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 »
Elise Winters on Aug 03 2011 | Filed under: Adaptive Works, Techniques
City Zen Cane, (aka Ford/Forlano) Two Tube Cane Vessels, circa 1991
At first glance one might think the inspiration for imagery on these vases came from an encounter with the plumber rather than from Mexican blankets. Continue Reading »
Rachel Carren on Jul 29 2011 | Filed under: Adaptive Works, Techniques
Michael Mode, “Ode to Maracanda 1996,” turned vessel, 6″ Diameter
Honduras Rosewood, Box Elder, Ebony
Polymer artists, Steven Ford and David Forlano have continually considered the “what if?” factor of polymer. From early on they looked at how other craft techniques might be adapted to polymer. In particular, Steven’s interest in exploring these possibilities created a viable back and forth of ideas. His outreach to other craft artists, helped to educated them about the versatility of the medium.
While teaching at the Arrowmont School in 1995, Steven Ford found that polymer could be turned on a lathe. Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Jul 26 2011 | Filed under: Adaptive Works, Artist's Commentary
City Zen Cane (aka Ford/Forlano), shibori collage
polymer sample, circa 1995
The term “adaptive thinking” came up frequently in my recent discussions with Steven Ford and David Forlano about their sources for inspiration. Each artist had stories to tell about traveling; of seeing an example of traditional native or contemporary craft and of wondering how that technique might be reinterpreted in polymer. Continue Reading »
Rachel Carren on Feb 24 2011 | Filed under: Publications
Long before Facebook, early polymer practitioners created their own artistic networks and community. Knowledge about polymer expanded in a way that is similar to today’s social networks, in that artists discovered it, explored its possibilities and then shared the information with others. While the internet ultimately played a significant role in the advancement of polymer, the initial explosion of information was through word of mouth and then through the printed page. Beyond the community of users that began to develop during the 1980’s, a few outsiders began to take notice. The editors of the magazine, Ornament, Robert Liu and Carolyn Benesh have followed the rise of polymer and provided the new medium some of its earliest artistic publicity. Continue Reading »
Elise Winters on Feb 17 2011 | Filed under: Uncategorized
Kathleen Amt. Heart/Butterfly Pin, 1997
Polymer, closed dimensions, 3.75″ x 1.5″ x .25″
Just today I received this belated valentine from Kathleen Amt. For those unfamiliar with her work, Kathleen was an early pioneer in the field. Around 1999 she decided to return to her first love, art books and ephemera. Here’s what Kathleen’s valentine message said: Continue Reading »