Westerly Annual Regional Art Show

The Artist Cooperative of Westerly is holding their 29th annual Regional Art Show. The show is open to anyone, and is judged by a juror who does not know our members. Frequently, members submit items and are not selected for the show. People are allowed to enter up to three pieces, and the judge makes a determination on which ones meet their standards for that particular medium. Art is very subjective, and that makes the resulting show very eclectic and interesting. I always enjoy seeing what does and does not get selected.

This year, I'm entering 3 pieces and we'll see what happens. The first piece to the left is made completely of polymer pinched-petal canes, with some rolled polymer beads to lie flat behind the neck. The pieces below show: A hand-formed, hand painted porcelain focal, with a PMC fine silver bail, on a beadwoven necklace (all made by me). The last photos are of a polymer pendant with a beadwoven center, and a buna cord with adjustable closure.

They are all rather different, and I'm interested to see what the judge thinks.

New Polymer Lidded Box

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Kansas City Polymer Clay Guild (KCPCG) sponsored an online polymer workshop. Polymer artists Laurel Swetnam and Lea Gordinier guided us through the steps of creating a really different little lidded box they had created. The process and the steps they developed for teaching this box were specific and clear to follow. Both presenters were excellent, answering questions as we worked, and sharing tips and tricks they have learned from making many unusual lidded polymer boxes. The KCPCG arranged the 2 day workshop with an "off" day inbetween, so participants had a day to work on the base before moving ahead with the other components on day two. If you like little boxes, and get a chance to take a workshop with these women, do sign up. Even though I've made boxes in the past, the unusual shape of this one meant the approach was very different, and I learned a great deal. Here is a photo of the front of the box. The other photos show the box with its lid off and also the top of the lid. One of the things they suggested was we have some way of indicating how the lid needed to be placed. Even though we were making a rectangular base and lid, it was important to know how the lid lined up with the base. So, I made a small notch in my lid, and placed a flower bud on the base at the spot where the lid notch would fit. Fun project and a very sturdy little box.

Early Greens

Wow! Somehow February just sped by! I did spend quite a bit of time putting together some pieces for a Mokume gane display at the Westerly gallery. However, I I forgot to take photos... So, here are some pieces that speak to the beginning glimpses of spring in new green near the streams. The oval pendant makes me think of the first touches of greens coming up in rows in a planting bed. The earrings do, too. Then of course, there are the cattails - one of my favorites that grow wild here along the ponds. As you can see, I'm thinkig spring and green!!