Sunday, August 17, 2014

Steampunk'd Wonderland


What's behind this door?  


The latest adventures of the Metal Clay Artisan Guild in CT.  It has been great fun working with them on our installation for Steampunk'd Wonderland at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT.  On Thursday October 9, 2015 from 4-5:30pm, join the members of the Metal Clay Artisan Guild of CT, along with artists from across the state, for the opening event of Steampunk'd Wonderland.  Tour more than two dozen site specific installations on the Florence Griswold Museum Campus as you take an imaginative guided trip through Alice's Adventure in Wonderland.  The Guild can be found in the first chapter of the adventure, with an installation that invites the viewer down the rabbit hole and through the hall of doors Alice was confronted with.  Once the sun goes down, the party moves in doors with a sneak peak of the museum's fall exhibits.  For more information, please visit:  http://florencegriswoldmuseum.org


Sunday, August 3, 2014

Metal Clay Mojo 2015

One of the most inspiring conferences I have attended as an Artist and an Educator was the Metal Clay Mojo Conference last summer where I was pleased to serve as a discussion panel moderator.  Needless to say, I was thrilled to be invited earlier this summer as a presenter at the next Metal Clay Mojo Conference in 2015.  I will be giving a presentation and demonstrations entitled: 

Biting the Surface:  
Etching One of a kind copper texture plates for use with metal clay

‘Biting the Surface’ refers to corroding the metal on an etching plate which originated as a printmaking technique and eventually crossed over into traditional forms of jewelry and metalsmithing.  Today, etching metal plates is a great way for metal clay artists to push their work even further - whether you are looking to create your own original designs as long lasting texture surfaces or to expand your technical jewelry skills, this presentation will offer something for all levels.  I have been working with these techniques for more than 20 years and know all too well how traditional forms of etching are complicated, expensive and toxic.  This presentation will focus on simplicity, safety and convenience as we explore salt based etching methods that yield sophisticated results and can be safely used in the home studio.    Participants will even be invited to try out the techniques we explore in the evening open studio for a small materials fee.


It's a real privilege to be a presenter alongside such amazing artists and teachers as Anna Mazon, Donna Penoyer, Barbara Becker Simon, Terry Kovalcik, Noortje Mejeirink, Kim Paige, Michelle Loon, Suzanne McNenly and Robert Dancik.  This international conference is designed to foster greater community, creativity and artistry within the world of  powdered metallurgy.  As an artist and an educator I gained valuable insights that have powerfully impacted both my own studio work and teaching approaches.  To learn more about this conference, please visit:  www.metalclaymojo.com