PRESS RELEASE: On the Rise

On the Rise, Work From the Metalsmithing & Jewelry Program at Towson University

Curated by Jan Baum

Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts

Wilmington, Delaware

June 5-July 31, 2008

Opening reception 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 6th, 2008

On the Rise represents the diverse cross section of current undergraduate and graduate work as well as recent alumni from both degree programs. Work comprising this exhibition stretches the traditions and boundaries of both the metalsmithing and art jewelry discipline. Age-old impulses of body adornment are reinterpreted individually and personally in 2008. The Metals & Jewelry discipline attracts artists drawn to the intimacy and site specific nature of the art jewelry object and objects historically associated with the Metals & Jewelry discipline. A number of works bridge multiple disciplines in conveying the artists’ conceptual ideas.

The intimate and site-specific format of the art jewelry object and objects historically associated with the Metals & Jewelry discipline attract artists by virtue of the ideas they are seeking to express. A number of the works here bridge multiple disciplines.

Many of the artists in the exhibition are exploring non-traditional materials in the expression of their individual artistic pursuits while others utilize prominent materials in new and individual ways. A handful of artists are engaged with new materials and new technologies while simultaneously pushing and exploring the boundaries of art jewelry object.

The work in On The Rise has been selected because of its forward thinking and level of investigation into diverse and rich frontiers, which are evolving the Metals & Jewelry field.

Jan Baum is Professor and Director of the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Program at Towson University. She holds an MFA from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and a BFA from Arcadia University.

Photo: Norway Maple, sterling silver and tourmaline, 2008, Whitney J. Marsden

Greetings from Red Barn Farm!

Things are continuing to come to life up here on "the farm." Immediate duties like mulching, weeding, and clearing are keeping me from the studio... but plans abound! These beautiful photos were taken by Maria and Boris.

Spring Arivals!

Daffodil

Star Magnolia

Forsythia

I couldn't resist some pictures from around the yard. Things are ever changing around here and the scents and colors are breathtaking. I've been out working hard appreciating the beauty and trying to stay ahead of the weeds. Next up: dogwoods, lilacs, and apple blossoms. I can't wait.

Discovering Auctions!

I have a new past time... auctions! It must be the thrill of holding that little number up and battling it out (really, I'm a wimp) while racing the "clock" with the fast talker (do they go to auction school for that?!). Steve and I met up with his friend Ray on Saturday and hit three auctions before 2 p.m. Seriously, it hurt waking up that early! The first two auctions were take-it-or-leave-it in addition to cold and windy, but the third had some very unique things only found in that part of Pennsylvania on that particular day. It was great! We came away with some much needed (and wanted) items: a large Persian-style wool rug, an oak swivel office chair, an electric griddle (for PNP, a resist used for etching metal), and an old wood and cast iron sled... at $71 for everything, we made out! Of course I am currently thinking back longingly about a couple of things, but that's to be expected. Then there's the added bonus about auctions; you can buy whatever you want... so long as you're willing to pay for it! Three cheers for giving new life to old objects!

Update: Above you will see a picture of our new rug. I love it. The colors and design work well with our little farmhouse and we really needed something on the floor to separate the living room from the dining room. Nevertheless, as my mom says, "there's a price for getting things so cheap..." With rain comes humidity and thus new odors in our rug have surfaced. Despite doing EVERYTHING I can come up with, we have been confronted with (like a brick wall) the ever permeating smell of WET DOG! Tonight I'm taking the third pass with the steam cleaner! Help! Any suggestions?! Editors Advisory: although we don't have a dog, we think dogs are great, but YUCK!

Happy Spring!

These are a couple of blown out Easter eggs I made this year for my mom (b&w) and Steve's mom (color). Thanks to Juliet of The Broken Plate for the tip, I've entered them into the Hatch 1st Annual Easter Egg Coloring Contest. Fun! I hope you had a nice weekend and are enjoying all the wonderful things coming to life outside. I know I am! Go now... VOTE!!

Salad of the Week: Lentils with Basil & Polenta

So it's more of a side dish than a salad, but I figure the definition blurs when you put anything on a bed of greens! Either way, a test group and one daring boyfriend have confirmed that Lentils with Basil & Polenta is "really good!" Here goes this super fast and easy recipe...

Ingredients

2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus more to brush

1 package Trader Joe's Lentils (fresh and found in the produce department)

3/4 cup Grape Tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh Basil leaves

1 roll ready-to-serve Polenta (any flavor except cilantro, in specialty or natural food grocery isle)

A couple handfuls fresh Baby Greens

Fresh cracked Pepper & Sea Salt to taste

Crumbled Feta Cheese

Polenta

Brush slices of polenta and saute or bake as directed on package. When complete, cut into cubes (round slices are also nice served around edge of platter). Set aside.

Lentils

In a large pan, drizzle 2 teaspoons olive oil. When warm, add entire package of lentils (separated) and grape tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook on medium-low until tomatoes start to soften. Remove from heat and gently mix in basil and polenta.

On a platter, spread a bed of fresh baby greens and top with lentils and polenta. Finish with crumbled feta and fresh basil, and garnish with a sprig of basil.

A fresh side dish great year round served hot or cold (and great with shrimp)!

body+soul's: Better Bling

If you haven't already come across the recent article titled Better Bling in body+soul's March 2008 magazine, it's a brief, but to the point read worth taking a gander at. A guide to the eco-conscious consumer, Better Bling takes a reveling look beyond the veil to explain where precious metals, diamonds, and colored gems are sourced; how they are accessed and who is working to unearth them. Many in the jewelry industry are aware of the issues surrounding the materials we use, but often the consumer is left in the dark about the all-to-frequently horrific history of their jewelry. This article puts it all out there in not too vague terms and offers alternatives such as purchasing from eco-conscious jewelers who use metals and stones that are recycled and/or ethically sourced (!), recycling old jewelry, and buying estate jewelry. Most importantly, Better Bling encourages the consumer to request information about the source of the materials used in their jewelry stating that by demanding information, consumers can start a trend that initiates change. Links to industry resources as well a selection of eco-friendly jewelers are also provided. Go to the body+soul website to see a gallery of more eco-jewelry.

Oprah & All Her Cash

I worked in the "studio" (a.k.a. the basement) this past weekend and it felt so good. After getting everything laid out just right; you know, so the left-handed things are on the left, the right-handed things are on the right, and then got everything labeled (sad, but true), I got to work on some jewelry. It's been a long time coming, but there were some very important things to focus on first. Now that I'm up and running I plan to get some experimental pieces done to see what direction I'm able to go in this new space... I've been playing around with some previous castings and hope to have some photos in the next few days. I say "hope" because this is not the full-time gig... not until Oprah comes across my flickr site (yeah, right!) and realizes she absolutely MUST have one of my pieces (or several!), which she wears everywhere, and then decides to order in bulk to give away to all her friends and her studio audience. One can dream, right?

Salad of the Week

I recently started drizzling smoked sesame oil over cubed beets after trying and loving them at a party. Since then I've been adding them to everything, but am particularly intrigued with combining the beets with crumbled goat cheese and toasted almond slivers or pine nuts. I came up with the following salad for dinner last night and it's already a favorite...

Mixed baby greens or spring mix

Cubed baby beets drizzled with smoked sesame oil

Crumbled goat cheese or feta... yum!

Lightly toasted almond slivers or pine nuts until golden

Halved grape tomatoes

Halved and pitted kalamata olives

Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste

I loved it dry with no dressing, lemon juice, or additional oil, but that may be good too. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

1.29.08 One-A-Day-Challenge by imogeneANDannie

I hope you all had a very nice Valentine's Day and were surrounded by the special people in your life. We had a family room "campout": take-out on the floor with a flashlight only policy in effect, followed by s'mores in the fireplace. We then got comfy in a small tent on the floor with tons of pillows and watched the movie "Frida" on DVD in celebration of the recent and upcoming Frida Kahlo related Delaware Art Museum and Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibitions. When the festivities were over, I got the best compliment ever: "there's no one I'd rather be stranded in the family room with!" It was so wonderful I just had to share. Now I'm longing for springtime to really get out there...

Check out imogeneANDannie's lovely heart with lady pendent above. This is one of several One A Day Challenge pieces Annie has been working so diligently on. Perhaps that is something I need to think about...