emiko-o reware

All My First Royal Jewels are officially out of the house and showing off their sparkle at various exhibitions through most of this month! Just recently, two shows opened on the East Coast at Sienna Gallery in Lenox, MA, and at the Atrium Art Gallery at Ball State University in Muncie, IN.

anya kivarkis ring

At Sienna is So Fake They’ll Think It’s Real (through Sept 21), a show curated by the group 18K GOLD TONE, inspired by their experience at a pawn shop, where the attendant tried to sell them an engagement ring with a huge plastic stone –”It’s so fake, they’ll think it’s real!” Posing the question, “When we can no longer discern the actual from the absurd where do our values fall?” All of us artists in the show have in our own ways subverted this idea of Real. Anya Kivarkis‘s ring above is quite to this point.

karin seufert necklace

I love this necklace by Karin Seufert, probably because like my own work, it is mimicing a familiar, possibly historic style. And I hadn’t the slightest clue what the material was (until i saw a description–pvc!)–always a success when using alternative materials. Honored to be included in this show alongside such artists as: Pia Aleborg       Gijs Bakker Frédéric Braham        Mike Bray        Gisa Elmer        Karl Fritsch          Anya Kivarkis Mia Maljojoki        Trevor Mahovsky Karin Seufert       Kevin Yates        Rhonda Weppler

Hop over a few states to Indiana at Ball State University’s Atrium Art Gallery for a recycled art show, Reclaim Reuse Renew, through Sept 26. Artists who use  post consumer materials, leaving a lighter footprint with their art. The big names in this show are: Michelle Stitzlen, Boris Bally, Leo Sewell, and of course, Harriete Estel Berman. (Note that the images below do not neccessarily depict the exact work in the show, but rather give an example of their styles.)

Harriete Estel Berman's tin teacups

Leo Sewell's assemblage

Michelle Stitzlen's Butterfly

Boris Bally's use of traffic signs

The opening reception for re/PURPOSE at the African American Art and Culture Complex was quite the turnout last Thursday–besides the show that Christine and I are in (there we are in the photo to the left), the Simply Nina show upstairs had its opening as well. Not only did so many artists show up, but city officials like Ross Mirakami (District Supervisor) came to celebrate the newly renovated spaces (next month the city will have an official ribbon cutting, since funding for the renovations have come from the city). In the downstairs gallery, each of our jewelry-wearing mannequins sits statuesquely in their own window, facing the lobby. Just before we left at 8pm, we got in a little papparazzi action in front of our work. Check out more photos on my flickr.

my "Maharajah" LEGO necklace

my "Cygne Noir" LEGO necklace

Christine's circuit board breastplate

Christine's runway circuit piece

To add to my incredible emiko-o Month of Press (someone recently asked me “Who does your PR?”, and i was like, uhhhhh…you mean me?), the current issue of Metalsmith features My First Royal Jewels Collection, starting on page 46. An intelligent and interesting article, “Mining History: Ornamentalism Revisted“, written by Namita Gupta Wiggers (curator of Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland OR) and Lena Vigna (curator, Miami University Art Museum, OH), takes us on a tour of contemporary jewelers (myself included) whose work harkens back to an earlier period of the decorative arts . I was overjoyed and floored that a full-page image of my Queen Margherita necklace was presented opposite the title page!

I really  had no idea that a return to ornamentalism was happening on a larger scale until I saw the Decorative Resurgance show that my work was in (and won first place for) this May at Rowan University. Then this article came out and now I’m seeing more and more exhibitions pop up in this vein. Works for me!

metalsmith article

Queen Margherita in Metalsmith

Let’s take a minute to give props to the student body of SNAG, for as Stanley has said, and I agree, they are our Future, not to mention some of the most creative and innovative makers. When I head into the Pin Swap event, I go straight to the students, because more often than not, they have the coolest pins and are the friendliest of the bunch.
So, first let’s congratulate the winners of the SNAG Educational Endowment Award:

Vincent Pontillo

WINNERS: Vincent Pontillo (SUNY Buffalo) (see image, right)
Rachel Shimpock (Cal State Long Beach)
Davina Romansky (RIT)

Elliot Gaskin

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Elliot Gaskin (Academy of Art, SF) (see image, left)
Andrew Kuebeck

On to the Student Exhibition, MetalEvolution, curated by Susan Myers and Bruce Metcalf, and organized by Erin Williams. Great work, you three, this show was outstanding.
WINNER of this show: Vincent Pontillo!

Vincent Pontillo's Pomegranate

AUDIENCE CHOICE: Lindsey Phillips (see image, left bottom)

Lindsey Phillips

My personal favorite was a velcro necklace by Yong Joo Kim. Thread was the material for Ashli Brooke Taylor‘s necklace, and the political pin multiples of Sean Scully were also memorable.

Yong Joo Kim's velcro necklace

Ashli Brooke Taylor's thread necklace

Sean Scully's political pins

Abigail Williams also had work in the show, and she happened to be watching over the gallery when I first stopped in. She had a great felted wool and metal collar piece on, as you’ll see below.

Abigail Williams

On the last night at the banquet, I met Jenny Schneider, whose Beaver crown was in the show; here’s a photo of her (center) and her friends wearing her work.

jenny schneider and her jewelry

co-jurors of decorative resurgance

May 24, Afternoon at Rowan University Gallery in Glassboro, NJ
Checked out of the Loews Sunday morning, and headed over the Walt Whitman Bridge to Jersey to see my last show of SNAG Revolution 2009. Certainly worth the field trip, co-jurors Jill Baker Gower and Jessica Calderwood did a fantastic job putting together Decorative Resurgance. Out of 429 entries, 90 pieces were selected, representing 72 artists.
“We were particularly interested in work that was not only exquisitely crafted, but also successfully re-contextualized the chosen historical decorative influence into thoughtful and contemporary art as well as illustrated research and knowledge of the decorative inspiration.”–excerpt from the Jurors’ Statement.

Accompanying the show is an attractive catalog, with a lovely forward by Jennifer Zwilling (Curatorial Assistant at the Philadelphia Museum of Art), made possible by a grant from the Art Jewelry Forum.
Juror Awards were given to: 1st Place — my LEGO® Duchess 2 Cartier reinterpretation; 2nd Place — Miel-Margarita Paredes for her subtle “Gnaw” floral/rodent wall installation, 3rd Place — Becky Chader‘s multi-layered “Reliquary for a Styrofoam Peanut”.

miel-margarita paredes "Gnaw"

Becky Chader's "Reliquary for Styrofoam Peanut"

Duchess 2 by emiko

Lifetime Achievement Award

9am on Thursday, May 21 and we’re all gathered in the large ballroom for the Keynote by Stanley Lechtzin (I’m a bit behind on my posts, as it is currently Day 3, but let’s pretend for now it’s still Day 2, Thursday). First, however, Stanley was awarded the SNAG Lifetime Achiement Award, very fitting as this year’s theme is Revolution! Cynthia Eid created and presented this beautiful silver vessel award (as shown in the slide above onscreen). Stanley gave a moving speech, personally thanking individuals and sending out his love to each of them, for being so supportive of him over the years. In closing, he had all the students in the audience stand up, and to them he said, “You are the most important part of this conference; you are the future of this organization.” Over 200 students are in attendance this year, not too bad out of 700 attendees!

Stanley Lechtzin

Incoming President, Harlan Butt introduced Stanley for the following Keynote address, the theme and title which I love and is my personal motto this year, “Seizing of Opportunities.”

He continues to be at the forefront of our field, leading the way for art jewelry to integrate with today’s technologies, from design in CAD/CAM to realization in 3D resin modeling. In his keynote, he posed these questions which I pose to you:

Are you recognizing your opportunities?

Are you using your opportunities to their fullest?

Are you preparing your students for the future?

He went on to share these words of wisdom: “This is not a dress rehearsal. When they [opportunities] come up, grab them.” And lastly, “Those who CAN, Do; Those who can Do it Better, Teach.”

Revolution, Day 2, 1:30pm, Leo Caballero, co-founder of Klimt02.net, the popular online international art jewelry community, spoke about the reasoning behind starting the site.

While his presentation was  more like a wordy recitation (you can’t really blame the guy, it was his first trip to the US–he’s from Italy–and perhaps the first time addressing such a large, non-tech crowd), the accompanying video presentation was worth the wait, from which I furiously scrambled to record the following quotes, which seemed so esoteric in the lecture, but when put to an emotional soundtrack and film, seemed to strike a chord.

Reality is the exchange of information

The priority of social Equality is Knowledge

From information to knowledge

When you select you already have an idea

Creation is an act of will

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Jewelry in Motion at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was certainly a highlight of Day 2. All 34 of us who were showing in the event were corraled into the main entry in front of the grand staircase inside the museum, and given brief instruction on the catwalk, stair placement, and order of artists.

Here is just a sampling of images: James Thurman‘s Book Jacket of recycled book covers, and Anthony Tammaro‘s Here I Am chandelier-like neckpiece with bells that chimed. Below that is Christine Bossler‘s Inhibit reverse arm pieces of monofilament and pearls.

James Thurman and Anthony Tammaro's piece

Christine Bossler's Inhibit

Curated by Gail Brown and organized by Marjorie Simon, everything fell into place, from the live music by Alex Styer, choreographed dancers from Jeanne Ruddy Dance, and witty emcees Lola Brooks and Jonathan Wahl.

Jewelry In Motion (photo by Jennifer Crupi)

There really is no better way to show jewelry than on the body, and after the show was over and we all descended the stairs and made our way off the catwalk, the cameras continued snapping and countless curious audience members introduced themselves to us to inspect the pieces.

emiko's jewelry in motion

Here I am (center) with SNAG member Alecia Wesner and my partner in catwalk crime, Christi Swier. The debut of my latest creations, Blue Steel (Boucheron replica), and Cygne Noir (Lalique replica). The costume designer in me couldn’t resist the opportunity to be theatrical with the 18th century wigs and ball gowns, especially after my Cher appearance at SNAG 05 at the Rock and Roll Hall. I encourage everyone who participates in future Jewelry In Motions to consider their entire get-up just as you would the display of your pieces in a gallery. Not only are you memorable, but it’s the best opportunity to meet TONS of people. Next JIM is SNAG ’10 in Houston, so start designing now!

If you TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS of Jewelry in Motion, please let me know and I’ll post your links. So far, Jennifer Crupi has her images up on Picasa and Jennifer Zwilling has images on Flickr .  SNAG photographer, Phil Renato, has some raw b&w images on Flickr. And there were rumors that a local TV station was filming…I’ll keep you posted.

12 hours, 2 flights and 36 sleepless hours later, I arrived at the Philadelphia airport, glad to have touched ground, free from screaming infants. And what to greet me but a Jewelry exhibition! Imagine that, in the little Continental wing of the airport. Awesome. Great display, innovative work, and here are some shots I share with you (please excuse the slight blow out on some of the images).

Painted maple and 24 gold plated brass necklaces by Bruce Metcalf

Silver plated bronze and brass sculptures, “Disposable Takeout Series” by Susan Myers

3-D print and resin, gypsum “PUSHERE” by Stanely Lechtzin and Danielle Kerner

Bracelets in silver and silicone rubber by Vicki Sedman (a personal favorite of mine–must be the futuristic look, plus it’s pink).

Well, that was last night, and now, fully rested, I’m on to the Professional Development Seminar–just a little over and hour from now!

Thanks to Jessica Fromm’s article “Art as Fashion” in last week’s Metro Silicon Valley, I had great success at Palo Alto Art Center’s STYLE 2009. An all day event, starting with a special breakfast at 9:30am, and catered lunch by former Google chef, Charlie Ayers, who now has his own restaurant, Calafia (the name of which is supposedly the origin of our state’s name). As Liz Lemon would say, “I want to go to there!” A busy day all around, you wouldn’t have known that a recession was going on with all the shopping bags; can I get an Amen over here for the “LEGO lady”!

And for those of you who are surprised by the non-LEGO accompanying image, well, so am I. Don’t be fooled by the caption; it was a misprint. While, yes, that is me in the photo, pre-red streaks (photo credit to Christine Dhein), the incredible circuit board ensemble here is by the lovely Reed Easley–her “Electronic Empire Series”. I notified the editor and writer and was assured that a correction would be printed with the correct artist names.

There were so many great artists (and familiar faces) at this show; I was in superb company in the auditorium, where the jewelers and accessory artists were located. Carol Windsor had a super pro display showcasing her handmade paper petal designs, and Julia Turner had her exquisite collection of handmade wood and metal pieces. Plus NICHE winner and local gallery owner, Davide Bigazzi, and April Higashi representing her Berkeley gallery, Shibumi Studio & Gallery. Thanks to  Diane Masters, “Empress of Style” for coordinating this fabulous event!

Carol Windsor's earrings

Julia Turner's brooch