This blog has moved!

Hello all,

I'm happy to announce that I've moved this blog to a new domain. It's bigger, better, and more pretty; so I'm sure you're all going to appreciate the new site.

I hope you'll make this transition with me.

Please visit Evocative Objects here for now on>>

RISD Jewelry Website

Check out the new RISD Jewelry website, it's pretty amazing!

Baby Got Back

I love this. Very Victorian-Noir.

Our studio is becoming more and more like a botanical garden every day. This weeks big surprise is that the orchid cactus, which I've named The Audrey III, started blooming! It's spectacular, and I can't help but share a picture of it.

Flotsam & Jetsam, again

I'm currently working on a project proposal, that would allow me to focus on making a series of neckpieces that would highlight the flotsam and jetsam washed up on Rhode Islands beaches. I'll be focusing on Rhode Islands top five beaches that gross the most amount of trash, rearranging the detritus and making laser-cut neckpieces of the silhouettes.

Here's a work in progress:

Flotsam & Jetsam

I'm beginning to work on a new project, which I'm calling Flotsam & Jetsam. This project will focus on trash collected from the five most polluted beaches in Rhode Island. This cache is from the South Kingstown town beach, and has some particularly colorful bits of detritus. I found a shoe, sunglasses, lobster pot bits, ropes, bottle caps, shell cartridges, wire, and a glove.

I'll be using these materials to create adornment from. Although the finished product won't incorporate this source material, I really love the saturated colors and patterns created by teh trash. Consider this an appetizer, as I'll be posting more images of the project as it develops.

Vogue Italia, redux

Turns out that my work made the cover story! Check out the two images below that I was able to pull from a GIF that Vogue Italia made as a preview for the issue.

I love how bright, saturated, and glossy all the images are. Very candy shoppe meets Priscilla Queen of the Desert. I can already tell that I want to frame every image and hang them on my walls for inspiration!

Vogue Italia

My knuckle dusters are going to be in this months Vogue Italia magazine! So, if you see this amazingly overthetop cover on news stands, buy it! I'm honored to be included in this publication, especially considering the theme. I can't wait to see which story my work ends up in... It would be amazing if it were on Joan Smalls! Just look at how amazing her nails are!

She's Making Jewelry Now...

This video is kind of embarrassingly accurate in that it nails people perceptions of what a 'jeweler' is. Oh, how strikingly different things are in my studio from what this video depicts! But, it's still pretty funny... enjoy!

Studio, in progress...

The new studio space is in progress! I can't wait to have it workable! So many boxes to unpack, shelves to hang, and tools to set up. Also, check out that huge clivia plant that I got from a friend... beautiful! And, I'm sure you'll agree that the color is a drastic improvement!

Repurposed Catalogue!

The catalogue for Repurposed came out, and I have a two page spread! The publication looks great, and I'm excited to be featured alongside some amazing artists. Thanks to Georgia State University for putting on the exhibition.

The future is looking bright (yellow)

So, I'm ecstatic to be moving into a new studio with some wonderful artists! The new space is located in the industrial neighborhood of Providence, so I'll be getting my studio closer to my home and work! The building is full of other working artists as well, and I'm really excited to have a place in a community of like minded people.

I've included some 'before' pictures below, which show off the space when we first signed the lease. Although it's really raw, it's pretty obvious how amazing it's going to be. Once the bright yellow is painted over, and the mulberry purple is gone... It'll be our future jewelry utopia...

Design Bureau Magazine!!!

I'm excited to share that my Knuckle Dusters have been featured in this months Design Bureau Magazine!

It's really neat to be included in Design Bureau, which connects a like-minded community of design enthusiasts across the world with one common idea: discovering great design and the people who make it happen.

Check out the image below highlighting my work. The article is from their gift guide , where my pieces were suggested for you to buy for your fashionable friend...

Repurposed Opening Tomorrow!

Here is the press release for the exhibition, Repurposed, that I'm currently participating in. I'm exhibiting two bodies of work, my mourning jewelry and my thesis work from RISD. The show will be on display at Georgia State University in Atlanta through November 18th.

The Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Gallery is pleased to present REPURPOSED on view October 6 through November 18, 2011. The public is invited to the opening reception on Thursday, October 6 from 5 until 8p.m. The event is part of The Downtown First Thursdays Arts Walk. REPURPOSED, selected by Welch School Gallery Director Cynthia Farnell, focuses on group of twelve contemporary artists who are using repurposed materials to make their work. Farnell says: “Over the years, like many other artists and art educators, I have grappled with the environmental impacts of art making. Although their methodologies and materials are diverse, the artists of REPURPOSED, each in their own way, ask us to reconsider our relationships to waste, both in the studio and in the world. This exhibition focuses on a selected group of contemporary artists who are using repurposed materials to make their work. While found objects and readymades have been used by artists since the Dada and Surrealist movements of the early 20th Century, the artists of REPURPOSED share interests about the continuing influence of their material choices that often extend beyond aesthetic considerations. The refocusing of material context becomes an important and central concern.” Sculptor Allyson Comstock’s recycled junk mail installation 303 Days occupies the small gallery. The works of the other REPURPOSED artists are on view in the large gallery, with natural and synthetic fabrics, found objects, plastics, metal and paper among the materials used. Artists: Mary Lee Bendolph Allyson Comstock Carol LeBaron Thornton Dial Lonnie Holley Pam Longobardi Rob Nadeau Ian Pedigo Leigh Peacock Aurora Robson Islay Taylor Wendy Wahl The exhibition and associated events are supported in part by Student Activity Fees, The Center for Collaborative and International Arts at Georgia State University (CENCIA) and Fulton County Arts & Culture. REPURPOSED Events: The following special events are free and open to the public: Rob Nadeau artist’s presentation: Thursday, October 6, 4:00 – 5:00 pm. Nadeau will discuss his work on view in REPURPOSED. Nadeau’s talk is part of the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design Visiting Artist series. Location: Large gallery. Reception: Thursday, October 6, 5:00 – 8:00p.m. Location: Welch School Galleries. Papermaking Workshop with Allyson Comstock: Friday, October 7, 1:00-3:30 pm. Location: Textiles Studio, room 157 Arts & Humanities Building. Learn to make paper from recycled fibers. No previous experience required. Materials provided. Free and open to the public but space is limited. Register today! To register email cfarnell@gsu.edu with your name, email address and phone number. Please put “Papermaking Workshop” in subject line. Sponsored by CENCIA. Location & Hours Welch School Galleries/ GSU 10 Peachtree Center Ave. Atlanta, GA 30303 The Welch School Galleries are located at the corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Ave. Free evening event parking at the United Way deck at Auburn Ave. and Courtland Ave. The gallery is within walking distance of the MARTA Five Points Station. All gallery programs are free and open to the public and accessible to persons with disabilities. Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Elizabeth Taylors Jewelry collection up for auction at Christie's

There is no doubt that Elizabeth Taylor is a legend on and off the silver screen... but it could be argued that her extensive collection of jewelry is just as legendary as she was. Since her death, the fate of her 269 piece jewelry collection has been in limbo; but not it's fate has been decided. Her collection of metal and stones valued at over $150 million be up for auction this December at Christie's New York auction house. As a jewelry enthusiast, I'm giddy just thinking about it...

Taylor stated in her 2002 book, My Love Affair With Jewelry, “As I look at some of my jewels I realize what a very lucky girl I am. Sometimes I wonder what will become of everything, because just like the Duchess of Windsor’s collection, they will all be up for auction one day. They will be scattered to the four corners of the world, and I hope that whoever buys each piece loves it as much as I do and takes care of it and realizes that having jewelry is a temporary gift. In truth, we ‘owners’ are just the caretakers. Nobody owns beautiful paintings. Nobody ever owns anything this beautiful. We are only the guardians.” Her sentiments seem oddly prophetic, but also realistic to the fact that jewelry is only a temporal asset.

The cache of jewelry will be touring internationally between now and December, and will be exhibited to the public from December 3rd through the 12th in New York. And, a portion of the money raised from these viewings will go to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. The auction of the collection will begin immediately following the New York viewing.

The Mike Todd Diamond Tiara An Antique Diamond Tiara, circa 1880 Gift from
Mike Todd, 1957 Estimate: $60,000-80,000

La Peregrina – The Legendary Pearl 16th Century Pearl Ruby and Diamond Necklace designed by Elizabeth Taylor, with Al Durante of Cartier Gift from Richard Burton, January 23, 1969 Estimate: $2,000,000 – 3,000,000

The Cleopatra Mirror, A Turquoise and Gold Mirror By BVULGARI, Estimate: $8,000-12,000

The Burton Wedding Bands, Estimate: $6,000-8,000

Jewels at The Worlds Smallest Art Gallery

I'm the current exhibiting artist at The Worlds Smallest Art Gallery, a tiny little kiosk in Peace Dale situated on the Washington County Bike Path. I've put a selection of laser cut pieces of jewelry on display, along with the larger sheets of scrap neoprene that the pieces have been cut from. I like the concise framing of the presentation, it makes the work on display look otherworldly.

Thanks to John Kotula for taking on this fun project that gets art out of the gallery and into the public sphere!

at Sienna Gallery

I love this new picture from Sienna Gallery, who is hosting The Opulent Projects exhibit, Costume Costume, through the 31st of August.

Things that make you go hmmmm...

Gasoline, trading cards, Juicy Fruits, and the iciest bling ever makes for the best gas station shopping in a while!

Galerie Louise Smit, Amsterdam

I've been saving the best for last. Out of all the galleries that I visited in The Netherlands, my favorite was Galerie Louise Smit, by far.

This Gallery, located on the Prinsengracht canal in Amsterday, has been open since the mid 1980's. Louise Smit specializes in contemporary studio jewelry, and hosts 10 solo shows in their small space while still keeping a large collection of contemporary work on permanent display. Additionally, Galerie Louise Smit publishes beautiful catalogues to accompany their solo exhibitions.

The gallery's collection of permanent work, including pieces by Doris Betz, Seth Papac, and Edgar Filipe Silva Mosa, represents a broad perspective. The 'result is a comprehensive and representative overview of the national and international avant-garde.' The Gallery has a great sense of exhibition design, and really let the artists install their work in non-traditiona ways, as you can see by the photographs of Volker Atrops' exhibition, Immortality, below.

Also, the galleriests on hand at Louise Smit were so gracious and helpful. The gallery seemed incredibly invested in the field of Contemporary Art Jewelry, and were also very knowledgeable about their house artists.

Rings: Globes/Fragmented 2011

Boxwood, colourd glue

Necklace: Untitled 2011

Boxwood, gold, silk

Necklace: Untitled 2011
Wood from a still living taxus(Eibe/Yew)tree mother plant, silver, pariser oxid

Galerie Rob Koudijs, Amsterdam

This post is late... but, I still wanted to take the time to share some of the images and impressions of Galerie Rob Koudijs from my recent trip to Amsterdam. Galerie Rob Koudijs is located on the beautiful Elandsgracht canal, in the historic gallery district.

A small exhibition space, the gallery is laid out smartly, presenting the mostly european jewelry in a variety of manners, from conservatively placed in class cases to curating open air custom pedestals. There is also a smaller gallery section in the front of Rob Koudijs which features rotating solo shows.

From the website: The gallery specialises in contemporary art jewellery which communicates ideas, has sculptural qualities and an innovative use of materials. The gallery represents a very motivated group of jewellery artists who produce work challenging the borders of the applied and the fine arts.

As these artists come

from all corners of the globe, the latest international developments are

on display in regular solo shows and in the stock presentation of the gallery.

On display in the front gallery were some playful pieces by Felieke Van Der Leest (The End brooch pictured at right), that featured brooches, necklaces, and figures made of seed beads and repurposed plastic toys. I thought that the gallery used the color of the works that they had on display very well; the jewelry was like candies on display. I also appreciated the selection of works, as they utilized unique materials and were quite playful and experimental.

Finally, the owner/manager of Rob Koudijs was very helpful and knowledgable. I wish that I lived closer, because the upcoming shows look amazing. the Galerie will soon be showing Karen Pontoppidan, Ruudt Peters, and Mia Maljojoki: all artists that I adore!

Ruudt Peters, Lapis Prima Materia, gold, silver, copper.

Jantje Fleischhut, Thunbergia Grandfloria, gold, tourmaline, cork, resin, plastic.

Karen Pontoppidan, Boy Looking Down, silver, niello.