Oil Lamp Floral - Holding Place

Materials: Copper, Red Brass
Dimensions: 10"w x 4"d x 11"h

Anticlastic, raising,

Photo credit: Jennifer Kenyon

Travis R. Ogden
Denver, CO. USA

Travis Ogden graduated with a BFA from the University of Texas and a MFA from Washington University in St. Louis Missouri in Fine Art. Ogden has spent many years since graduating teaching metalworking classes at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado; Front Range Community College, Clear Creek Academy and the Denver School of Metal Arts. Currently, Travis Ogden is the owner of the Naja Tools & Supplies, Inc. and the Denver School of Metal Arts in Denver Colorado. Always interested in metal working, Ogden has a special interest in the idea of “vessels” which has lead to a number of pieces that include tea pots, oil lamps, etc. His belief is that vessels are one of the earliest tools that man devised vessels are as old as mankind and as contemporary as today. Long inspired by architectural design and “how things work” he likes movement in his pieces. Ogden works in Sterling silver, Brass, Copper, Gold, etc. Ogden? es work can be seen at J. Cotter Studio in Vail and Gusterman’s in Denver, CO.


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.