October 31, 2009

studio weekend...

make work make work make work

October 27, 2009

I find comfort in looking at historical jewelry. Structure and form are present in those works.


Title: Woman's Bracelet
Date: 19th–early 20th century
Culture :Minangkabau
Geography: Indonesia, Sumatra
Medium: Wood, gold leaf, metal, paint
Dimensions- Hx W x D: 2 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 5 in. (7 x 12.1 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Fred and Rita Richman, 1988
(via MMA).

Classic forms are always beautiful. It made me think about the time, environment and setting when much older pieces were made. Artisans back then did not have studio spaces like what we may have now. It amazes me how they handcrafted such jewelry. So I looked further into 'place' from the Photography Study Collection in the MMA site. I think it's a great place for some visual resource.





October 24, 2009

on defining

As I am searching and exploring the meaning of what jewelry means to me, I find a very helpful post from EvocativeObjects. It is titled "What is craft?" There, you will find a collection of meaning for "craft."
The one I really like a lot is
Craft, art, and design are words heavily laden with cultural baggage. For me, they all connote the profound engagement with materials and process that is central to creativity. Through this engagement form, function, and meaning are made tangible. It is time to move beyond the limitations of terminologies that fragment and separate our appreciation of creative actions, and consider the "behaviors of making" that practitioners share.'-David Revere McFadden
Chief Curator and Vice President, Museum of Arts & Design

October 22, 2009

Eun Yeong Jeong


Wood, Copper, Plastic, Sterling silver, Sand, Natural pigment
10 x 12.5 x 4.5 cm


Wood, Plastic, Copper, Sterling silver, Natural pigment
13 x 11.5 x 6 cm


Seashell from Miyazaki, Copper, Sterling Silver, Plastic, Natural Pigment, Stainless steel
8.5 x 12.5 x 6.5 cm

My favorites are from her "Mushroom Series."
(via Eun Yeong Jeong).

Raissa Bump


Buttons
silver, antique glass beads, silk thread
2.2cm x 2.2cm x 1.2cm

Brooch
oxidized silver, silk thread
9.5cm x 7.5cm x .4cm
(via Raissa Bump).

I like this brooch because Raissa treated the silver and worked the threads to compliment each other. Both materials were somewhat altered.

fresh water


(via National Geographic).

October 20, 2009

today, i am here





In New York City, 47th Street between 5th and 6th Ave or notoriously known as the Jewelry District. This one block is filled with madness. I come to this block very frequently to see contractors. Before I enter into the appropriate building, men push ads at me, asking me to buy or sell gold. I run into people dashing from store to store, buying different jewelry components, not excluding myself by the way. You don't just see the stress level but you feel it. Someone asked me, what are you doing in this jungle?

Tomorrow will be another day.....

last year, i was here


At a natural reserve in Mai Po, Hong Kong.

October 19, 2009

colorful creatures



Photograph by David Doubilet



Photograph by Chris Newbert/Minden Pictures

(via National Geographic)

this past weekend




It was a pleasant surprise to find out that open studio was happening on our floor as well as surrounding artist studios in the area. I actually found out the day of the opening. Luckily, I had stored some of my past jewelry pieces in my drawer. So I just displayed them on the table under a nice thick board. Still, I was just mildly prepared because in no way was I mentally ready to talk about my work and how I was going to further my ideas.

In the beginning, I was a bit tongue tied, but eventually, I realized that people were really willing to listen. So I began to feel more comfortable slowly expressing my thoughts. Now, I know how important it is to explain your work in clear, concise language. Good thing Steph was also at studio this weekend; we were able to get through this experience together. She is much better at inviting people to come in and look at work. The second day was actually better because we readjusted some of the furniture to open up the space and bought wine and candy for our visitors.

I am so happy to have heard different feedback, responses, and comments. It gave me confidence to further develop my work. It was a great push to finally create an etsy shop. I also had the opportunity to meet the artists on my floor and see their work. It was so nice to have met them.

It was such a great learning weekend!
Note to self: for future open studios, make space welcoming and prepare in advance, if possible.


-Kerrie

October 17, 2009

this saturday and sunday...


Annual A.G.A.S.T. tour on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 17-18 from 1-6 p.m-- Artist Studio Tour.

October 11, 2009

natural casting

Yesterday I went with Steph to attend Brooklyn Skillshare's jewelry class led by Timothy Gasbarro. He shared his expertise on natural casting. It was the first time I've seen someone do this outside an institution. In his demonstration he melt silver, using a hand held propane tank, in a small crucible. It took a while for the silver to melt because the flame was so small. But when the silver is at its right melting temperature, he poured the silver into a steel can of beans. The silver simply molds into the crevices of the beans. When the silver hardens, you get a natural casting. Interesting textures and shapes can be made depending on what material is poured into. Not only beans can be used, but also sand, water, charcoal, or even rocks.


October 10, 2009

uniting the world

Pelada from Rebekah Fergusson on Vimeo.



Through a sport, people speak the same language.
It makes me think about universal meanings and universal objects. And how can jewelry speak universally?

October 9, 2009

"culture doesn't really beg people to pursue a career in the arts... you need to let people know what you are doing."

good advice?
While I watched the PBS show, Craft in America: Origins, I took some notes down that I want to remember.
A few phrases/ideas/comments from artists' describing their work:

-using traditional materials and applying technique to change form.
-telling a narrative
-mastering skill to manipulate material into an object.
-"decisions i make is never about how long it takes me"
-with high technology, people don't have the need to make things.
-there are no limitation...giving freedom to fail
-"slow, tedious process.. and i enjoyed every minute of it"
-conveying the tradition forward is through family
-sometimes it just needs to be honed down and made simple.
-to labor is to pray
-passing the traditions to the next generation, we don't see that a lot in America.

Mari Ishikawa



(via Klimt02).

Mari's newest work, Under the Moonlight.
She is so good at transforming material.

settling into my new studio

Finally got the chance to set my table up and organize my tools/materials. Here are some pictures of the space. Not all of my studio mates have settled in yet. But I think the studio space is looking pretty good so far.


Right when you enter the room. We have high ceilings. It's really nice.






My little corner





Time to start making!

October 7, 2009

Better the World by Design

I was very lucky to have attended the three day Better the World by Design conference at Providence, Rhode Island. It was a very packed weekend of lectures, panel discussions, and workshops. The amazing thing was that this conference was only made possible by dedicated Brown and RISD students who organized and gathered all the speakers together.

This was my very first design conference and I have to say that it was really enriching. Listening to designers speak about their projects and ideas is very different from what I am used to. Compared to hearing individuals speak about jewelry projects for self expression, it was nice to hear about designers' projects that are such selfless acts to better community, society and the world. What I found wonderful was their passionate belief that using design as a tool can change the world. Applying creative design approaches to resolve social issues can be very successful.

Some ideas I want to remember:
Design is form giving.
Design improves life.
To get inspired, you need more data.
We don't need more new, we need more good.
If you want to make it happen, do it now.
Collaborate- gather people to make something bigger than yourself.
Design is a service to others.
Learn things outside your discipline.
Design is a verb.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!




I took a tour of a local farm in Providence. I loved it!
Support local markets and eat those greens... We need to love OUR planet.



A great quote
"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been. I have great faith in the seed. Convince me that a seed is there and I am prepared to expect wonders."
-H.D. Thoreau





Here are some additional resources:
Project M
Project H Design

October 1, 2009

I will be moving into my new studio, in Brooklyn, tomorrow afternoon. I am so excited. I will be sharing this space with 4 other jewelry makers/designers/artists. I am thinking it will be a great opportunity to share ideas and generate motivation amongst each other.

I still have some sorting and packing that needs to be done, due to a bit of procrastination and distractions. Being at home can do its harms. So I am anticipating that I will make good progress in starting up my work, now that I have a new space.

Here are some before pictures of the space, photographed by my studiomate, Steph. We are taking over a painter's studio.




Once I settle back in from Providence this weekend, I will really begin to organize my tools and materials. Some pictures of my studio space to come!