Materials: Copper, Enamel
Dimensions: 200 mm x 200 mm x 45 mm
Vitreous enamel fired on copper. Pattern made by sifting enamel through pieces of Dutch lace.
Photo credit: Ingrid I. van der Meer
Ingrid Irene Vandermeer
Double Eye Design
Wouwse Plantage, Netherlands
Artist statement Ingrid I. van der Meer
Making art has always been a part of my life. For the last 40 years it kind of ‘simmered’ and with the years it became more clear that I had to create art to feel good. Global circumstances gave me the opportunity to develop my unconscious need to create. The main part of my art education took part in the USA (Glassell School of Arts, Houston TX) while living there for 11 + years.
Creating three-dimensional objects with metal give me the ‘freedom’ to express myself. I use different colors of metal and vitreous enamels to add color to my work. I mostly work with silver and copper but other materials like gold, brass, wood, glass, plastic (take a look at my recycled earrings) have my interests as well. Many times my designs originate in my dreams. Always looking at everything that surrounds me, I get my ideas from nature as well as shapes of buildings or shadows on the ground. I like to use bright colors in my work since bright colors represent the way I think about life.
Most of my designs have a contemporary look, but I feel drawn by Art Deco and Art Nouveau as well. I feel like my creativity is my 6th sense that needs attention all the time. Knowing that most jewelry I make will outlast the maker, I like the idea that my pieces will be still here, when I’m long gone.
These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing.
Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel.
As the world’s largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years.
In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition.
Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse’, gemstones and found objects.
The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world’s largest internet jewelry site.
