Many Thanks and Safe Travels

Wow,

Another symposium has come and gone.  Exhibition openings, workshops, lectures, professional development, and panel discussions were a few of the things we did over the weekend. And a really excellent cocktail party that had us dancing the night away.  It was a blast to have so many new faces join us for this years symposium.  We hope you’ll come back next year when we do it again.  Until we meet again, all of us here at the Material Topics Symposium wish you all the best.

Safe travels friends,

Your Friendly Symposium Staff.

P.S.  Check the blog over the next week or two as we post photos to the blog and if you have a photo that you would like to send us please email ecusymposium@gmail.com

What is happening this weekend 2

ANGELA BUBASH WORKSHOP: Elegant Connections

Angela is a studio jeweler and educator residing in the mountains of NC. She currently teaches at Appalachian State University and maintains her own studio practice creating one of kind art jewelry. Angela has been metalsmithing since 1992. She attained a BFA from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She was a resident artist at the Penland School of Crafts and has taught workshops at Penland in North Carolina and Arrowmont in Tennessee. Angela has received several grants and awards including a Ruth Chenven Foundation grant and a Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation grant. Her work is exhibited internationally and has been published in several books and print media. Angela has been invited to lecture, teach, and present at many venues worldwide including SOFA Chicago (IL), Oklahoma State University (OK), East Carolina University (NC), Winthrop University (SC), and University of Georgia Athens Study Abroad Program in Cortona Italy (summer 2012).

Workshop Description: Details, whether bold or subtle, can make a piece successful or disappointing.  So what is it that can make ordinary work become memorable? Examples of elegant connections will be presented and demonstrated in this workshop. You will see jewelry and mechanisms that exemplify these elegant connections, transitions, and captures. Demonstrations of various mechanisms including a claw setting, a pin catch, and more if time allows will be covered. These mechanisms may look complex but are surprisingly simple and, of course, elegant in their design.

AMY TAVERN WORKSHOP: “Exploring Process, Building Form”

Amy received a BFA in Metal Design from the University of Washington in 2002. She has exhibited at Velvet da Vinci Gallery (California), Sienna Gallery (Massachusetts), and Aaron Faber Gallery (New York). In 2009 Amy was selected as an American Craft Council Searchlight Artist, an emerging artist honor. Amy’s jewelry has been published in numerous books such as New Rings and 500 Silver Jewelry Designs and was featured on the cover of Metalsmith Magazine’s 2011 “Exhibition in Print.” In addition to her studio work, Amy also teaches and lectures. Originally from Upstate, NY, Amy is currently a resident artist at the Penland School of Crafts.

 

What is happening this weekend!

Lecture: Things and Thingness

RENEE ZETTLE-STERLING is an artist, object maker, and educator whose studio practice consists of exploring a multiplicity of media and technique to create small-scale body orientated devices, jewelry, and installations.  Her work explores issues surrounding our relationship with everyday objects, as catalysts for stimulating memory and informing identity.  She received her MFA in Sculpture/Installation, a MA in Metals/Jewelry from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a BFA in Papermaking/Fibers from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  She has taught workshops, exhibited and lectured on her work nationally and internationally.  Several prominent exhibitions include:  Metalsmiths Linking:  A Cross Cultural Exchange, Gallery Yu, Tokyo, Japan; Decorative Resurgence, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ;Stories to Be Looked At, Pictures to Be Read, Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL;Extremities: Exploring the Margins of the Human Body, The Jung Center of Houston, Houston, TX; Jewellery Journey Air, Traveling exhibition: Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, MI, Galeria Isidro Miranda, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Museum of Art and Craft in Hamburg, Germany; Jewelry in Motion, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA; and Transubstantial, Catherine Person Gallery, Seattle, WA. Additionally, Renee’s work has been featured in over thirteen publications, such as 21^st Century Jewelry:  The Best of the 500 Series, 1000 Rings:  Inspiring Adornment for the Hand, 500 Metal Vessels, as well as Metalsmith Magazine, and American Craft Magazine.

JEAN CAMPBELL designs, teaches, and writes about beadwork. She is the senior editor of Beadwork magazine and has written and edited more than 45 books, most recently including Steampunk Style Jewelry and Creating Glamorous Jewelry with Swarovski Elements. Jean regularly contributes to BeadingDaily.com and is a Crystallized Elements Ambassador for the Swarovski Company. She has appeared on the DIY Jewelry Making show, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS’ Beads, Baubles, and Jewels where she gives how-to instructions, provides inspiration, and lends crafting advice. Jean teaches off-loom beading throughout the United States. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her family and a whole lot of beads. Visit Jean’s website atwww.jeancampbellink.com.

Symposium Schedule

Hello All!

Here again is the breakdown of the wonderful weekend that is fast approaching!

Cheers! DJ

2012 ECU Symposium SCHEDULE

Material Topics: Merging Methods

Friday Jan 13 2012 – Travel Day – plan to arrive before 11pm.  ECU students will host you and contacts will be made prior to arrival. ECU faculty will host visiting faculty.

6:00 – 9:00pm-          Mendenhall Opening Reception- Adroit II

Saturday Jan 14^th 2012-

8:30 am –                  Coffee, Tea and Breakfast hosted by ECU Metals Guild

9:00- 9:40 –             Jenkins Auditorium – Opening Welcome: Renee Zettle Sterling “Thing & Thingness”

10:00-12:30 –         Breakout Sessions

Ceramics J102           Lisa Clague “Metal and Clay” Workshop

Room 1323                Angela Bubash “Elegant Connections” Workshop

Room 1325                Marlene True “Ordinary Material-Extraordinary Jewelry”

Room 1322                NC Black “Basic Micro Forming” Workshop

Room 1327                Erin Gardner Professional Development Seminar

12:30-1:30 –                        Catered Lunch- Room 1320

1:30-4:00-                Breakout Sessions

Ceramics J102           Lisa Clague “Metal and Clay” Workshop

Room 1323                Angela Bubash “Elegant Connections” Workshop

Room 1325                Marlene True “Ordinary Material-Extraordinary Jewelry”

Room 1327                Jenny K Professional Development Seminar

4:00-4:30 –              Coffee/tea break – Room 1320

4:30-5:15–               Jean Campbell Lecture- Speight Auditorium 1220

5:15-6:00-                Panel Discussion – Speight Auditorium 1220     

6:00 p.m.-                 Art of Influence Grey Gallery Reception

 Vendor set-up and Charm Swap, T-Shirts sale & Undergraduate Gorilla Show

Sunday Jan 15 2012

9:00am – 9:30-        Coffee, Tea and Breakfast hosted by ECU Metals Guild

9:30-10:00-              Laura Wood: Material Topics’ Roots

10:00-12:30                        Breakout Sessions

Room1323                 David Huang  “Vessel Chasing and Micro Finishing Wax”

Fibers Room 223-     Masako Onodera “Fibersmithing” Workshop

Room 1325-               Amy Tavern “Exploring Process” Workshop

Room 1322-               NC Black “Basic Micro Forming” Workshop

Room 1327                Ken Bova- Professional Development Seminar

12:30-1:30 –                        Catered Lunch- Room 1320

1:30-  4:00               Breakout Sessions

Room1323                 David Huang  “Vessel Chasing and Micro Finishing Wax”

Fibers Room 223-     Masako Onodera “Fibersmithing” Workshop

Room 1325-               Amy Tavern “Exploring Process” Workshop

Room 1327                Ashley Brodie Professional Development

4:00-4:30                 Coffee Break

4:30-5:15–               NC Black Presentation- Speight Auditorium 1220

5:15- 6:00                Marlene True Lecture- Speight Auditorium 1220

6:00-6:15                 Leia Zumbro and Laritza Garcia Closing Thoughts

7:00-                          Cocktail Party

Monday Jan 16 2012 (Martin Luther King Day)- DEPARTURE DAY

Presenter profiles continued…

Hi all,

Here are some more profiles.  Enjoy!

ASHLEY BRODIE WORKSHOP:  “Sustainable Habits”

Ashley is a studio jeweler and teacher in Durham, North Carolina. She created her namesake jewelry line in 2005. She graduated with Honors from East Carolina University with a B.F.A. in Metal Design in 2001. She also studied at Montana State University and at the Gemological Institute of America.

Workshop Description: In this workshop, we will touch on how to run a sustainable jewelry business, as well as discuss the importance of both recycled metals and green studio practices to lessen the impact on our planet. Sustainability is a key element to Ashley Brodie’s metal work. Her sustainable practices include using repurposed/recycled sterling silver, steel and found materials, as well as using green production methods in her studio.

 

DAVID HUANG WORKSHOP: “Vessel Chasing and Micro Finishing Wax”

David was born, raised, trained, and is currently living in the Western Michigan region. He began his metalsmithing education at East Kentwood High School and continued on to earn his BFA with an emphasis in metalsmithing from Grand Valley State University.   Working full-time as a self-employed artist since 2003, David is represented by galleries around the US.  His work has been featured in Metalsmith Magazine, American Craft, and numerous other books and publications.

Workshop Description: “In this workshop/demo I will demonstrate various techniques and approaches used in chasing on vessel forms.  I’ll be using microcrystalline wax instead of traditional pitch, and will discuss how to safely fill and empty the vessels of the wax.  In addition to demonstrating chasing techniques I’ll also cover how to make your own chasing tools.  Audience questions are highly encouraged!”

To see more of both of our presenters wonderful work please visit their websites.

http://ashleybrodiejewelry.com/

and

http://davidhuang.org

It’s getting close.  We’ll see you soon,

Your Friendly Symposium Staff

 

 

Presenter profiles continued…

 

MASAKO ONODERA WORKSHOP: Fibersmithing

Masako’s work features craft as a process to show the parallels between body beautification and the history of craft making. Craft played and plays an important part in the evolution of humanity. By utilizing craft techniques in her art, she connects the audience emotionally to the materials and practices employed. Masako has been honored with numerous scholarships and awards, for example, Ohio Art Council’s Individual Excellence Award in 2011 and the Society of North American Goldsmith’s student endowment scholarship in 2006 and 2007. Her work is featured in prestigious art publications and exhibited in the museums and galleries internationally. Masako’s art is part of many private and public collections such as the Museum of Contemporary Craft, OR, the Mobile Museum of Art, AL, and the Toledo Museum of Art, OH. Her work will be included to the exhibition Far Out: Jewelry For the Senses at the Museum of Art and Design, NY in 2012. The artist graduated with an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign in 2008.

 

Workshop Description: Fibers can be manipulated in much the same way as a sheet of metal! Metal can be used as fabric and a wire can be used as a thread in your work. In this workshop, we will explore the possibility of fiber in your jewelry and metalwork

 

JENNI K graduated from ECU in 1985 with a BFA in Metalsmithing, and in the years following, she earned her Graduate Gemologist Degree from GIA.  In 1987, she opened Jenni K. Jewelry where she designs and creates jewelry for purchase in her store, as well as wholesales and Internet sales around the nation.

Look for more profiles in the coming days…

Your Friendly Symposium Staff

 

Continued symposium presenter profiles…

Hello All,

We’d like to continue profiling our symposium presenters.  So without further ado,

LISA CLAGUE WORKSHOP: “Metal and Clay”

Lisa Clague is an internationally known sculptor. She received her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and her MFA from California College of Arts and Crafts. She is the recipient of the Virgina Groot Award. Her work has been exhibited at the Macon Museum of Art (GA), The DeCordova Museum & Sculpture Park (MA), The John Elder Galleryin NY and the Blue Spiral Gallery in North Carolina. Recently she participated in the 3rd World Ceramic Biennale in Korea.

Workshop Description: In this workshop you will explore the exciting possibilities of working with metal and clay. I will build a small torso demonstrating various surfaces, the incorporation of metal as well as the use of fabric and casting slip. You’ll see how these various materials can be used to create spontaneous and lively pieces. Bring metal such as forks, spoons, bolts, metal baskets, rods, coat hangers, nails, bailing wire or kiln elements. These objects must be steel or stainless steel; other metals melt at a lower temperature.

KEN BOVA WORKSHOP: “Feeding the Muse: Strategies for a Career in Art.”

Ken Bova is formerly from Montana State University where for eight years he taught the School of Art’s capstone class “Professional Practices – Careers in Art.”  He is a past president of the Society of North American Goldsmiths and now teaches as an Assistant Professor in East Carolina University’ Metal Design program. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Racine Art Museum, and the Tacoma Art Museum among others.

Workshop Description: Brief introduction on tips, techniques, ways, and means for your most creative endeavor ~ building a life as an artist. We’ll presume you’re already making art; this is about the other part: jobs, finances, exhibitions, networking, residencies, selling, teaching, and all the other stuff that lets you keep making your work.

Look for more of these in the days leading up to the symposium.

Your Friendly Symposium Staff