My friend Kathleen and I wanted to try out her new electrolytic anodization setup to put some color on titanium and niobium. We were so anxious to get to the electricity and water/borax part, that we forgot we needed something finished to stick in the water. Disappointed that we couldn’t see colors right away, we spent some time making bracelets and earrings out of niobium and titanium. After making sure the pieces had nicely finished edges, we masked the metal and the fun really began.
When I pulled my metals out of my bag, I wondered why I’d only bought niobium this time. After we anodized the first of Kathleen’s titanium pieces, I remembered. I wanted brighter colors on these bangle bracelets.
The 2011 summer edition of San Francisco’s Metal Arts Guildnewsletter showcased me as an artist member. Since the newsletter is printed in black and white, we thought you might like to see some color pictures of the inspirations and work described in the article.
On a SCUBA diving trip to the Sea of Cortez in 2009, a pod of dolphins played with the boat while we traveled to the dive site. Luckily I was taking a picture of a flying dolphin in the boat wake at the same time one of the larger dolphins did a belly flop, soaking my back.
The flying dolphin that saved the camera
The dolphin who soaked us with a belly flop near the bow
Once we were in the water, the dolphins apparently stayed close, although out of sight.
Under water we were treated to an amazing experience of being encircled by a large school of sardines during the entire dive. Usually a school will come across divers, or vice versa, and keep traveling. The three of us watched in amazement as the school changed shapes and directions and yet stayed close to us; we all knew this was a special treat.
When we surfaced from the dive, we noticed that the dolphins were nearby and asked the boat captain if he’d been watching them during our entire dive.
The captain told us that the dolphins were circling us throughout our dive, thus explaininig the mysterious behavior of the fish school. The wall of sardines had been so thick that we missed seeing the dolphins on the other side of the ‘wall’.
The eye of the swirling school
“Swirling School” Pendant
Even while diving, I knew I had to recreate this experience somehow in jewelry. I wanted to elicit the sensation of the school swirling around us, and the individuals in the school, as well as the space in between the fish and us.
“Reflections” Earrings
I began by creating swirling filigree forms. And, I also designed and made some earrings that incorporated open space, togetherness, and yet non-uniformity.
Something was still missing that tied the whole experience together. I had a vague idea that I wanted the “Reflections” style earrings to be static yet kinetic. While I let the idea simmer in my head, I wore a pair of earrings that reminded me of my goal.
Prototype Earrings
Almost eighteen months after the dive, here are the earrings that were percolating in my head all that time
“Sea of Cortez 3D Kinetic” Earring Extenders with Stud Earrings
In the years since I made a certain filigree component, I forgot which gauge wires I used. I also forgot that I’d annealed several times during the process, an oversight which was easily remedied after the small twisted strands broke a few times and I spent a few seconds thinking about it. Turns out I liked the large wire combo better for what I have in mind.
20 gauge fine silver + twisted doubled strand of 28 gauge fine silver (top left half of the picture)
18 gauge fine silver + twisted doubled strand of 26 gauge fine silver (bottom right half of the picture)
Fine silver twisted wire components
Today’s samples could become a part of a filigree hinged cuff idea that is in the process of moving from my mind into silver. Yesterday I flattened wire and made fine silver diamonds that could maybe – possibly – perhaps also be part of the final design.
Fine silver diamond sheet shapes
The other day I made these
Variations of wrapped wire and flattened wire
And, tomorrow or someday soon, I’ll get back to making consistent versions of these
The “In the Mix” section. Love the bottom half of the right hand page 🙂
Yesterday I half-heartedly leafed through the Sept/Oct edition of Oakland Magazine for an article on Lireille Gallery; we’d expected to see the article printed in the July edition. I was stopped mid-turn by a photo I recognized: “Souls Medal of Honor”, a piece of mine that I just wrote about here a few days ago.
Very shocking and very nice! The “In the Mix” section of Oakland Magazine includes a very nice article on Lireille Gallery, and my photo is the one they chose to run with the article. If you’re looking for the magazine in stores (aren’t you?! 🙂 ) here’s what the cover looks like.
I practiced bead setting for the first time on this 20 x 20 x 18 mm sterling silver box. I’d cast the box years ago just to see if I could, then came up with the idea of setting tiny stones randomly all around it. As they often do, the idea morphed into different sizes and types of stones. I ended up using 2.25 – 3 mm sapphires, peridots, and aquamarines instead of garnets as originally planned.
While I was polishing up the box, I also polished up the white topaz earrings I flush set last month. The larger oval stones require much more force to flush set than 3mm round stones! Below is a picture of the earrings before the sterling silver was polished.
Next: I’ll finish my piranha skull. The Menlo Park Library will be featuring work from the members of the Metal Arts Association of Silicon Valley. I submitted four necklaces for the show and was asked if I have any larger work to add. The 13″ tall wire skull outline I started making in Tom Hill’s wire sculpture workshop should do the trick. Below is the 3″ high shellaced skull which was used as a visual guide.
Stop by the library to see the exhibit any time in the month of June. The display case flanks both sides of the lobby entrance sidewalk before the doors; so you can view all the metal artwork 24/7.
A fresh iteration of the “Bottleneck” ring design. All peridots. Four flush set and one prong set. The ring is ‘fresh’ because it’s less than 2 hours old. 🙂
Please pardon the hot spots and other issues with the photos. I’ll take a nice photo for the website someday….
