Jigs

I have just about finished my first 5 pieces for my jewelry line for Frankie's class. I have a few rings and a set of earrings and I really wanted to make a chain of molars but didn't want to fabricate them individually so I made a jig! It works really well too. My first jig! I'm so excited.

After making my jig I started to wonder, is working with a jig considered an industrial process? I feel like it is but I've only seen it on a handmade scale, with artists like Arthur Ganson who has this great jig to construct the gears he uses in his kinetic sculptures, which you can see here.




After looking for images of industrial jigs I found this great image from a company that specializes in making industrial jigs. And I realized... Of course jigs are an industrial process! So many industrial processes that I love watching on shows like Mr. Rodgers (waaaay back in the day) and How it's made, are nothing but a series of jigs working together! Yeah Industrial Processes!

Check out this fun how its made on how balloons are made. I love this balloon jig.

Tobias Alm

I have been looking at jewelry again, and I've found Swedish Jeweler, Tobias Alm. I really love the freedom of his work. I also feel like the neckpieces would sit very well on the body. Looking at work from Jeweler's in Europe makes me wonder about the differences between an American and European Jeweler. Especially after working with Ruudt Peters in a workshop a few weeks ago, I feel like European jewelry is more about material exploration. It seems there are many many more artists who create compilations of material discoveries in one piece of work, which are completely toxic and captivating, but it makes me think about concept. Is that their concept? What role does concept play in the work of European artists and if they have the coveted work, why does concept play such a key role in American work?






I also went to SOFA Chicago this weekend and I got to see the new series, Pink Years Later, from German Artist, Iris Eichenberg. OH EM GEE!! I love love LOVE her work so much, so to see her new series in person first was so striking, considering the image is where I would normally see it first. She's working with pantyhose, satin, clumpings of little pink beads, and other seductive textures, yum! The work is so new that I can't even find images of it online anywhere, but it is so lovely. I have a postcard which I wont let out of my grubby hands anytime soon, so I will try to scan it and add it later, but hopefully she will put up images on her website soon. Its possible that images will pop up on her gallery site, Ornamentum Gallery soon as well.

Mud Stencils

Jesse Graves, an undergraduate Jewelry and Metalsmithing student at UWM has been working with mud stencils for quite some time now. He creates graffiti messages, which often have a socially conscious and potentially political agenda, with mud instead of paint. Its a great idea, and I'm excited to see it appear on one of my favorite blog, Free People. He has instructions on exactly how to create your own mud stencils, and video of past projects he has done with the just seeds organization and artist Nicolas Lampert. Great Job Jesse! I'm dying to know what's next.

Smart Upcycle

I really loved this article from Sustainabrew about a completely appropriate reuse of materials. In 2006 when the Blatz Brewery building was busily being converted into condos they found bunches of Blatz bottles in the basement, and instead of just chucking them, they designed them into the building. I haven't been to see this, but its in Milwaukee, so I'd love to go check it out sometime. The bottles have been crafted into dividers between rooms and window accents which transform them into the most chic beer bottles I think I've ever seen. I love that the bottles were found there, and they found a beautiful way to present them, honoring the past of the building.

Home Studio

I was lucky enough to go to an Amazing workshop at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan last weekend and what an amazing experience! I stayed with Lynn Batchelder and Alissa Lamarre who are recent graduates from WMU, who also participated in the workshop and they are both making truly exciting work. While staying at their lovely house in Kalamazoo I got a chance to see their studio setup in their home. It's perfect! Its very simple, but it has all the necessary components for making work. Open, flat space to work on, torches and pickle pot (if you work in metal), space to put images of the work that inspires you and natural light. I think its important to show studio spaces that work, especially for someone just coming out of an academia setting where every tool possible is readily available to you. This studio space works because its perfect for the type of work that they are both doing. I think all too often people think they can't make work unless they have all the tools that a full university studio has, which is totally not the case. There are so many places out there that you can shop out processes like casting, laser cutting, and stone setting that having these machines is not necessary. Just grab a torch, get a crock pot from the thrift store and your hand tools that you were using at your bench in school anyways, and see what you can make! Limitations can be very honest and produce beautiful work. Try to enjoy this remarkable period right after school where you are really deciding if making is what you really want to do. You will either make amazing work and push forward, or shift and start doing something else that works better for you. Thanks to Lynn and Alissa for allowing me to share images of their space.

First Day of Ruudt and WMU's awesome new facility

Today I started a two day workshop with Ruudt Peters, dutch jeweller and all around awesome guy. It was awesome. We started off the day screaming "hate" at each other and spent the rest of the day "hating" our materials. I chose pipe cleaners and have had a lot of success today. Ruudt is a super awesome guy, and I have to say I was a bit worried, considering he is such a rock star...I wasn't sure if he would be awesome and friendly or not, but luckily..he is the coolest. Such a fun first day..I am really looking forward to tomorrow

Student Exhibition, Body/Image Show, and Caroline Gore's Simulations

Ruudt Peters

Yevgeniya Kaganovich

Caroline Gore

Caroline Gore

WMU Students

WMU Students

WMU Students

WMU Student