what's happening

Here's a list of some resources to stay involved and keep a finger on the pulse of the jewelry world. Check them out, and see what you think!

Organizations:

• Washington Guild of Goldsmiths (local)
• Metals Guild of Maryland (local)
• SNAG (national)- in addition to having annual conferences, SNAG also has the SNAGnet email ist which lists calls for entry among other things. It's a good reseource to follow regardless of whether you attend the conferences
• ACC (national)
• depending on your interests, there are also beading organizations, enamelling guilds, etc.

Magazines:
Metalsmith
American Craft
National Student Craft Zine (when it makes it's debut)
Object
ID
Crafts
CRAFT

Websites/Blogs:
Klimt02
American Craft Zoom blog
18kt
Crafthaus (social networking)
Core77
DesignBoom
Conceptual Metalsmithing
CraftGadfly

Galleries:
Sienna Gallery
Studio 4903 (local)
Jewelerswerk (local)
Ornamentum
Mobilia
Aaron Faber



and there's a lot more, this is to get you started- explore!!

CRAFT

research tidbits

In order to research your artists here are some books and websites that might be useful to you. Make sure to list where you got your information from in your post....

Books:
New Directions in Jewellery
New Directions in Jewellery II
Ornament as Art
The New Jewelry: Trends and Traditions
Jewelry of Our Time
Lark 500 Series Books

Websites:
Klimt02
Design Museum London's Design Library

Contenti

One of my favorite things about Contenti, in addition to their great selection of tolls (especially files!) Is their Resources page. They have easily printable .pdf files for things like what the different bur shapes are good for, uses of different hammers, a size guide to drill bits and sawblades, ring blank chart.... book mark it!! (or just print them all out and laminate them) Extremely useful!

Enamelling Suppliers and Resources

Enamelling Suppliers and Resources:

Thompson Enamels: based in Kentucky, a good supplier of lead-free enamels and enamelling supplies

Enamelwork Supply: a great selection of japanese enamels, leaded enamels, some supplies- carries IT solder

Schlaifer's Enamels: good selection of enamels, both leaded and unleaded. I've used this site to try to color match some old Thompson's leaded enamels

Rio Grande Enamels: Several years ago, Rio Grande bought Schauer enamels ( great colors) and have started selling those colors in addition to supplies and kilns- like the one we have.

Enamelist Society: publishes Glass on Metal magazine, website has good information

Books:
The Art of Enameling by Linda Darty
Contemporary Enameling: Art and Technique by Lilian Bachrach
Enamels, Enameling, Enamelists by Glenice Matthews
Enameling Principles and Practice by Kenneth Bates (I am not positive, but I think this is an updated version of Bates' book from 1967 which is one of the fundamental texts on enamel)

Homework assignment #2

One of the influences on my work is Alexander Calder. Altho fascinated by his huge mobiles and stabiles (DC is fortunate to have excellent examples of both), the work I find the most intriguing is his work in wire. The portraits he did in wire manage to capture the essence of the faces and characters he portrayed. He is reported to always have had wire and pliers with him so much of this work was spontaneous and has a very immediate and genuine appeal.
My example was also influenced by Paul Klee's Senecio, but the wire wrapping and the movement in the eyes is thanks to Calder.
I'll also bring some earrings to class that reflect the inspiration of Calder's mobiles.
There is a humor in his work that I enjoy immensely. When I see some prize winners or outrageously expensive pieces, I often feel that more jewelry could benefit from a lighter, less self-conscious approach. Jewelry does take time & effort and is often made from precious materials but a smile is great reward for a piece that has something amusing about it.

Influences in Jewelry

Given that I'm still pretty new at this and not very knowledgeable.... thus far the one artist that has caught my attention is Calder. I love the simplicity of his pieces. The repetition of forms. The simple pieces that form intricate forms. He recycled before any of us were thinking about being green. Some of his pieces incorporated broken china and glass. I also enjoyed his manipulation of metal how he connected pieces. Little soldering and lots of riveting. So I gave the rivets a try myself....

Maria

PS: Tried posting a pic of a Calder piece, but couldn't get it to work....

Advancing your Skills

Greetings everyone. For this summer one of the goals I have for you is to share resources, opportunities, etc with you. To the end, here's a blog for us. Everyone enrolled has posting access. If you see something neat, post it here! Use this space to collect and share information. Have fun!