Polymer Art Archive

Kathleen Amt, Zodiac Game, detail, 1992
polymer, cloth, paper, elastic, metal
overall opened:  11 1/4″ W x 28″ L x 1 3/4″ D
game board:  10 5/8″ W x 12 1/4″ L

While unfamiliar to many today, Kathleen Amt was a notable figure in the early years of polymer art.  During the late 1980’s and 1990’s the Washington D.C. area was an important hub of polymer discovery.  Amt was very much a part of the local polymer community, which among others also included Kathleen Dustin, Nan Roche, and Lindly Haunani.

Amt initially stumbled upon polymer.  As the director of the Arts and Crafts Center at Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia from 1980-1987, she was looking for family friendly materials when she came across the original white version of Polyform’s Sculpey.  However, it was not until she happened to meet Kathleen Dustin in the fall of 1988 that she realized its potential. Continue Reading »

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The Racine Art Museum has just announced that it will host another polymer symposium at the Johnson Foundation (Wingspread) in October 17-19, 2014. Continue Reading »

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Cynthia Toops, Constant Comment, 1997
micro mosaic -polymer, sterling silver
1 1/2″ h x  3 1/4″w x  1 1/4″d

Since the first Terra Nova symposium in Racine, WI in Oct. 2011, there has been persistent chat about the future of polymer art.  The last 25 -30 years have been exciting as artists focused on exploring the properties of the medium.  What could polymer do and how did one do it?  While expertise in these areas will continue to evolve as artists resolve problems, technical innovation is no longer the driving objective.  So what now?  Continue Reading »

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Dayle Doroshow and Sarah Shriver, Tribal Circus, 2011
polymer, fiber and leather cording, 3″h x 18″ l x 1  1/2″ w
photo: Richard K. Honaman, Jr.

Judy Belcher and Tamara Honaman’s new book,  Polymer Clay Master Class: Exploring Process, Technique, and Collaboration with 11 Master Artists can be used as a “how to” book, however that is not its main attribute.  Lots of publications tell you how to make something through carefully written text steps and accompanying photos, but Master Class goes beyond that and examines the creative process itself.  Unlike the others, this volume offers an opportunity to read “between the lines” along the path of creating. Continue Reading »

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Laura Tabakman, Woven Brooch, 2012
polymer, steel wire, 1/2 ” x 1 1/2″ x 1″

Using comparable materials and a repetition of form, Laura Tabakman has explored a similar idea in two very different ways with decidedly unique results.   One piece is about mass and containment, while the other is all about lightness and movement. How is it that similar materials handled by the same artist can create such distinctive and yet coherent results?

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It has already been a bit over a year since the ground breaking show, “Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads” opened at the Racine Art Museum.  The show received lots of positive attention and brought many visitors to the museum over the course of its run.   One year later, the accompanying volume, “Terra Nova: Polymer at the Crossroads”, designed by Jeffrey Lloyd Dever and his team at Dever Designs has won a Continue Reading »

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Rachel Gourley, Doodle Series: Bamboo.  2012
polymer,  approx. 25″h x 1″w overall

Here is some new work from Rachel Gourley.

What is intriguing in this series is Gourley’s juxtaposition of polymer components and nature.  Her concept, which is realized through a photograph, explores the idea of what is real and what is not.  Has nature morphed into something strange and new or are portions of the composition something else all together?   Being removed from reality, via the window of the photographic picture plane, only serves to enhance the illusion.

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Pier Voulkos, Potato Chip Bead Neckpieces, 1998, detail

At the PAA , we occasionally hear from readers with requests for specific images from our archival stash of “eye candy.” Recently one of those inquiries revealed a gap in our historical smorgasbord of offerings. Continue Reading »

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Margaret Maggio, Tit for Tat:
The Fable of the Fox and the Stork,
1997, polymer, 12″ h

July and August bring the “dog days” of summer.   The original reference was celestial and was related to when the Dog Star, Sirius, within the constellation Canis Major, was at its brightest.   Perhaps some still think of summer that way, but the Racine Art Museum is currently exhibiting two shows that focus on all kinds of animal imagery -including dogs- from their permanent collection.   Continue Reading »

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Jasmyne Graybill, Crested Buttercream Polyps-detail
2008, polymer, muffin pan, 12″ x 8″ x 2″

It is always good to discover artists doing exciting things with polymer. Jasmyne Graybill’s work is part of a recent article by Monica Moses, “Fungus Among Us” in the August/September 2012 issue of American Craft.  While not the most appealing topic, albeit relevant for our current hot summer months, Graybill uses polymer to mimic mold, lichen and fungi growing unchecked on  what are mostly common household objects.  Continue Reading »

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