website: www.comic-opera.com to see more.

Martina is a functional ceramicist. She just finished her studies at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. She uses slips and glazes to decorate her altered wheel thrown forms. They're delicious! This is a shot of Martina during open studio- you can see her work all over:

Click the links at the side of my page to visit Martina, TJ, and Kent's blogs and web pages... I am excited to have such talented people around me! I think we are all in for a treat this year, working so closely with each other, sharing opinions and feedback. It will be interesting to see how our work morphs.

My new home

2009-07-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

As I find my way after graduate school, I have so many questions about the future. But for now, I'm taking it one day at a time at Arrowmont School of Art and Craft located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. I have been living here for about a month now, with three great roommates. The four of us have been selected as resident artists for 2009-2010. I'll introduce you to them soon! We have been incredibly lucky to have personal studios to work in, and a great home at the campus of the school. We have the chance to meet new faculty members each week, and all the new students that pass through the doors as well. It is a great place to be, and the blog I am starting will include all aspects of life here: art, friends, the wild, and everything in between. For starters, check out my new studio space!

I feel incredibly lucky to have the time to work and explore here. And curious to see the way my metalwork will change and grow...