Craft Show Artists 2011

John Beaver (Wood) — Pacific Palisades, CA   |   johnbeaver.net

I enjoy including a certain "how did he do that?" factor into my pieces while staying true to good design. Having lived my entire life near the Pacific Ocean, the motion and rhythm of the ocean's waves are a major inspiration for my work. Contrast is also an important element for me, not only aesthetically but in the process of turning a functional object, like a bowl, into an "object d'art." Artistically, I like to combine multiple woods with dyes and textures to enhance the rhythmic lines that are a part of my work. The technical genesis of these works lies in my ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a turned vessel in a number of different ways while maintaining grain and wall alignment. I hope that my pieces will evoke a feeling of movement and energy in an otherwise static environment.

Alice R. Drew (Ceramics) — Boston, MA   |   alicedrew.com

This work is inspired by the bold, rich colors and patterns of damask and brocade fabrics, architectural details from Georgian homes, Turkish mosques and Islamic tiles, perching song birds, deer, vines, clipper ships, and bouquets of wild roses. The highly decorative surfaces of the work are illustrative by nature, but contain only an implied narrative. The animal motif present throughout the work, specifically the perching and flying birds, represent not only the indication of the changes of seasons, but the idea of freedom and adventure. Whispering throughout the work are playful words and bold graphic numbers that represent memories and time. The surface technique used throughout this body of work is a modern form of silk-screening, called Thermal Screen Printing. The screen prints are made from photocopies of my original drawings, using a Thermo-fax machine. Each piece is hand built using slab construction, and fired to 2194F in an electric atmosphere.

Sara E. Gallo-Cornell (Jewelry) — Parkesburg, PA   |   saragallo.com

I aim to create fashionable art jewelry that appeals to both girls and women alike — jewelry that is ageless and timeless. I use eye-catching, vibrant colors to emphasize the size, shape, and forms found within each jewelry piece. The bold colors I use are also so playful! They are meant to remind us of the fun and unique times we've experienced as kids. Most importantly, bold, attention-grabbing pieces are the most fun to wear! Why not wear fun jewelry if you can? My Doll Shoe Jewelry Series aims to inspire women, celebrate feminism and embrace fashion all at once. High heels have always presented certain stigmas lust, fashion, and foot pain. And, when Barbie is added to the mix, controversy follows! I've created this series with the intention of making light of any negativity these subject matters may create and embracing the way a woman is entitled to feel. If a woman feels powerful wearing high heels, then she should. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

GDG Studios (Ceramics) — Sewell, NJ   |   gdgstudios.com

GDG studios is dedicated to marrying qualities of the handmade with technology based processes to create contemporary designed handmade object. Our production methods are sustainable and have a low carbon footprint. All of our products are handmade in the USA.

Michael M. Haleta (Mixed Media) — Atlantic Highlands, NJ   |   futuristictexturesfromthefuture.blogspot.com  |   www.etsy.com

Michael Mykola Haleta (born 7 July 1978) (x-WZT Hearts) is an intermedia artist who lives and works in Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Haleta's comic collages deal with destroying comics and using the remnants as building blocks for the construction of new textured masses, blobs and 2-3D landscapes. Having grown up in the suburbs of NJ, the cross pollination of pre-90's (non-CGI) B-movie special effects, comic books, baseball card designs, radical cartography and Ukrainian Easter egg designs (Pysanky) helped him to condition both his eyes and sensibilities towards design. Michael has been constructing his comic collages for the past decade as part of an ongoing series, entitled, "Futuristic Textures from the Future". "FTFTF", simultaneously deals with the destruction of comics and the constant bi-upcycling of old book materials into textures, landscapes and interference patterns for the retina. His work has been published in Tokion, Shout NY, Giant Robot and The San Francisco Weekly.

Keith Holt (Wood) — Forest Hill, MD   |   kholtartwork.com

The spirit within the human figure has been the basis of my inspiration. For the past few years I have explored the uses of the lathe in combination with carving to create figurative sculpture. These forms are achieved through multi-axis turning and/or carving. As an artist, I strive to allow the form of a piece to emerge from the lathe, seeing the circle of movement as an endless stream of possibilities. Though the wood is an essential part of my process, I have painted some of the pieces to add strength to the architectural lines and to disguise the materials. This use of form to reveal the spirit within us is an ocean of material I can explore for the rest of my life. Technical: The multi axis turning is done on a sphere jig I created for the lathe. This jig is an essential part of my process and is constantly evolving, as is the work I create with it.

Monika M. Knutsson (Jewelry) — New York, NY   |   gildedlace.com

Monika, who is originally from Sweden, lived 9 years in Paris working for several famous fashion designers. She spent hours at the Parisian flea markets. With a beautiful collection of vintage embroidery and lace in hand, Monika moved to New York City and conceived the concept behind Gilded Lace. "I want to add value to old, forgotten lace that once was made by very skilled women. It is a way to honor the craftsmanship of the lace makers and to create modern and beautiful pieces that will last for a long time," says Monika. Gilded Lace was developed over the past two years, and is now a 60-piece collection of jewelry that includes cuff bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches and rings. It is made from re-purposed lace from 1900-1960, originally used mostly for petticoats, corset covers, and the bottoms of bloomers. To make the jewelry, Monika hand-stitches the lace together to form the shape and seals it. The pieces, which are made in New York City, are then dipped in sterling silver or 24k gold.

Tia Kramer (Jewelry) — Seattle, WA   |   tiakramerjewelry.com

I create jewelry objects that make visible our interactions with structure and movement. My adornments are performative sculptures for ones ears, architecture for the body. I look closely at our everyday environments: telephone wires suspended amidst tall evergreens, the negative space stretching between neighboring skyscrapers. Using cold-form fabrication, I build organic and geometric wire jewelry structures that pare down these environments to simple line modules. I then wrap translucent handmade paper around sections of each form. My papers, which I create using Philippine plant fibers and vibrant pigments, become taught kites of color that highlight ephemeral negative space. Interacting with the wearer, my adornments come alive. Each non-soldered jewelry structure moves independent of the others, dancing on the ears, neck and wrists of the wearer. Like leaves on a tree limb, my adornments punctuate the wearer's movement and expression.

Monique R. Rancourt (Jewelry) — Cambridge, MA   |   moniquerancourtjewelry.blogspot.com

I am a contemporary jewelry artist residing in Cambridge Massachusetts. In 2008 I graduated with departmental honors from the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. When creating jewelry I like to push the limits of traditional metalsmithing and Jewelry techniques such as lost wax casting, granulation, salt water etching and reticulation. Using these techniques I create contemporary Jewelry that is inspired by historical references, specifically traditional body adornment of the Pacific Islands and Africa. Keeping these traditions and techniques in mind I explore form, pattern and textures from nature using materials such as sterling silver, chain, rubber and etched copper. I am currently pursuing my career as a jewelry artist and teacher working at Joy Street Studios in Somerville Massachusetts.

Meghan Patrice Riley (Jewelry) — San Francisco, CA   |   meghanpatriceriley.com

Meghan Patrice Riley jewelry was founded in 2008 by metalsmith Meghan Riley to create light and wearable sculptural wire jewelry. With a background in math and geometry, each piece is inspired by volumetric forms and is crafted by hand in her New York City studio.

Mixing metals with textile techniques, she creates unique pieces with a feminine elegance and a industrial touch that are still light and dainty. Using thin, lightweight silver and nylon-coated steel wire as "fiber" she forms small line segments to create geometric shapes and then eventually forms that are lightweight, flexible, and adapt to the wearer. Geometric shapes were chosen as the foundation because they are simple, basic, and elementary but can be expounded on to create multi-dimensional forms. Each form acts like a link to interconnect with other forms creating an even larger volumetric structure.

In 2010, Meghan Patrice Riley held her first solo jewelry show titled "Capacity" exhibiting a series of jewelry built upon the idea of exploring the capacity of constructed wire structures on the human form. Additionally, her work can be found in the latest Lark Book "500 Silver Designs."

Michael Scarborough (Wood) — Sunnyside, NY   |   michaelscarboroughdesign.com

I had the great fortune of growing up in rural Japan within walking distance of the ancient Kintaikyo Bridge, a place and time that seemed lost to the ages. And, although I was previously involved in antique furniture restoration, it seems that only recently, 50 years later, I find my childhood images resurfacing, and I feel a need to create artisanal pieces that themselves seem lost in a time warp. I work in wood, but am greatly moved by pieces made in porcelain and metals. Regardless of the original medium, I strive to achieve the same level of delicacy, sparseness of design, refinement and beauty when re-interpreting the piece in wood. I feel it creates a bridge to the artisans who worked centuries before me and imbues each piece with a sense of timelessness.

Stacey L. Webber (Metal & Jewelry) — Philadelphia, PA   |   staceyleewebber.com, thecoinsmith.com

Stacey Lee Webber is a Philadelphia based artist who finds unique ways to recontextualize objects from blue collar neighborhoods. Webber's God Bless the USA series embodies a refined aesthetic and challenges the conventional possibilities of everyday materials. Through her investigations, Webber celebrates working class families which make up the heart of American culture. Stacey Lee Webber's, The Coinsmith, is an unconventional production line that strives to make simplistic alterations to American coins with classic jewelers' tools. The designs are created with attention to traditional metalsmithing and bring a fresh approach to the history of coin jewelry.