An Expert Guide by Elaine Luther

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s Glassell School of Art announces an open call to artists to submit entries for:

eXtremities: Exploring the Margins of the Human Body
A juried exhibition of works for and about the body’s physical extremities - as inspiration,as subject, as site.

This will be a featured exhibition during the 2010 SNAG Conference, Going to eXtremes (March 10–13, 2010).

Exhibition Dates: March 1-14, 2010
Location: The Jung Center, 5200 Montrose Blvd, Houston, Texas
Juror: Seattle Metalsmith, teacher and writer, Andy Cooperman

Eligible Work: Work in any media that is made for the body’s physical extremities (i.e., arms, hands, legs, feet, etc.) or that is inspired by the body’s physical extremities. Work does not have to be wearable, but must be original, completed within the last 2 years and not previously exhibited at a SNAG Conference. No entry can exceed 20″ in any direction or weigh more than 10 pounds.

About the Juror: Andy Cooperman lives in Seattle Washington. His work, known for an intuitive melding of high craft and spontaneous surface and form development, can be found on the pages of numerous publications including Art Jewelry Today (I & II) and The Penland Book of Jewelry. Public collections include the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tacoma Art Museum. Andy teaches seminars and workshops across the country and held a two-year position as a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington. In addition to building one-of-a kind pieces, Andy also works with clients as a custom jeweler and commission metalsmith. His most recent exhibition Selections from Animates, Portals and Hymenoptera, a collection of jewelry and objects from three bodies of work, was on display at the Tacoma Art Museum. Please visit his website at andycooperman.com.

About the Venue: Located in the heart of the Museum District, The Jung Center is ideally situated next to the Glassell Junior School, site of the SNAG juried student exhibition and across from the Museum of Fine Arts’ Glassell School of Art. The Jung Center has an elegant, intimate exhibition space; it will be a featured venue on the conference’s Thursday night exhibition crawl.

Eligible Artists: All artists 18 years or older are eligible to enter.

Entry Fee: $30 for up to 3 entries

Entry Deadline: November 1, 2009

Prospectus and entry details can be downloaded at: www.mfah.org/glassell
or: http://www.mfah.org/pdf/SNAG2010_CALL_FOR_ENTRIES.pdf

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REFINED: Back to Basics
Entry Fee: $35.00
Application deadline: November 6, 2009
$1,500 will be awarded at the juror’s discretion.

All applications for REFINED will be accepted through www.callforentry.org (CAFÉ).

THEME
Oppi Untracht reminded us that “craftsmanship is the key that opens the door to the creative experience by which each of us…can realize the psychological and physical satisfactions which our minds and bodies require.” As both artists and craftsmen, we, as metalsmiths, still cling to making beautiful and engaging objects in addition to exploring ideas and new contextual frameworks.

REFINED: Back to Basics calls to artists to use metalworking and jewelry techniques to both glorify craftsmanship and provide relevant content in their work. As contemporary artists, we are obligated to nod to the traditions of our past while leaving a definable mark for future generations to decipher. Please join us in celebrating the many themes and working practices of metalworking artists from across the world.

JUROR
Lisa Gralnick is an artist and professor of art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gralnick’s work is in the collections of the American Craft Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, among others. She received her MFA from SUNY New Paltz. Past jurors for the event have included L. Brent Kington, Munya Avigail Upin and James Snyder, Jennifer Sholtis and Dr. David A. Lewis, and Charon Kransen.

ELIGIBILITY
This exhibition is open to any artists whose jewelry responds to the theme: Back to Basics. All work must be original and completed within the last two years. Submitted works are open to a full range of processes and materials.

A maximum of FIVE entries per artist is permitted. Two views of each work are allowed (second views and detail shots must be clearly labeled as view #2). Two-dimensional work may not exceed 60 inches in any in its longest dimension nor weigh more than 75 lbs. Artists may not substitute another work for an accepted work, alter a work or the sales price, nor withdraw a work after it has been accepted. The SFA Gallery Director reserves the right to refuse any entry which does not match the images submitted or meet the criteria enumerated here. All applications for REFINED will be accepted through www.callforentry.org

SHIPPING
Artists must arrange and pay for shipment of their work and any insurance coverage during shipment to the exhibit. The SFA Gallery will pay for the return shipment of the work to artists using the carrier of the SFA Gallery’s choice.

CATALOG
A publication will accompany the exhibit. REFINED’s 2008 catalog can be seen here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/328020

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The first issue of Metal Clay Artist Magazine has gone to press — here’s their website:

http://www.metalclayartistmag.com

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There’s a helpful article over at the Ruby Lane blog,“Why the Fuzzy Photos?” that explains aperture and F-stops, but also, how to set your camera to do the same thing, even if you don’t have a manual setting on your camera.

http://blog.rubylane.com

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Robin Ragsdale offers her top ten tips on displays, and be sure to check out her etsy shop and flickr site as well!

1) Raise your tables. I did this using bed risers.

2) Make sure your table covers reach the floor. This gives it a finished
look and hides your storage boxes. My covers are actually long strips of
fabric wrapped around the tables and duct taped (I duct tape, velcro and
hot glue EVERYTHING). Then I added black fabric panels to the table
tops.

3) Have multiple levels. This serves several purposes. It allows more
merchandise to be displayed in a small area. It adds visual interest. It
brings your product to the eye level of the shopper.

4) Make sure there is visual contrast between your display colors and
your product so your merchandise will stand out.

5) Lots of light. (This may be more important for jewelry than anything
else. We need that sparkle!) A well lit display will attract more
attention than one that just blends in with the others. If the venue
charges more for electric, pay it.

6) You must have a sign and/or banner. Make it visually similar to your
other marketing materials. I had a woman come looking for me and she
recognized my sign because it is the same style and colors as my
business cards. In fact, the look of your display, online venues and
marketing materials should all tie together well.

7) If you want to sit, sit high! Get a bar height director’s chair so
you will always be at eye level of your buyers.

Space permitting, have a separate small pay-out table. This moves the
buyer away from the front of the display so others can move in to look.
It also allows for a wrapping area if necessary. I keep my mailing list
sign-up book there. While I write up the receipt and package the
purchase, the buyer can sign up for future event notifications.

9) If you accept credit cards (and you should) have a sign saying so.
I’ve had people stop at my booth simply because they could use their
Visa with me.

10) This is an odd tip I’m just gonna throw in to make an even ten: I
always have a bowl of wrapped candies, but at outdoor shows I also bring
dog treats. So many people bring their dogs everywhere they go and
always appreciate the thought. Also, if you have a friendly dog hanging
around it attracts other dog lovers to your tent!

Robin’s Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos

Robin’s Etsy Shop:
http://www.adornedbyrobin.etsy.com

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I was referred to this maker of chasing tools by Kirsen Skiles: http://www.mettleworks.com/sales/thestore.html

and if you’re looking for a book on chasing and repoussé, there’s a brand new book out by Nancy Megan Corwin from Tim McCreight’s publishing house, Brynmorgen Press:

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Here’s a question that often comes up on lists — where can one go to earn a degree in metalsmithing, or take a class, or learn a specific skills, such as casting?

Here’s a round up of some websites with comprehensive lists of schools. See also the Education category on this blog for some of my favorites.

This list, from the Society of American Silversmiths, is organized by state, a great idea:
http://www.silversmithing.com/schools.htm

Contenti Supply has a list:

http://www.contenti.com/resources/links-schools.html

National Portfolio Day’s list is organized by major and also notes whether a graduate degree is available. Scroll down for Jewelry.

http://www.portfolioday.net

Know of a great list, or a great school? Please post a comment! Thanks!

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Maureen Thomas, polyclay artist, is now selling these super cool papier mache busts. I like this one, above, but there are more styles available. $25.00 each plus shipping.

All the info. is here: http://maureenthomasdesigns.com/Busts.html

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The first news is out about a copper clay coming from Aida, the folks who make Art Clay. Apparently, it can be fired without carbon! More details here, at Metal Clay Academy:

http://www.metalclayacademy.com

I’ve heard elsewhere that it will be available in November, though I’m not positive about that, and that it’s really nice and workable.

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