Materials: Wood altered by a bird, sterling silver, stainless steel
Dimensions: 3.75" x 4" x 1"
Photo credit: Teresa Faris
Teresa F Faris
Madison, WI. USA
It has been said that, in humans, rhythmic and repetitive movements encourage introspective or creative thinking. As a maker I have adopted this practice and find that it eases the mind when the body is testing and acting as a reminder of impermanence. The ideas of fragility and human/animal connectedness are central themes in my work. Recently, I have become interested in working in collaboration with non-human animals rather than referencing/representing or using their bodies. I want to illuminate the ideas universality and equivalency of all living things. I have witnessed non-human animals performing repetitive movements/activities and I wonder if they find the same soothing aftereffects. The series titled “Collaboration with a Bird” demonstrates my need to repair all things broken. Pieces of wood that have been repetitively chewed by a bird are assembled into a new shape and completed with fabricated metal.
Ganoksin hosts the jewelry list Orchid, with over 13,000 list members from all over the world, speaking from a wide range of technical and aesthetic experiences. The exhibition theme grew out of a desire to celebrate the creativity encompassed in this wide variety.
Artists were free to interpret the theme in any way they chose. Each artist could submit up to six pieces. Interpretations include uniting different materials into one cohesive form; intellectual and emotional “unitings”, where the meaning of the piece unites multiple concepts; the uniting of time - past, present and future; and a number that focus on the harmony created when uniting multiple materials and/or concepts.
The work submitted involved a wide range of jewelry techniques, from very traditional to very cutting edge, as well as using materials from traditional precious metals and gemstones to “re-purposed” and “up-cycled” materials.
The exhibition showcases 330 images chosen from entries from over 111 artists representing 26 countries.
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Serbia, Spain, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, USA, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands
Many of the participants began their interest in jewelry at a young age. Some are relative newcomers to the field, and some have over 35 years of experience as professional jewelers and goldsmiths. While some grew up in families that were goldsmiths, and followed in those footsteps, others only began creating jewelry as adults.
http://www.ganoksin.com/exhibition/var/albums/duu/1collab2-multi.jpg
