The Start of My Last School Year

It's been quite awhile since my last blog post! We have just begun the new school year, which I am excited, scared, happy and sad about all at the same time! I had a wonderful summer spending much needed time with my amazing and supportive boyfriend, teaching classes at Phoenix Center for the Arts, and working in my studio.

This is my final year of graduate school, and I'm looking forward to many things this year, including my THESIS SHOW, teaching 3D Design, meeting new grad students coming in, and thinking about what I'll be doing when I'm finished with grad school (which is sort of a scary thought).

This year is also nerve wracking because my thesis show is coming up sooo quickly (March 18-22). I'm sure I'll be ready by then (fingers crossed), but I have a lot of work to do! Let the stress begin!

Here are some images of new(ish) work that I finally got the chance to photograph.

Wall piece. Copper, brass, nickel silver, lithographs on metal.

Neckpiece. Sterling silver, brass, copper, enamel, photo decals.

Detail.

Back of the necklace.

Back detail.

I'll be busy in my studio, so I should have more to share soon! :)

New piece

This is a piece that I made recently. It's made with wood, copper, enamel, silver and a lens. More to come soon...

SNAG Conference 2012

I had an amazing time at the SNAG Conference here in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago! This was my second time attending the conference, and this time it was slightly less overwhelming, having known what to expect. It was still jam packed with things to do, which was exhausting, but very inspiring and amazing!

I think the highlights for me were the Education Dialogue, Megan Auman's talk, and the Trunk Show. As well as of coarse meeting new people and seeing people I hadn't seen in awhile. It's so great having those few days to spend with so many metal smiths with interests that are the same as my own.

The Education Dialogue was organized a bit differently than last year's, in a way that I really liked. The organizer was Victoria Altepeter, and she brought in a panel of experts in different areas that were paired up to talk about different topics. They were broken up into groups for more intimate discussions, and participants could choose which topics interested them the most. I was a note taker for the Business group, which I was thrilled about. The two experts were Johanna Ingram, who owns Harold Studio here in Phoenix, and Dana Cassara, who owns Danaca Designs in Seattle. We also had some people who joined the group who were business owners themselves, and had a lot to contribute to the discussion. It was a really great in-depth conversation, and felt that I learned a lot about owning a business.

The conference kicked off with the Pin Swap Pool Party. It was awesome! There was a mariachi band and a mechanical bull, and I was able to swap for some cool pins! These are the pins that I made for trade.

The exhibition crawl was amazing as well. There were exhibitions at the Scottsdale Museum for the Performing Arts, the Shemer and Mesa Art Center. The Mesa Art Center shows will still be up until August 12, so you should go see them if you haven't already!

All of us at the Final Night Party!

Lithographs

This semester I have been taking a Lithography class at ASU. Like anything new, it's a bit of a challenge, but so much fun! I really love printmaking, and have always wanted to try lithography, so I jumped on the chance. My instructor, Ellie Honl, has been so great and so supportive. She's been really great about allowing me to incorporate my metalworking into the prints, which has been a fun and different way of working for me. I've been less resistant to making wall pieces and haven't been making as much jewelry lately, but I'm back into making some that are nowhere near finished yet. I'm also printing directly onto metal in my latest piece, but you'll have to wait to see!

This was made by drawing on a stone and then printing the image, while also blocking out part of the image with stencils. The portraits in blue ink were then printed on using a smart plate, then I pierced copper pieces that are fastened to the image, which is mounted on wood. 

This is the same process, only the pierced metal parts are extended out from the image. 

Here are all 5 that I made!

As soon as I'm finished, I'll post images of other recent work!

ASU Art Museum Store

I have exciting news! My work is now being sold at the ASU Art Museum Store! Next time you are in the museum, pop in to see my pendants and earrings! And don't forget to tell your friends!

Yuma Art Symposium 2012

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Yuma Art Symposium with the ASU crew, and it was a lot of fun! I saw some great speakers, hung out with some fun people, and saw some great art!

This year the ASU grad students and our professor Becky McDonah collaborated on trophies for the National Saw, File and Solder Relay Race. This is what we made! Jackalopes! Totally awesome! We also made one for the auction.

The ASU team won 3rd place in the Saw, File and Solder Relay Race! And we won our trophies, so the jackalopes were able to come back home with us!

The ASU gang

At a gorilla art show that Bob Ebendorf and Kat Cole put together! This was so much fun to see! They both do found object work, and they created an impromptu art show in someone's backyard with all of their findings from the area.

Here are all the trophies that were made by different schools (including ours). Everyone did an amazing job. 

Marlene True giving a demo on making a tin box.

Marlene True drinking a beer while giving a demo. Hilarious!

There were great metalsmiths who spoke this year including Bob Ebendorf, Helen Shirk and Marlene True. It was really interesting to hear Bob Ebendorf talk about his work, since I had never heard him speak about it before. We also went to some antique stores, and ate great Mexican food while we were there! Can't wait to go again next year!

Wedding rings

My sister got married over the weekend, and I made the wedding rings for her and her new husband! They are both made of sterling silver, and the bride's band has three flush set blue sapphires. I'm happy to say that they both love their rings!