Artist spotlight- Joe Diemer

Hi there Metalsmiths Unite fans and friends-Today on the MU blog I'd like to introduce you to Metalsmiths Unite member Joe Diemer........

1. MBZ-How would you describe what you do as an artist?
Joe Diemer-My training is in illustration and metalsmithing, but my business is centered around stainless steel wire-working. I make objects for the home such as birdcages, spice racks, and coat hooks, and a few things for the body such as hair ornaments and bracelets.
Conceptually, I want my art to be uplifting to the spirit, so to that end I'm working to revive the devices of pre-moderist art, such as complex ornament. Much of recent design history is about mass, and removing "superficialities". I'm turning this thinking inside out by making the ornament itself the structure and removing the mass.

2. MBZ-what inspires your designs?
Joe Diemer-Radiolarians, Islamic tile, Louis Sullivan, Alphonse Mucha - anywhere I can find graceful geometry and harmony.
I sketch shapes and patterns that resonate with me and then I rearrange them, trying to find newer and more complex designs that feel right. Then I move from paper to wire and "extrude" those designs three dimensionally (on the z axis) until they have a real force of their own. So, much of the inspiration happens during the process.

3. MBZ-how long have you been involved in this type of making?
Joe Diemer-I've always liked to draw and paint and in college I studied illustration, but I come from a family of builders - my dad's side were carpenters and my mom's side were glassworkers from Italy. So as a boy I had plenty of workshops to tinker in. I made my first cages for my older sister who was always bringing new animals home. Having familiarity with finishing carpentry is helpful for making the jigs; they are often more complex than the finished products.

4. MBZ-where are you located?
Joe Diemer-Portland, Oregon. My workshop is in the Eastside Industrial District next to a 100-year-old plating business and several custom bike builders, so there is plenty of metalwork to see here.

5. MBZ-do you have a website?
Joe Diemer-I do have a website (www.handmadebirdcages.com) but the facebook page (www.facebook.com/JDiemerArtisanry) is more fun because I occasionally do giveaways and I like the interaction. I'm also on Instagram as joediemer but that feed is a much less formal view of the world than my other sites (i.e. it also includes non-metalworking.)

6. MBZ-what other ways do you market your work?
Joe Diemer- I do the Chicago One of a Kind show. I may do the next Buyer's Market show. If anyone has suggestions for a show that would be a good fit for my style please let me know.
I'm in three galleries in Portland and I do a lot of commissions.

MBZ- Joe also won a Niche award this year! http://www.nicheawards.com/category/2013/professional/home-furnishings-proffesionals/decorative-accessories-home-furnishings-proffesionals/

7. MBZ-do you teach? if so, where-
Joe Diemer- Not really - I've still got a lot to learn! But I have done a few lectures and demos on specific subjects like brazing and electropolishing and I make sourcing handouts to help local artists. I'm completely open with my techniques and artists regularly pop in my studio to experiment - so swing by if you find yourself in Portland Oregon



8. MBZ-any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
Joe Diemer- Yes, here are a few things that probably don't get said enough to newbies:
- Be nice to everyone, no matter who they are, but have thick skin if your art is in public.
- Beware of titles and pedantry (and those who overuse them). These things may open some doors in the short term but kill creativity.
- Meditate, or regularly make mental space to think quietly, deeply, and sometimes very specifically about your work. The best muses often have soft voices.
- Write handwritten cards to your galleries or collectors (preferably when you're in a good mood).
- Risk looking stupid. Curiosity is more important than honor. There's something to learn from everyone, and don't be shy about approaching very important people.
- Experience all of the arts. They inspire each other.

9. MBZ- where do you envision your work going in the next year?

Joe Diemer- I've been awarded an artists residency in southern Bohemia for October and November, so I plan to paint while there and then make the blueprints for the next body of work. I'm pretty amped to explore in person what I've only read about and I'm looking forward to seeing how it changes me. Right now I'm making informal 2D work for the upcoming Kickstarter rewards to fund this trip, and it's been a super fun departure from normal.

10. MBZ-anything else you would like to share?
Joe Diemer- Why yes there is - I leave a permanent invitation for all here to honestly comment and make recommendations on my work and my concepts. You are welcome to say exactly what you feel. I realize that MU is mostly jewelers, but please don't let that difference stop your opinions - I appreciate their keen eye. Jewelry was one of the places where decorative ornament was able to "hide out" when it wasn't welcome in architecture etc. so I highly value the opinions. Thanks for the interview!

*********************************************************************
Joe- thank you for sharing your stunning works with us, I look forward to seeing more in the future!
I hope you all enjoyed this interview everyone! Stay tuned, I post a new one every once in a blue moon, when I have a willing subject and a few open hours. :-)
ciao for now- may the flux be with you! - Maureen BZ

Member interview with János Gábor Varga (aka Blind Spot Jewellery)

Maureen Brusa Zappellini (MBZ) here, Hello! I'm so happy to be bringing you this interview with one of our long time members, Janos Gabor Varga, (aka Blind Spot) He always has such interesting work to present to the group and a very specific point of view- Plus he has found a way to make quirky but sell-able work, which he sells online Etsy (where I first met him) and Bottica.com, as well as in shows and markets in and around his current home near Genoa Italy. Read on and find out more about this dynamic metalsmithing artist in his own words!

János Gábor Varga (aka Blind Spot Jewellery

MBZ: How would you describe what you do as an artist?
JGV:One of my first experiences with jewellery was an exhibition on ethnic rings in the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest, my hometown. There I saw beautiful works made by peasants, shepherds, soldiers, prisoners. People without art or jewellery education, equipped with simple tools and materials but with an elemental will to express their desires through a ring. It really touched me but it was much later when I got involved with the craft. In that time my interest was ethnomedicine (exactly ethnoveterinary) and I studied agriculture from college to uni. My means of expressing myself was written and spoken language. When I left Hungary I had difficulties with learning English and nearly everything I did or learnt before was hard to apply. So I felt that creating objects, wearable art could be my way of expressing myself.
Apart of a short evening class I never studied jewellery or art.  But I believe that you are an artist if you do art. Then others will judge if you are a good artist or not. Same applies for being a jeweler and for many other trades, fields.
I try to establish an intimate relationship with the materials I use and to create meaningful objects but I would like to do it in an inviting way: like if it could be done by anybody who has the will to express desires.
So, as an artist I would like to celebrate dilettantism. Whatever you studied, I would like to encourage you to trespass into other fields - and fertilize it with all your previous knowledge.



MBZ:what inspires your designs?

JGV:I am very much inspired by old buildings, tools that were used a lot. I think that when you are in good shape, the whole word around you becomes the potential source and inspiration of your work. That is a state of mind what we are looking for, it is very intense and joyful.

(Below is a short video Janos posted recently on Youtube, showing him playing with hot forming Iron at his bench)

 

Here is how that piece turned out:

MBZ: how long have you been involved in this type of making? (how did you start?)
JGV:
It has been about 11-12 years. I started it short before I left Hungary, my country of origin. It became a passion and more than hobby in the UK and some years later my work, in Italy where I came 8 years ago.


MBZ:where are you located?
JGV:I am located in a small village near Genoa, the port of Northern Italy. It is a really picturesque medieval village in the mountains of the Apennines,  with a castle, a stone bridge and a charming center. My home/workshop is right in the high street (main street?).

 

This village has centuries of silver filigree tradition and even though I do very different work, it is important to me that I am surrounded by other artisans. We often help out each other with advices, tools, etc. I came here about 8 years ago, I love this place and this people and I consider it to be my home.



MBZ: do you have a website or etsy/artfire etc store? 

JGV:Yes, they are:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlindSpotJewellery
http://boticca.com/blindspotjewellery/


MBZ:what other ways do you market your work?(shows, galleries, brick + mortar stores)

JGV:Every so often I participate in shows. I think they are good occasions for presenting your work, meeting other artists and it is good fun too, I love opening parties! Brick and mortar shops are also important but I could never afford to do what I do without selling online.


MBZ:do you teach?
JGV:Till now I occasionally had the opportunity to teach. I really enjoy it so I hope it will happen more often. I have had a couple of beginner private students. In 2011 I have been invited by the State Art College of Venice to keep a presentation and workshop of one day on ferrous jewellery. Last year  the  Spanish (Catalan) Arsenal Art College asked me to take a trainee for two months. It was a very interesting and good experience.



MBZ:any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
JGV:
I would say that these days a jewellery artist got to be online and communicative. It is also important to make good pictures of your work, so learn how to use a digital camera, a light box, how to retouch your photos etc.


MBZ: where do you envision your work going in the next year? (artistic direction)
JGV:
I would really like to have some solo shows where I can present some of my collections all together.


MBZ:anything else you would like to share?
JGV:I am particularly attracted to iron. It is not much used in jewellery but I think it should be. It’s nature allows you to explore all sort of motions and forms and it makes you feel that the finished object you look at, is the result of some dramatic changes. It is a strong and sensitive metal and a pleasure to wear, both for women and men. Some years ago I riveted an iron bangle onto my wrist so together with one of the first rings I made, it is a permanent jewel and it means to me that iron and me got an affair with each other 

(This is Janos' latest project posted on his photostream on Flickr)

Thanks Janos! It was great to get a bit of your story - I'm happy to have you as a member of Metalsmiths Unite and I look forward to reading your future posts and seeing more of your point of view- Blind spot and all!


Links~~
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/
János Gábor Varga
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/8381076800/
or:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/5802636862/in/set-72157604664516611
Campo Ligure:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/2802168589/in/set-72157619103616794/
my work:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/4614559063/in/set-72157623352142686

http://www.flickr.com/photos/janosgaborvarga/7211234606/in/set-72157623352142686

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=419403855947&set=a.7731145947.22485.628670947&type=3&theater

Jim Dunakin Interview

Today we are going to get to know another one of our very talented artist members of metalsmiths Unite: Jim Dunakin. Jim has been a member for a couple of years now- he is an active member, posting almost every day- is very open and helpful to other members and has been kind enough to share many ideas about techniques with us as well. He is a self taught metalsmith and Lapiderist (stone cutter) and creates delightfully colorful "eye candy", with impeccable craftsmanship.
So, without further ado....here's Jim Dunakin! enjoy!

MBZ (Maureen Brusa Zappellini) - Hi Jim- Thanks for taking the time to do this interview- I'm sure other Metalsmiths Unite members are interested in reading about you and your work.OK, for starters,  How would you describe what you do as an artist?

JD (Jim Dunakin) - Hi there- Well, I Generally describe myself as a jewelry artist, although studio jeweler would certainly work as well.

MBZ-what inspires your designs? (be it music, nature, beekeeping...)
JD- I think my primary inspiration comes from tribal cultures. There is no one tribe I would associate my work with, as I tend to draw from many different influences. I am careful never to co-opt specific tribal designs, as these obviously belong to those tribes, and can have significant meanings to them, both tribal and familial. However, we have all descended from one tribe or another, often forming new tribes along the way. I think this is important in that all humans have this in common. I believe this is one reason primitive styles and symbols can elicit feelings from so many people, even those who may no longer associate themselves with a specific tribe or culture. More often than not, these types of designs cross many cultures, and some have been in use in one form or another for many thousands of years. Again, while my work doesn't necessarily incorporate symbols, per se, the primitive influence is evident in much of my work.
On the other hand, living in the modern world, I've also been known to mix this primitive feel with modern influences such as architecture and mechanical devices.
In addition to these influences, several artists have inspired me. My two favorites are Albert Paley and Charles Loloma.

MBZ- how long have you been involved in this type of making? (how did you start?)
JD- I've been making jewelry in one form or another for about 38 years. I began by piecing coins, and turning them into pendants and earrings, in 1975. At about this same time, I made puka shell necklaces, which were all the rage at that time, and sold these and the coin jewelry at swap meets in Sand Diego, where I lived at the time.
Also during this time I had a friend who was doing some beautiful silver smithing work. He was self-taught, and had a unique style that I really liked. I asked him about teaching me this art, and he didn't feel that he would make the best teacher. However, he was very encouraging, and told me what book he had learned from (Indian Silversmithing, by Ben Hunt), and where I could purchase it. He did also give me many helpful tips and advice, both on the metal working and also with making tools and equipment.
I found this book to be very useful, because most of the techniques used in it were fairly basic, including soldering, stamping and so forth. It also had much information of making various tools like stamps and punches, and shaped dies for dapping.
Since that time, I've done a lot more reading on various techniques and methods, including repousse, chasing, raising, forging.

MBZ- where are you located?
JD-My wife and I live near the tiny town of Reed Point, MT, population 96. It sits along the Yellowstone River, in the south-central part of the state, somewhat in the foothills between the Rocky Mountains and the plains. Our home, which we've built ourselves, sits in a little valley that opens out to the south. We have a clear view from here, with open ranch land between our home and the Beartooth Mountains. Our nearest neighbor is about a mile away as the crow flies, but from here we can't see a single house or light in any direction!
It's a bit isolated, since we often get snowed-in during the winter, and more often we get get "mudded-in" in the spring, often for weeks at a time! During these times we do go out occasionally for groceries or to ship out jewelry orders. In those cases, we have to hike out, to a vehicle we leave up near the county road. It's a 1.5 mile hike each way, with groceries on our backs, but its a lovely hike up a beautiful canyon, so we always enjoy it. But for us it works, as we love the solitude and living so close to nature.


MBZ-do you have a website or etsy/artfire etc store? (put a link url here too if you want readers to click through to your site)
JD-We no longer have our own website, however, you can see our work at Dunakin Design on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunakin-Design/214539771101?ref=hl
People can also contact us by e-mail at: dunakindesign@itstriangle.com

MBZ-what other ways do you market your work?(shows, galleries, brick + mortar stores)
do you teach? if so, where- (add a website link if you would like)
JD-About 80% of our sales are through the nearly 30 galleries around the nation that carry my work.

MBZ- just as a little treat I thought I'd add a link to Jim's recent internet radio interview with Jay Whaley on Metalsmithing Benchtalk... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/whaleystudios/2012/11/29/metalsmith-benchtalk-with-jim-dunakin

MBZ-any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
JD-I think I would just tell people to follow their dreams. If jewelry is something you are passionate about, by all means you should pursue it.
- where do you envision your work going in the next year? (artistic direction)
At this point I've learned to be open, and just let God lead me where He will. I never know what direction my work or my life will be heading next, but it's always turned out to be something better than I could have planned myself!


MBZ- thanks so much for taking some time to introduce us to your work and give us a little more insight into the Jim Dunakin experience :-) I am very happy to have you as a part of our community!

MU Member interview: Rameen Ahmed

From time to time I like to post interviews of metalsmithing artists from our group- today I am featuring my friend, Tucson metalsmith Rameen Ahmed:

MBZ: Rameen and I met while working at Krikawa, a local indie jeweler here in Tucson- where we worked as goldsmiths together for a few months. We have kept in touch over the years and have been able to enjoy time together recently as roommates at the 2012 SNAG conference. I consider her to be a good friend, and a fine metalsmith- her designs are whimsical, architectural and modern.
Here is her interview:

Me and Rameen at the SNAG conference in Scottsdale last spring

***************************************************************************
MBZ:How would you describe what you do as an artist?
RA:I take what I have learned in art and architecture and give it a 'wearable form'.

MBZ: what inspires your designs?
RA: Ideas, materials, mental acrobatics with form

MBZ: how long have you been involved in this type of making? (how did you start?)
RA: 10 years. Recent recollection of a long ago question, "What do you do with dolls?" Answer, "Play with them!" Mystified and proceeded to take apart my metal belt and making doll jewelry at age 7!!

MBZ: where are you located?( email if you want to share, or city/town that you live in)
RA: Tucson, Arizona. rameen@rameenahmeddesigns.com

MBZ: do you have a website?
RA: yes, it's at  www.rameenahmeddesigns.com

MBZ: what other ways do you market your work?
RA: Trunk Shows, Art Shows, Juried Submittals, Galleries, Membership(ADC, SNAG), Online Membership (LinkedIn, FaceBook, Crafthaus), Snailmail Postcards... working on making FB work page! (MBZ aside: Wow! that's great Rameen! you have to help me get more organized!)

MBZ: do you teach? if so, where?
RA: Mostly visual arts, architecture/landscape design. Part-time at Tucson Museum of Art, elementary & middle school - local Montessori & Rameen Ahmed Designs.

MBZ: Rameen, do you have any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
RA: Yes! Let your passion lead you...

MBZ: where do you envision your work going in the next year? (artistic direction)
RA: Fearless deliberation, I hope!! By that I mean pushing ideas that are/have been percolating.

MBZ: anything else you would like to share? (your choice-how we met? What you wish for as a holiday gift? any good jokes? you can even put your flickr/twitter/blog links here too)
RA: One of the best parts of working at Krikawa was connecting with you and other 'benchers'. I do appreciate the opportunity to have improved my technical skills quite a bit at the bench there.
What else, let's see... I'm terrible at punch lines! But, here's one of my favorite quotes from the Dilbert Principle, "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
MBZ: I love Dilbert! Thanks Rameen! :-)
Ciao, and May the Flux be with you! - Maureen

ps- yes, it was funny to work with someone who has a name that sounds like an echo of your own...Rameen, Maureen! LOL it's all good

Mimi Favre ~ Artist Interview

A big thank you today, to Mimi for sharing with us in today's Artist Interview :)

How would you describe what you do as an artist?

Primarily, I make one of a kind and limited production fine jewelry. Color relationships interest me so I try to find unusual stones and pearls to use in my work. I prefer to work in gold and platinum although I do love the color of pink and green gold, oxidized silver, bronze and copper and sometimes combine them in a piece. 

Classic Quatrefoil Earring in two sizes and in several color combinations. All 18K gold with tourmalines and sapphires (green, blue and pink). Oxidized silver and 18K gold with yellow beryl and mali garnets.
©Mimi Favre

 
What inspires your designs?

I keep a sketchbook for all of the random designs that pop into my head! I’m an avid gardener so I do like to adapt floral forms in wax. I have a large collection of seashells, pods and various organic 'shapes'. I take lots of photos. I buy natural colored pearls and stones that I like and prefer to design around them.

 Dogwood Ring
©Mimi Favre

 

 
How long have you been involved in this type of making?

The metalsmith spark was ignited when, as a young teenager, I visited Historic Williamsburg, Virginia and was mesmerized by the 'colonial silversmiths' who were making beautiful objects. I decided that I wanted to study metalsmithing in college even though I had not had any instruction and therefore no portfolio. I enrolled at RIT as an Art major then transferred the following year into the Metals program. However, once I completed my BFA in what was then The School for American Craftsman, I realized that I wanted to apply my design skills to fine jewelry. I moved to New York City where I worked for German master jewelers for six years and later worked at Carvin French which is a highly specialized fine jewelry trade shop. For more than twenty years I have worked on my own while also raising a family.
 

Where are you located? 

I have lived outside of Philadelphia for most of my life. This region of Pennsylvania has a rich history of Horticulture evidenced by numerous public and private gardens where we enjoy four distinct seasons.

Botanical Group. Embossed bracelet 18K gold. Ginkgo Earrings in 18K gold (available on Etsy ) and Embossed 18K Fern pendant on handmade 18K chain.
©Mimi Favre

Do you have a website or etsy store? 

Website: http://www.MimiFavre.com
Blog- Studio Jeweler: http://mimifavre.blogspot.com/ 
Etsy- FavreBijoux http://www.etsy.com/shop/FavreBijoux
CustomMade website- http://www.custommade.com/by/mimi-favre-studio
 
What other ways do you market your work? 

 I have sold work in several galleries in the past however with rising gold prices and most Galleries wanting only to consign, I am concentrating my efforts on the Internet with shops on ETSY and CustomMade. I do a few selective local trunk shows and custom work. 

Recent design. Group of Pyramid Earrings. 18K yellow and pink gold with natural colored 11mm pearls. Yellow and white South Sea and Gray/Blue Tahitian pearls.
©Mimi Favre

 
Any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?

I don't consider myself a Sage but here goes.....Seek out good teachers to learn proper technique. There are no shortcuts to good craftsmanship- only practice. Use the best materials that you can afford. Make what you love and follow your own design instincts. Don't underestimate your talent nor undervalue your work. Never compromise your integrity.
 

Where do you envision your work going in the next year?

I'm thinking about working on a bigger scale and doing some decorative objects. I plan to learn 3Design. 

Anything else?

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/MimiFavreStudio
Twitter @favrebijoux

Geometric Briolet Earrings
©Mimi Favre

Aritst Interview ~ Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Special thanks to Kest for sharing with us! 

Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

How would you describe what you do as an artist?
My work is all about being one of a kind, affordable, and easy to wear. I use metal to evoke the natural landscape from which the ore emerged. Some pieces are very bold, shouting of earthquakes, while others whisper of quiet fields of rustling grass, or paths through autumn woods.  Like any good traveling companion, my pieces are a bit eccentric- each is entirely different from every other piece I've ever created. Each has their own personality, as organic and hard to define as each of your friends. The masks provide a different kind of freedom; by letting you pretend to be something else, they allow you to truly be yourself. They are wearable, yet function as sculpture off the head.

Ghost ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

What inspires your designs?
Mostly the copper itself- also the world. Trees and streams and acorn caps caught in whirlpools. Folktales and fairytales and overheard stories. Sometimes big thoughts, but mostly small ones. Recently I've been making masks for all the critters in Borges "The Book of Imaginary Beings", and this has challenged me tremendously- some of the creatures I know, but others I have to invent from a small bit of text.

Triceratops worn ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

How long have you been involved in this type of making?
I've been making masks for over a decade. I've been forging copper for about 8 years. I've been inventing odd critters for just under 30 years. 

Cassawary ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Where are you located?
Currently in Nashville, TN. I move around a lot, and travel even more, so you never know where I'll turn up. Next on the list: Bicycling the Mediterranean coast (not all of it). 

Hummingbird ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Mosquito from Elow ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Do you have a website or etsy store?
I primarily list my work at www.vagabondjewelry.com
I do also have an etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/VagabondMetal
Right now the Imaginary Beings only exist on my blog http://thebookofimaginarybeings.blogspot.com 

 

Guillotine Ring front ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

What other ways do you market your work?
I've recently gotten into wholesale, so now my stuff is available in several boutiques and museum stores, mostly in the northeast, and right around Nashville. Occasionally I do participate in a gallery show, but not so often.
 

Falling Waters ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
Sage advice? I don't know about that! I think that the one real solid thing I have to share is that it's worth trying with that thing you really want to be doing that everyone says will be impossible. I started my business with my jewelry- I enjoyed making the masks, but didn't think they would be commercially viable. It was years before I put the time into making them sellable. Now I have trouble making them fast enough to keep them in stock. The other, related, thing is to go ahead and make that big thing that you really KNOW will never sell. It'll get attention, or, in other words, free advertising. 

Flora ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Where do you envision your work going in the next year?
Well, there's still 120 critters left in the book of imaginary beings. That'll be most of the next year. After that? Maybe I'll extend the book from my own folkloric studies.

Bermuda Triangle ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Anything else you would like to share?
MY FaceBook Fan page: https://www.facebook.com/vagabondjewelry
My photos on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vagabondjewelry 

And if you're looking for funny stories, I've been writing them up on my personal blog, here: http://uneditedstorys.blogspot.com/  

Backbone with bone ©Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry

Maureen BZ- interview update!

 This is a short update to the original interview ( http://metalsmithsunite.blogspot.com/2009/11/introductions-are-at-hand.html )with Maureen Brusa Zappellini- (Metalsmiths Unite founder) with a little bit of background on the formation of the Metalsmiths Unite group....

What inspired you start Metalsmiths Unite?
You know when you go to a conference and you get that feeling like you aren't connected at all with the community? You feel like an outsider- and it's that outsider feeling that was the catalyst for my starting the Metalsmiths Unite group in the first place. I Created the very first Metalsmiths Unite group the week after I got back from the SNAG conference in Savannah (08) .

Most conferences/professional gatherings are really hard on the independent - Most of the attendees are from some school or professional group: they already have a framework within their community. As an independent artist (many years out of school) I noticed that there were a lot of us "indies" around, mostly feeling disconnected from the group experience as a whole.

2nd annual Metalsmiths Unite "Chill Lounge" gathering Tucson AZ, February2011

I saw a need for an independent forum for ALL LEVELS of metalsmithing and metalsmithing enthusiasts, so I patched together a group, stuck the name Metalsmiths Unite on it and the rest is history.
Metalsmiths Unite has become my main community- It is full of a collection of independent artists and teachers from all levels of our craft- from super newbie beginner to professional craftspeople whose work is collected by collectors, museums and yes, even royalty.  I know I can go to Metalsmiths Unite 2.0 at any time of day to get responses for technical questions, show new images of my work, and find information about what is current in our metalsmithing world. In short- it is a community of individuals- with a passion for metalsmithing as a common axis.

I think that it has helped many people make connections that otherwise they may not have been able to make, so I'm happy with the result.

powdercoated bronze and silver earrings

 I never thought it would grow so big either- I envisioned 30-40 friends talking about technique and materials and occasionally showing a picture of work that they have done. It soon became clear that it was going to be a bit bigger than that- and by the end of the year I had to take it more seriously, write a mission statement and create posting guidelines. My little baby had grown.


When did you found the group?
I founded the group in the spring of 2008, just after coming home from the Savannah SNAG conference- I felt a need to be in communication with other metalsmiths- especially those of us who weren’t connected to any formal group (those of us out of school and independently working in our studios)


What is your vision for it?
Hmm, my vision is that MU continues to grow and becomes a favorite resource for it’s members. I think we are on the right track.

Where can all it’s parts it be found?

pewter container- "Bella Fiorentina 2011"

Metalsmiths Unite started on another page, as simply “Metalsmiths Unite”- it still exists, but I’ve shut down the wall to comments because I cannot manage both groups at once- However, there is a lot of information there about artists and resources, plus hundreds of photos and even a few videos. https://www.facebook.com/groups/23784239066/
The MAIN page that is used daily is at Metalsmiths Unite 2.0, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/23784239066/#!/groups/metalsmithsunite/
then we have this blog, a Flickr Group (at http://www.flickr.com/groups/1311938@N20/pool/ ) a Twitter account that I have let lapse into oblivion (not enough hours in the day)
and we just recently added a very informal etsy team ( http://www.etsy.com/teams/9513/metalsmiths-unite-on-etsy?ref=pr_teams )

Anything else you want to tell us about the group?
I think it’s a great group of creatives, and I’ve met some really wonderful people through the 3 years since I started it. I look forward to greeting my fellow ‘smiths every day, and seeing the works that we are merrily creating in our studios. I think Metalsmiths Unite stays fresh because it is constantly evolving- every day there are new topics being shared, in real time - with hundreds of dedicated craftspeople from all around the wold.


What can the members do, to help make it successful?
 Don't be shy- participate and keep posting your metalsmithing related posts! Volunteer to write a blog post or two (you can even use one of your own blog posts on your personal blog if you think it is interesting to the metalsmithing community)
Give encouragement to newbies, continue to add your metalsmithing friends to the group, let the group know what it is that YOU want out of the group.

strap "slide bead" bracelets 2011 (compare to painting below)

Metalsmiths Unite's success is created by active participation -
Above ALL- continue the groups mission to be open to all levels and disciplines in our craft - including everyone from museum level artists to hobbyists and enthusiasts. That we continue our community in the spirit of sharing and open dialogue, with respect for our differences and the creation of bridges of understanding.

MBZ, What is your background?

Silk painting with stitching 1998

I’ve earned a studio diploma (concentrating in painting)  from School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA) and a BFA from Tufts University. I studied metalsmithing as an apprentice for the summers home from college (6 days a week, silversmithing, mostly forging and soldering)
In my previous incarnation as a painter I was the recipient of a 10 week scholarship at Skowhegan school of painting and sculpture (1989).
I’ve worked for production metalsmiths in Providence RI (my mother lives there). I studied and taught metalsmithing in Florence Italy (my husband’s home town, where we lived from 97-2000)
I’ve taught here in Tucson, I continue to give demos and workshops (metalsmithing and pewter work).
 President of Arizona Designer Craftsmen (southern chapter) 2006/7 .

Fall 2011 postcard for my jewelry line "Cosmo's Moon"- 

"

2007-2009 goldsmith for a custom ring designer (http://Krikawa.com , where I was making a lot of mokume inlay bands)
I currently work for myself , designing and creating a line of jewelry for online sales in my etsy shops (http://cosmosmoon.etsy.com  http://braceletworkshop.etsy.com  http://pewterpalooza.etsy.com ) and I also do goldsmithing for a private opal company here in Tucson.

OK- I think that's enough info for now- Please let me know if you have any questions about Metalsmiths Unite- I will do my best to answer them-
in the mean time- may the flux be with you, and your striker be forever sparky
ciao-Maureen BZ
my personal sites:
http://cosmosmoon.etsy.com
http://braceletworkshop.etsy.com
http://pewterpalooza.etsy.com

Wendy Van Camp ~ Artist Interview

Welcome to our weekly artist interview series - this week we are featuring Wendy Van Camp.  Thanks so much for sharing today Wendy!

Wendy Van Camp

How would you describe what you do as an artist? 
I am a designer of women's jewelry.  Most of my work is wirewrapped forms featuring small gauge wire and semi-precious stones.  I usually use sterling silver in my work, but lately I've been featuring pieces made of copper wire or a mix of silver and copper. Unusual stones are the focus  in my work, ones with lots of interesting textures or colors.
 
What inspires your designs?
I am half Scottish.  I use my heritage to give my contemporary jewelry a Celtic inspiration.  Tree of Life pendants are a specialty.
 

© Wendy Van Camp ~ Freeform Tree of Life

How long have you been involved in this type of making?

I was a television producer/director by night and a high school teacher by day.  Then I met my husband. Suddenly, my personal life became more important than pursuing the next television gig. I had a great desire to slow down my life and to spend more time with my husband and perhaps start a family. To save money on our wedding, I made my own bridal veil and discovered bead jewelry making for the first time.  It was relaxing as well as creative, very much opposite from my previous hectic life.  I quit teaching and scaled back my television production work to part-time in order to begin a small jewelry business.  That was 16 years ago.  I love being an artist and working for myself on my own terms.  Jewelry is my main line of business.  However, I recently have become a certified gemologist and a freelance writer.  I am beginning to write part-time in addition to my jewelry business.  It's all good.
 

Where are you located?

Anaheim Hills is the hilly, upscale, part of Anaheim, CA. Close enough to the beach to enjoy, but far enough away that we don't have to deal with tourists.  My house is near the Nixon Presidential Library and Disneyland. We often enjoy the fireworks from the park in our backyard. There are hubs of historic small towns that are still thriving nearby and provide quaint places to visit and shop.  My favorite writing spot is a coffeehouse that used to be the building of a local newspaper in one of these old town hubs.  The heritage society has preserved the original facade of the building and inside it is paneled in old-fashioned wood.  It makes for a great writing atmosphere.

© Wendy Van Camp ~ earrings

Do you have a website or online store?

I do not have an online store and have no real plans to open one for my jewelry.  I find that people like to see and touch my pieces before they buy. I have sold online in the past, but I've discovered that the additional paperwork, photography and taxes involved has made it cost and time prohibitive.

I maintain a website for my work.  It is a gallery to display my jewelry and for customers to keep track of where I will be at shows.  I use the website mainly to display my jewelry to promoters when I'm jurying into a new venue and to link to articles that I write in the jewelry or gemological field.
 

© Wendy Van Camp ~ Garnet Byzantine

What other ways do you market your work?
I have an established venue circuit where I sell my work.  Juried Fine Art/Craft shows that are held in conjunction with music festivals, Scottish Highland Games and Science Fiction Conventions.  I love working outside in my booth.  Where else can you make a living under the trees on a beautiful day?  Word of mouth has done me well. I have many repeat customers at these events.
 
Do you teach? if so, where?
I am often approached to teach by studios or by individuals, but somehow the right venue has not opened for me.  I tend to be rather busy between my shows and writing.  One day I would not mind teaching, but for now it is on the back burner.
 

Any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?

Be honest with yourself.  Do you have the self discipline to set your own hours and do the work required to have a successful business? Have you focused not only on the artistic side of this profession, but also on gaining the business and marketing skills necessary to promote your work as an artist?  Metalsmithing is a physical and demanding professional with long hours and much risk. Setting up a studio with equipment is costly as are paying for booth fees to sell your work. You will not have many of the perks that people who work for others take for granted. If that does not scare you, then welcome!  There is a certain amount of freedom in working for yourself that can not be matched anywhere else. Also, the joy of seeing another person love your work enough that they wish to purchase it and make it their own is a wonderful feeling.  For me, this has made all the difference.

© Wendy Van Camp ~ Sterling Rhodonite Tree

Where do you envision your work going in the next year?

With the rising cost of metals, I am wondering how much longer I will be able to work in sterling silver.  I'm exploring more ways to use copper both in jewelry and as wall art.  I'm growing more focused on writing and working as a gemologist and hope to expand my presence in these areas over the next few years.
 

Anything else you would like to share?

Please feel free to visit my website and follow my blog: www.indigoskye.com
Like my Facebook Business Page: http://www.facebook.com/indigoskyebead
Follow me at Twitter: http://twitter.com/wvancamp

Beth Wicker: Three Cats and a Dog Design Studio ~ Artist Interview

This week for our Artist Interview we have Beth Wicker - thanks so much for sharing with us Beth!!!

Beth Wicker

How would you describe what you do as an artist? 

I'm all about creating, so I use a range of media - whatever will work to get the idea in my head out into the open.  Currently my primary media is metals, but I also work in mixed media fibers, paint, make original prints, and create handmade paper.
 

What inspires your designs?
Patterns - I love patterns!  I find them primarily in nature, but also in traces of the human presence on earth.

© Beth Wicker ~ Leaf Earrings

How long have you been involved in this type of making?
Back in the dark ages when Public Television actually taught subjects my mother would find out what art classes were coming up, get the supplies, and we would all sit in front of the television and learn whatever that class's technique was.  My mother took me to adult classes by the time I was about 10, and I've been learning ever since.  I did metals a bit as a kid, at home and at summer camp, but got back into it in a big way when my daughter wanted me to teach her when she was 10 - that circle of life thing going on.

© Beth Wicker ~ Dogwood

Where are you located?
I live on a farm with a lovely pond, just outside of Cheraw, SC, not too far from the NC border, and about half way between Charlotte, NC and Myrtle Beach.
 

Do you have a website or etsy store?
I sell on Etsy - http://www.bethwicker.etsy.com
I have a website:   http://www.bethwicker.com
And a Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/ThreeCatsandaDog
and I just opened a shop at Handmade Artists: http://handmadeartistsshop.com/shop/ruralart

© Beth Wicker ~ Pod Series #1

What other ways do you market your work?
I have a number of galleries and gift shops that carry my work and bring me in for trunk shows.  I do retail and wholesale shows, and a good bit of custom work.
 

Do you teach? if so, where?
I teach through area arts commissions, generally what I call "make and take", where I bring all the tools and materials and folks leave with a finished product.
 

Any sage advice for newcomers that you would like to share?
Don't quit the day job yet!  Making a living as an artist takes WORK!  And you MUST market yourself!  I see too many artists not doing enough marketing.

© Beth Wicker ~ Inner Landscapes

Where do you envision your work going in the next year?
I just took a workshop with Michael Good and learned anticlastic raising.  I already do repousse' and chasing, and I see my work getting much more three dimensional in the next year.  I'm also beginning to explore tableware and vessels.
 

Anything else you would like to share?
Love my rolling mill!  I use it for texturing (back to the whole pattern thing), and keep playing with new ways to add texture, pattern and color to my work.  I blog about new techniques and tools at http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/

© Beth Wicker ~ Art Deco Pendant

Beth has also been working with Ganoksin on a couple online exhibits. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder can be seen HERE.

A blurb about the exhibit:

The drive to adorn the human body is surely as old as human kind.

Early jewelry was made of bones, shells, sticks, and whatever other materials the people could find and shape.  Over time the ability to mine and shape metal developed, and jewelry was made from bronze, silver, gold, platinum and other metals.  Gold has long been thought of as a “precious” metal, and today it is joined by silver and platinum as the three main materials modern jewelry is made from.

While much jewelry today is made from these three main metals, a large body of jewelry world-wide is still made from a much wider range of materials.  This exhibition, “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”, focuses on jewelry made primarily of materials other than gold, platinum and silver.  

Jewelers today are still using found objects such as shell and bone; they are using “green” materials – upcycled and recycled objects and materials; they are using cutting edge plastics and newly developed technology; and they are using older metals such as copper, brass and bronze. Some of the more unusual materials include vinyl LP’s, velvet, VCR components, rattlesnake vertebrae, corian, canvas, paper, crab claws, magnets, synthetic rubber electrical insulation tubing, and aluminum grounding wire.