studio notes #17
I am recognizing that I am in an idea generating phase right now and not a finishing projects phase. I’ve moved on from the blackland prairie ring while I collect more black plastics in different sizes. Learning about the importance of root systems inspired a new lane of discovery and I am playing around with this upside down crown/veil idea. I’ve made a paper mockup but I’m planning to use black beads I’ve sourced from ACR to create long, forking roots. The construction will be similar to a crown I made earlier this year.
The quest to get better at needle lace before jumping into the mourning veil has had me not only practicing different stitches but also helped me break down specific skills I needed to work on. One is figuring out how to attach the needlelace to the plastic in ways that feel elegant rather than distracting.
This lead to the folder I shared in the last post but it also got me thinking of covering more 3 dimensional projects with the needle lace that looks like mycelium. I started playing with this idea at an event I did as a part of my residency this weekend.
I am feeling a little self conscious that I don’t have anything finished to show off yet, but I remember feeling this way during my Year of Plastic body of work too. Each idea is inspiring a new question, a skill I need to develop, or a new way to use a material. I want to be able to carry those discoveries into the other ideas as I go. SO there is a bit of a push and pull happening as I bounce from idea to idea then return to the first ones with new skills and meaning. I do think I’m getting close to focusing in though, which also means putting some ideas to the side. Not entirely abandoning them, just treating them as a path I should take later.
Right now, I am interested in learning basketry. I have a feeling it could help me with some of the remaining issues I’m having with construction, and it already has such a rich history of working with gathered and found materials. I’m kind of surprised I haven’t sought out this skill already. But its great timing now and I’m curious to see what learning the techniques might unlock.
And lastly. I was asked to be a juror for a local jewelry gallery show put on by The Jeweler’s Saw. It was my first time being on the juror side of an application, which was wild. But the relevant bit to this studio notes entry is what happened when I picked up and held other peoples work. It’s been a while since I have done this, so that alone was really powerful. But one ring in particular gave me an emotional response the minute I put it on. It reminded me of how powerful wearable work can be. It’s meant to be worn, and there is an almost alchemical that can happen between something that was made and the internal landscape of the person who wears it. It’s beautiful!
Anyway, I plan to take a bit of a hand break this week so my next update will either be later or more conceptual than things to show.
