More wire wrapping

Even though I did not really have the time, I took another wire wrapping class this weekend, from Sonia Arnold, a jeweller who lives in my area. It was really a great class and I feel that little by little I am learning about this wire and metal thing! Even though my goal is not ultimately to use these techniques for jewellery, I do enjoy making it! Now I have some ideas for closures for my new Offering that I think I can implement... if I ever get to work on it!

Speaking of which, thanks to Carol Sloan who recommended Robert Saluda's website, I found a book (The Elements of Pop-Up by David Carter and James Diaz) with all the info I need for pop up construction techniques. I had visited that website but for some reason had missed the bibliography page! I think pop ups in fabrics have so much potential! I can't wait to play with it.

art all around

It seems that I can get out of the studio but the studio never leaves my mind! While we were in Canada this past week, I we were surrounded by beautiful colors: chartreuse lichen, turquoise lakes and deep green moss...not to mention wonderful textures of rocks, stumps and driftwood! I certainly added to my collection of photos , some of which may one day find their way into my work in one form or another. Here are some of these pictures:

We started our hikes early in the morning, so for a couple of hours, we had the trails pretty much to ourselves. When we were at Moraine Lake, the place where the stream comes down from the glacier to feed the lake felt like a very special place, a place where I could sit for hours and soak up the peace.

Pop up books...pop up "Offerings"?

I am fascinated by pop up books. I remember those I had in my childhood and the magic they held for me. I had not thought about them in many, many years, but for some reason the idea popped up (ha ha ha!) in my head recently. I keep thinking that there has to be a way to create a pop up design in fabric and combine it with one of my "Offerings".

So I went to the children section at the store and bought a pop up book (I wish I knew what happened to the ones I had a long time ago) and spent many hours looking. It is one of those things where the concept is easy to understand, when I look at one page that pops up, I think "Oh, no problem, that's easy" and the mechanics of the whole thing seem logic and simple enough...

Well, think again! I tried cutting out some basic shapes in paper just to understand the folds and angles of the thing. And unfortunately my brain does not do well with that kind of logic! It is a good thing I recycle my computer paper and use it as scrap paper, because I did use a lot of it that way and my studio was covered with little bits of paper as if a blizzard had suddenly come through. I did end up with sort of a mock up, but I am not satisfied. I was not even trying to cut out a design that would fit in the box I am working on or be compatible with its shape.

I wish my brain would let me visualise how I need to fold and cut the "base" or "anchor" piece so that when it is pulled opened the other part of the design opens up, and does that in the right direction! I have a hard time just duplicating what I see! I am quite stubborn and I will play with this until I find a way to make it work. I am not worried about translating the design into fabrics, I think it will actually be the easiest part. But first, I need to solve the basic mechanics. Anybody knows a good reference book or article on pop up designs? I need all the help I can get!....

But then again, even though on some level it is a bit frustrating, it is so much fun and I love it when I can prove to my brain that I can do it!!!

Studio time

I finally gave myself half a day in the studio. I don't care what else I needed to do (and may be I will regret it tomorrow) but it was essential for me to work on what I love, at least for a little while. I was building the structure for the bottom of my new Offering. It took me about 3 hours and when I put the pieces together, I realized that one of them was not oriented right. So I had to start over, which usually would have made me mad. However, the mistake did not even upset me because it had after all been a creative afternoon in the studio.

Olafur Eliasson

My son Eric and I were in Chicago over the weekend for a family wedding. We took advantage of being there to do a few touristy things. Among those, we took an architectural boat tour. We floated on the river between these incredibly tall and towering buildings. The guide was quite interesting and very informative. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition of very modern structures and materials and early 1900's buildings. What tickles me too is that apparently one of the "hottest" current architects in Chicago at the moment is a woman!

We also went to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Installations by Olafur Eliasson were one of the special exhibits. It was just fabulous! Shapes, very complex ones, combined with mirrors, colors and light, and we found ourselves in the middle of kaleidoscope-like structures, one spherical, one like a passageway. Some of the shape models were also on display, complicated "weavings" of copper wires made the most interesting shapes. For my currently "box"-oriented mind, this was really fascinating. Both Eric and I loved the way we were actually immersed in the artwork, walking in a bright orange-lit hallway that made us look gray, in a black room with an illuminated spray of water creating a curtain from the ceiling to a circular "room", with a wall which colors were constantly changing within the color spectrum. These are just a few highlights of the exhibits. We both enjoyed how colors, shapes and lights changed our perception of space.

I could not find any images of Oliason's work on line but you can see a couple of pieces on the Museum website:
http://www.mcachicago.org/, then go to current exhibits, Olafur Eliasson.

Amazing fiber art

I did not have a lot of time at the Fair to visit many booths but there were a few people whose work I definitely wanted to see again. One fiber artist in particular, Vicki Essig. Her work is extremely original and beautifully done. At the Fair each small weaving, caught in an opening cut in white mat board is held between glass and framed in a sleek shadow box made of dark wood , which really enhances the fiber. Because there is nothing but space behind the weaving, its transparency is very obvious.

If white symbolizes purity, it certainly is a fitting color here. The incredibly thin silk filament are woven into a gossamer fabric, which provides a canvas for other symbolic and visual elements. I find that each piece can pull me into an almost meditative state. The fiber trapped in glass looks like it could blow away at any moment. So much movement in complete stillness.

One of her piece would not get out of my mind...and I took it as a sign that it needed to come home with me. It did.

The little weaving is 3" x 5" and my snapshot is far from doing it justice.

Vicki's work can be seen at Ariel Gallery in Asheville, NC.

(Ariel Craft Gallery19 Biltmore AvenueAsheville, North Carolina28801
HoursTuesday-Sunday 11-6
Phone: 828.236.2660)

Southern Highland Guild Fair

After a teaching a workshop to a great group of ladies in Hendersonville, NC on Friday, I spent Saturday and Sunday demonstrating silk paper making and embellishments at the Southern Highland Craft Guild Fair at the Civic Center in Asheville, NC.

Many people walked by, asked questions and seemed really interested in learning more about silk paper. I think several of them are going to try it and I think that is wonderful. I also had a chance, although very little time, to see some of my friends and people I know and whose work I love (actually every artist at the Fair shows incredible work). I visited my friend Judy Simmon's booth (I am sorry that my pictures are a bit blurry and do not do justice to her beautiful booth), the J.C. Campbell Folk School booth (always a treat), one of my most favorite bead artist, Amolia Willowsong's booth. I think her jewellery is some of the most delicate, refined and tasteful that I have ever seen.
Then you can see my little corner, which was home for 2 days.

The next Southern Highland Guild Fair will be from October 15 to 18, 2009 at the Civic Center in Asheville, and for the first time, I will have a booth. So I hope you will come and say hello!

(Don't worry I will remind you closer to the date!)

Judy Simmons's booth

The Campbell School's booth

Amolia Willowsong's booth

My deno booth