Found Collection

I submitted my work to a new gallery here in town (Appleton, Wisconsin).  The gallery is an Artist Co-op.  It is gorgeous.  All work in the gallery must be juried in.
I was accepted last week.  I feel proud of this.
The jury liked most of my work, but felt a couple of pieces lacked imagination.  The thing is that I am not trying to reinvent anything.  I try to make well balanced, eye pleasing, classy pieces using good materials and craftsmanship.  Because of whatever talent I have, my pieces seem to end up looking a little "special".  I think this is because I am really picky and won't finish something until I think it looks "right".  At art shows, people tell me my work has a special something to it.  We haven't defined what that is!!!!  Being inventive is not my goal.   I guess that all in all the jury must have seen something they wanted or I would have been turned away.

To apply, I had to do an artist statement.  This was weird.  I never said I was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Here is what I did for that:

   "" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me.  This is where she kept everything from huge gaudy     rhinestone buttons to little black plastic buttons.  I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.  

    Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard.  My treasure chest has beads of every color of the rainbow.  They come from all over the world.  Most have a         rich tradition and history behind them.  In creating one of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia.          The elements complement each other and become a whole.

    I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me and then build the rest of the piece around that first element.  I use a variety of colors and             textures.  Sometimes the effect is a piece that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel.   I don't confine myself to one style.  I prefer instead     to pursue the endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

    I have been making jewelry for 6 years.  Before that I worked with textiles and wood fired clay forms.  I have work in the Seaweed Gallery, Sanibel Island, Florida and in     Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.   Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.  

    Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.  

     I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest materials and made to last.  """

I set up my case the end of this week.  It's $60 per month but then all the profit is mine.  The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one parallel side to the other.  I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at different levels using shapes under it.  Some people have beans and drift wood, etc.  Their displays are almost too distracting.  I want the focus to be on the jewelry.  If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire away.  I am open to suggestions.

Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile.  Had to play catch up.

Beadingly yours,

KathyH

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I submitted my work to a new gallery here in town (Appleton, Wisconsin).
The gallery is an Artist Co-op.  It is gorgeous.  All work in the gallery
must be juried in.
I was accepted last week.  I feel proud of this.
The jury liked most of my work, but felt a couple of pieces lacked
imagination.  The thing is that I am not trying to reinvent anything.  I try
to make well balanced, eye pleasing, classy pieces using good materials and
craftsmanship.  Because of whatever talent I have, my pieces seem to end up
looking a little "special".  I think this is because I am really picky and
won't finish something until I think it looks "right".  At art shows, people
tell me my work has a special something to it.  We haven't defined what that
is!!!!  Being inventive is not my goal.   I guess that all in all the jury
must have seen something they wanted or I would have been turned away.

To apply, I had to do an artist statement.  This was weird.  I never said I
was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Here is what I did for that:

   "" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in
my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me.  This is where she kept
everything from huge gaudy     rhinestone buttons to little black plastic
buttons.  I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.

    Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard.  My treasure chest
has beads of every color of the rainbow.  They come from all over the world.
Most have a         rich tradition and history behind them.  In creating one
of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from
Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia.          The elements complement each
other and become a whole.

    I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me
and then build the rest of the piece around that first element.  I use a
variety of colors and             textures.  Sometimes the effect is a piece
that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel.
I don't confine myself to one style.  I prefer instead     to pursue the
endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

    I have been making jewelry for 6 years.  Before that I worked with
textiles and wood fired clay forms.  I have work in the Seaweed Gallery,
Sanibel Island, Florida and in     Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.

    Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work
stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.

     I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest
materials and made to last.  """

I set up my case the end of this week.  It's $60 per month but then all the
profit is mine.  The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one
parallel side to the other.  I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet
fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at
different levels using shapes under it.  Some people have beans and drift
wood, etc.  Their displays are almost too distracting.  I want the focus to
be on the jewelry.  If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire
away.  I am open to suggestions.

Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile.  Had to
play catch up.

Beadingly yours,

KathyH

This is wonderful news.

I really like your artist's statement. And what the heck do you mean you aren't an artist!

Interesting about other displays being distracting.  I would have thought lentils and drift wood would be neutral enough.  On the other hand I've seen sea shore themes (or other themes) that are very plain colored, etc, but still makes the picture too busy.

I'd prefer leather to velvet, mostly just because the edges can just be cut and don't need to be finished.  I also like the texture of leather.  On the other hand, other parts of the country don't find leather to be politically acceptable.

Tina

  I submitted my work to a new gallery here in town (Appleton, Wisconsin).  The gallery is an Artist Co-op.  It is gorgeous.  All work in the gallery must be juried in.
  I was accepted last week.  I feel proud of this.
  The jury liked most of my work, but felt a couple of pieces lacked imagination.  The thing is that I am not trying to reinvent anything.  I try to make well balanced, eye pleasing, classy pieces using good materials and craftsmanship.  Because of whatever talent I have, my pieces seem to end up looking a little "special".  I think this is because I am really picky and won't finish something until I think it looks "right".  At art shows, people tell me my work has a special something to it.  We haven't defined what that is!!!!  Being inventive is not my goal.   I guess that all in all the jury must have seen something they wanted or I would have been turned away.

  To apply, I had to do an artist statement.  This was weird.  I never said I was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

  Here is what I did for that:

     "" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me.  This is where she kept everything from huge gaudy     rhinestone buttons to little black plastic buttons.  I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.  

      Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard.  My treasure chest has beads of every color of the rainbow.  They come from all over the world.  Most have a         rich tradition and history behind them.  In creating one of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia.          The elements complement each other and become a whole.

      I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me and then build the rest of the piece around that first element.  I use a variety of colors and             textures.  Sometimes the effect is a piece that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel.   I don't confine myself to one style.  I prefer instead     to pursue the endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

      I have been making jewelry for 6 years.  Before that I worked with textiles and wood fired clay forms.  I have work in the Seaweed Gallery, Sanibel Island, Florida and in     Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.   Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.  

      Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.  

       I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest materials and made to last.  """

  I set up my case the end of this week.  It's $60 per month but then all the profit is mine.  The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one parallel side to the other.  I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at different levels using shapes under it.  Some people have beans and drift wood, etc.  Their displays are almost too distracting.  I want the focus to be on the jewelry.  If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire away.  I am open to suggestions.

  Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile.  Had to play catch up.

  Beadingly yours,

  KathyH

Deirdre

Deirdre

On Mon, 04 Aug 2003 16:31:49 GMT, "Christina Peterson"

Jo Jo

Please let us know how things go with the Artist co-op.

Since visiting some really nice ones in C***tesville, I keep thinking what a
great idea that can be if done correctly.  (I really think those places that
look like abadoned warehouses with rows of seperate little wooden stalls for
each crafter usually look pretty unprofessional and don't appear to be a very
favorable way to set things up, especially when compaired to the small co-op
stores layed out like a gallery or high-end gift-store).

marisa2

Carol in SLC
My new stuff:  http://members.aol.com/carolinslc/emma.jpg

Congrats to you!  As a new gallery co-op members, you are probably also a
co-owner of the gallery, if it is set up the same as my gallery in Chicago.
You should send a note out to your mailing list telling them that they can see
your newest work year-round at the gallery!
Also, if you ever have to remove your work for a show, remember to set out a
sign saying when everything will be back!  

The whole "artist statement" thing drives me crazy, too.  You are, however, a
REAL artist, since you spend time thinking about layout, design and color
theory.  You did a really nice job of the bio, though.  

I usually take the easy route and send in my resume (or my biography, which in
effect is just my resume).  Since I teach beading and lampwork at colleges and
art centers around the country, I seem to get requests for it a lot.  Keep
yours on hand; you'll need it again some day.

Regards,
Hannah  

--
Jerri
www.bead***.com

Kathy K

I submitted my work to a new gallery here in town (Appleton, Wisconsin).
The gallery is an Artist Co-op.  It is gorgeous.  All work in the gallery
must be juried in.
I was accepted last week.  I feel proud of this.
The jury liked most of my work, but felt a couple of pieces lacked
imagination.  The thing is that I am not trying to reinvent anything.  I try
to make well balanced, eye pleasing, classy pieces using good materials and
craftsmanship.  Because of whatever talent I have, my pieces seem to end up
looking a little "special".  I think this is because I am really picky and
won't finish something until I think it looks "right".  At art shows, people
tell me my work has a special something to it.  We haven't defined what that
is!!!!  Being inventive is not my goal.   I guess that all in all the jury
must have seen something they wanted or I would have been turned away.

To apply, I had to do an artist statement.  This was weird.  I never said I
was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Here is what I did for that:

   "" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in
my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me.  This is where she kept
everything from huge gaudy     rhinestone buttons to little black plastic
buttons.  I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.

    Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard.  My treasure chest
has beads of every color of the rainbow.  They come from all over the world.
Most have a         rich tradition and history behind them.  In creating one
of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from
Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia.          The elements complement each
other and become a whole.

    I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me
and then build the rest of the piece around that first element.  I use a
variety of colors and             textures.  Sometimes the effect is a piece
that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel.
I don't confine myself to one style.  I prefer instead     to pursue the
endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

    I have been making jewelry for 6 years.  Before that I worked with
textiles and wood fired clay forms.  I have work in the Seaweed Gallery,
Sanibel Island, Florida and in     Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.

    Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work
stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.
     I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest
materials and made to last.  """

I set up my case the end of this week.  It's $60 per month but then all the
profit is mine.  The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one
parallel side to the other.  I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet
fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at
different levels using shapes under it.  Some people have beans and drift
wood, etc.  Their displays are almost too distracting.  I want the focus to
be on the jewelry.  If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire
away.  I am open to suggestions.

Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile.  Had to
play catch up.

Beadingly yours,
KathyH

Where in Chicago are you located?

Are you open to new co-op members?

marisa2