emiko-o reware

Last week I took down the Cher the Love tribute ensemble installation that was showcased at SCRAP’s 3rd Annual Art Exhibition. This was only the 2nd time that the entire ensemble has been shown (off the body anyway), and the lovely Exhibition Director, Jenny Morningstar gave me the honors of having it show in the gallery window at the Green Zebra/reMake Lounge venue (SCRAP also had a concurrent show at the Eco Center, where my Snow White collar was shown).

The boa is made from found soda can holders (mostly picked off my street) sewn together with monofilament and capped off with sequins and sterling silver crimp beads. The halter is made from found foam (from SCRAP),  sushi trays which Harriete had saved over the years and kindly donated to my cause, and fine and sterling silver scraps.

Cher the Love Strong Enough Thong was the first piece of the set, made back in 2005 from recycled Plexiglas and fine and sterling silver. My intent was to get into the SNAG exhibition at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but instead I got the fine opportunity to model the entire ensemble in a fashion show at the museum and to Cher’s “Strong Enough” song at that!

Admittedly, these aren’t my best photos, but the best I could do onsite dealing with window glare and a busy background. Essentially I made a plexiglas, half-round rod neck hanger from which the halter and boa were attached and hung from the ceiling. Could have definitely used an accent light to really show it off, but  the venue is not really an art gallery, so oh well.

Can’t complain, cause after all, to my delight, I was selected for a Juror’s Choice Award by juror JD Beltran, conceptual artist and professor at the San Francisco Art Institute! A little birdy told me that my Cher ensemble was one of the few pieces that scored 10s by all 3 jurors!  SWEET!

Here’s a little early V-day love to y’all!

photo by Raymond King

Encrypted

So much to report on what’s going on with my work this fall/winter! Can barely keep up on the exhibitions and holiday events, but I will do my best to get it all down here. First, and foremost, I made a brand new recycled art piece, non-LEGO for a change of pace. Encrypted is a set of 3 brooches in a wall environment that was made specifically for the National Ornamental Metal Museum‘s exhibition “Remake/Remodel” Nov 13, 2009- Jan 31, 2010 (see image, left). An invitational show, artists were asked to select a piece from NOMM’s Permanent Collection and then reinterpret the work into new pieces. I choose an iron coffer from Germany, 1650 as I found the locking mechanism on the inside of the lid very ornate with beautiful shapes (see image below).

German coffer, 1650

Here is my artist statement for Encrypted:

“Computers are the “coffers” of the 21st century. They hold everything personal such as family photos, finances, and work projects stored for prosperity inside a hard drive. They serve as our portal to the outside world where we conduct “secure” business with others via encrypted systems and passwords. Private data can shared securely with others electronically via “keys” which lock (encrypt) and unlock data. While someone can physically steal a computer, they cannot gain access to the treasures within as long as the system has been Encrypted.

The computer components and circuitry in Encrypted were compiled from abandoned and damaged computers found in the street or donated by friends. Created as a companion piece to an iron German Coffer (1650) from the National Ornamental Metal Museum’s Permanent Collection. The decorative quality of the iron coffer’s internal lid locking mechanisms informed the design of the three brooches; the coffer’s wood base inspired the layered wall environment for the brooches to rest.” * * * * * *

It was quite amazing that while I was thinking about this piece before I started designing it, I would step out of my apartment and spot random computers and circuit boards laying on the street! Waiting for me just like that! The power of visualization at its best, I tell ya. Thanks to Aimee Golant for donating her evil Dell tower, which provided me with some of the loveliest mechanisms that I used in the brooches.

The wall environment is made up of recycled circuit boards and sterling silver. Measures 17 5/8″L x 7.25″W x 3″D. The Key brooches are made of recycled circuit boards/computer parts/Plexiglass; sterling & fine silver, brass, gold, aluminum, steel. Key 1 measures 11″L x 4.75″W x 7/8″D. Key 2 measures 5 1/8″L x 2 .25″W x 1 .5″D. Key 3 measures 3.75″L x 2″W x 1″D.

Here are close up images of the individual Key brooches. Next post I’ll share with you images of the custom box made for Encrypted and some tips for professional art packing…

Encrypted Key 3

Encrypted Key 2

Encrypted Key 1

Come join Christine Dhein and I for another fabulous Recycled Artwork exhibition, called “re/PURPOSE“, at the African American Art & Culture Complex. The Opening Reception is this Thursday, July 23 from 6-8pm. Our lovely mannequin possé is out yet again, sporting circuit boards and LEGO pieces, in a primo spot, enticing you to enter the show…. Other artists in the show (curated by the lovely Samara Rivers) include: Evan Bissell, Wosene Kosrof, Moses Nornberg, and William Rhodes. Should be a great party: funk dj and wine and cheese for our show, and another art opening upstairs, “Simply Nina“, celebrating Nina Simone, with a live jazz singer singing Nina’s songs.

The AAACC is located at 762 Fulton St @ Webster. Stop by and say hi!

Much has developed in the last week on the upcoming exhibition space at the SF Museum of Craft + Design. I’m developing the MakeArt Gallery: Jewelry and Other Objects activity table for the back room; a simplified version of the Accessorize with Toys workshop that Shana Astrachan and I will be conducting on November 15 in that same space. So for those who can’t make that Nov 15 date, you’ll have the entire run of the exhibition to stop in and create something of your own.

Complimenting that in that space the Critique Collective will be showing a BRAND new Group Project in an exhibition co-curated by Christine Dhein and Christoph Koch called, Re-Purpose, Re-Use, Re-CREATE! We’re all super pumped up and ready to get others on the Green Train. Hopefully I will get a chance to update the crit collective website to include the press release on that. Until then, click here to grab the pdf.

What’s this: A. Abstract depiction of California in an earthquake; B. The inside of an old computer I scavenged at SCRAP; or C. Future Man-thong.
If you chose C, you are Correct! Cher thong ensemble will be showing in the above crit show, and she will have a partner in crime. Here is a sneak peak of the parts I cut up a few hours ago. Think electronic jock strap. So far the title that strikes me is “Population Control 2.0″. Definitely conceptual, but will be wearable/lifesize. Commentary on how constant laptop use on male laps is being linked to impotence, using technology to create genetically superior offspring….