Materials: 14k gold, sterling silver, meerschaum stone and pearl
Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.6 x 3.2 cm
Formed with chasing and repousse, fabricated and carved.
Photo credit: Robert Mullen
Cappy Marie Counard
Edinboro, PA. USA
Biographical Statement
Cappy Counard earned her MFA from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1999 and her BS in Art from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1992. She makes jewelry and small containers that draw from her interest in architecture, the structural geometry found in nature and those unexpected moments of beauty that make us stop and pay attention. In addition to her studio work, Cappy dedicates herself to her students in the Metals/Jewelry program at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she has been a professor since 1999. She has exhibited, lectured and demonstrated extensively throughout the United States. Cappy’s work has been featured in many books including, Art Jewelry Today 3, 21st Century Jewelry: The Best of the 500 Series and The Metalsmith Book of Boxes and Lockets.
Artist statement for Perceptions
Life can only be viewed through our personal lens of experience. Each moment, we must make decisions and conclusions based on the knowledge that we have available. Often we assume our perspective is true, only to later learn something that completely shifts our perception.
Perceptions is a metaphor for these layers of knowledge and the constantly changing landscape of our interactions. When closed, parts of the interior elements are revealed while still remaining partially obscured. This allows our imagination to make assumptive connections about the unseen. Once the outer layer is removed, the true nature of the piece becomes clear. The pearl at the core of the piece represents the sometimes surprising and elusive truth.
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.
