Rachel Carren on Sep 21 2011 | Filed under: Artist Spotlight, Concept-based Works
Rachel Gourley, Rocks on Beach, 2010-2011
10″ x 5″ and 3″ x 2″
Rachel Gourley takes the concept of art and nature literally. The source of much creative, large scale, sculptural work in polymer, Gourley has an affinity for translating natural form into something abstracted and a bit unexpected. Continue Reading »
Woody Rudin on Sep 19 2011 | Filed under: Polymer Collection Project, Publications
Memorable headlines, especially those that record milestone events, tend to stay in my mind for years or decades. Perhaps it’s the same for you. Continue Reading »
Rachel Carren on Sep 17 2011 | Filed under: Aesthetic Comments, Exhibitons and Shows
photo: Maxwell Malinow
The range of Wendy Malinow’s imagination careens between the macabre and the fanciful. In her “Woodland Crown”, now on exhibit in the Mobilia show, “Objects of Status, Power and Adornment”, she has created a piece that explores all three of these concepts as well as suggesting other historic traditions. Continue Reading »
Elyse Zorn Karlin on Sep 05 2011 | Filed under: Publications
A beautiful new 210-page book “Artful Adornments: Jewelry from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston”, written by Yvonne Markowitz, the MFA’s Rita J. Kaplan and Susan B. Kaplan Curator of Jewelry, has just been published. Continue Reading »
Rachel Carren on Aug 24 2011 | Filed under: Techniques
Tory Hughes, Berber Chic Necklace, 2005-2010
Today, the option to sand and polish cured polymer is taken for granted, but how did this actually happen?
In a mid-1990’s class hand out, Nan Roche directly attributes sanding and buffing to Tory Hughes. According to Tory, it was the development of her imitative techniques that necessitated her interest. She writes: Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Aug 20 2011 | Filed under: Exhibitons and Shows
Featuring over 200 objects made of polymer, including adornment, vessels, and furniture, Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads reflects a short but sweet period in the history of creative endeavors. Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Aug 18 2011 | Filed under: Conferences, Exhibitons and Shows
The Wingspread campus provides a beautiful setting that is conducive to stimulating discussion and reflection.
The Racine Art Museum has just opened registration for Polymer: The Journey to New Terrain, a symposium to be held Friday, October 21 - Sunday, October 23 at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, a 14,000 square-foot home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s. For detailed information and registration forms please read on. Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Aug 14 2011 | Filed under: Artist's Commentary, Narrative Works
J.M. Syron & Bonnie Bishoff, Begin, 2009
memory cabinet, two views, 6″ wide, 14″ deep, 60″ high
walnut, polymer veneers using millefiori marquetry techniques
Recently we have been exploring ways in which polymer artists have found inspiration from tradition craft techniques in other media. In this new work by the team of J.M. Syron and Bonnie Bishoff, the inspiration comes from a different source. Bonnie comments about the work, saying: Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Aug 09 2011 | Filed under: Publications
Maggie Maggio and Leslie Blackford
Lake in Colorado, 2006, pendant, approx 4″h x 2″w
The current issue of Ornament Magazine carries an article entitled Celebrating Polymer. For history buffs, this article includes Continue Reading »
Rachel Carren on Aug 07 2011 | Filed under: Adaptive Works, Techniques
Nan Roche, Autumn Loop in Loop Necklace, c. 1999
Chains have been an integral part of metal work from ancient times. Various methods of linking metal rounds create different patterns and rhythms. With the advent of extruded polymer in the mid 1990’s, a process made far easier due to Carl Hornberger’s suggestions on adapting the traditional caulk gun, polymer artists such as Nan Roche were able to explore the concept of making polymer chains. Continue Reading »