james -
In the original message, the artist indicated that he/she
preferred to work in precious metals excuslively and was reluctant
to allow young children to handle even small items in those
materials.
okay people, listen up! this thread has gotten worse than the old
game of “gossip”
first, there were no metal types mentioned in my original email.
second, i have excellent rapport with children, i’ve worked with ‘at
risk’ kids five to fifteen. and people, never look or talk down to a
child. never change your tone of voice or use juvenile words. never
TELL them what they think, ask them. almost all children are more
careful with my work than some adults and they usually like to hear a
quick version of how i cut the stones and metal. i take ‘rough’
(uncut rock material) as display stands and often give a sample to an
interested child and each one has a card with ‘lapidary’ info to
google. people, remember one thing about preschool to preteen kids
who come into your area: they are learning more in those years than
they will the rest of their lives - everything they encounter is new!
if you love your work, let them see that, fill some of their gray
cells with they can get only from you and will remember a
long time.
Is the artist able and willing to explore the potential of
designing and making jewelry in other media? Talk to different
craftspeople in the local area, learn to work in paper mache,
leather, copper, and other much less expensive media.
while i used all of the aforementioned material, and more, working
with nonambulatory learning impaired, institutionalized, ‘kids’, i
see no reason for using them in my jewelry. not when i can transform
$15 worth of silver, $10 to $30 worth of stones/rough, some oxy/actyl
and grind/carve time, and get around $700 for it. my original post
was never about cost of material.
Have a "hands-on" demonstration for those young children in the new
media and allow them to actually make a pair of earrings or a
bracelet to give to the child's mother?
i’ve done that more times than you’ve ever thought about it.
If (when) another artist questions the new location and assignment
in the "children's' section" explain that you are trying to teach
them to become interested in jewelry
why would i worry about what to tell any other artist at a show?
If (when) prior customers ask the same questions, pull out a secure
and locked display case with “regular” items to offer the parents of
the children in the hands-on section.
i have never put my work in a “secure and locked display case” - and
from day one am missing only a pearl ring, which might have been
stolen but most likely got lost in the grass.
people, please listen to two more points,:
-
the entire problem started with an error made by someone at the
league staff level. i tried every reasonable suggestion i’d ever
known, or heard about, to offer the contact person, ms shani, a way
to rectify that error without accepting or being held responsible for
that error. it was to my benefit to remain reasonable and strive for
yet another solution so i could regain an artist’s space at the show
i’d done for years. at every turn i was met with an obdurate attitude
i’ve never encountered from any staff member at any show - images,
the boca raton museum show, bonita springs january show, delray
affair - i mean, for pete’s sake, this is an art show, not a black
box government demonstration of a secret weapon. (which i have
accessed) my primary interest in pursuing entry was admittedly
financial, $2000 minimum to $4000 or more for one afternoon’s show
within a dozen miles of my home.
-
please do not, repeat, do not respond to any post from any orchid
member WHEN YOU HAVE NOT READ THAT ORIGINAL POST. please.
thank you -
ive
who thanks the supporters but is puzzled by the ‘venters’