In Good Company - The F Word Exhibition

http://www.thingystudio.ca/

In my yoga class yesterday, our teacher was talking to us about connecting.  As we moved through the poses, she spoke of us all having a role to play in our lives, that we each matter and that we share a connective bond through our own humanity - our faults, our perfections. 

I love going to her class - not just because it is a physical challenge - but this young mother has such a gift of sharing these thoughts of acceptance and purpose - without it sounding preachy or too new age.  Her words just make sense.  I leave the class feeling tired, enegized, mindful and more positive about my own place in my life.

While I wrote the other day about my shyness, please know that I love being around people.  And yes, I may be quiet and spend time observing, but I do find people-watching fascinating.  The happiness, sadness, an angry mother, the cock-sure attitude of teenagers cruising the mall.  We act the way we do for a variety of reasons - our human nature, our personal history, the expectations of our peers, the pressure of the media, our desire to be the person we see in our dreams. 

I think that making art - whether it's the jewelry, collages or the journals - is my way of talking to people, of reaching out and opening the door to conversation.  It's the small details in the pieces that pull people in closer and generate questions that I get to answer, and in so doing, make a brief connection. 

I think all artists share this need.  To start a dialogue.  Whether it be about something trivial, or something else, art opens the door to connecting with humanity.  It allows people to venture into subjects that can be deeply traumatic, agonizingly painful, contentious or upliftingly beautiful.  Art lets people use the medium to voice ideas and opinions that may otherwise be hushed away in the corner.

Next weekend, I have a necklace featured in an exibition on feminism.  "The F- Word - Exploring Feminism in the 21st Centure," brings together a small group of female artists sharing their differing viewpoints on the changing face of feminism in modern culture.  I am humbled to be included, and yes, even proud.  I've always wanted a voice, and even if it dressed up in shiny baubles, there is more to me than beads on a string. 

I am so looking forward to meeting this dynamic group of women, to showing my daughter these works and having our own conversation on her place in this life, to connecting with the audience and seeing how our art reaches out to touch them.

I hope that you can come share this experience.

The F- Word - Exploring Feminism in the 21st Century

February 23 -April 2, 2012
Opening Reception: Feb. 25, 2-4PM

Location
#1100 - 2253 Leigh Square Place, Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C 3B8
Behind City Hall on Shaughnessy St. & McAllister.

Lessons

As I deal with two looming deadlines that are coming up at the end of the month, along with a growing to-do list of other miscellaneous items, I've been thinking about the relationship between where I am with this venture vs where I want to be.  I've come to a few conclusions.

So, in no particular order, here is my list of sure-fire ways to shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-and -not -be -successful....

1.  Spend too much time cruising the internet when you are supposed to be working.
       I do spend too much time popping up from my workbench to have a quick cruise through Facebook or my email.  I might poke through Etsy with random searches.  Whatever I'm looking at, it is usually something that can wait.  The world will not end if I don't see what's going on in cyberspace without me right that second.  I think this relates to spending far too much time on my own.

2.  Procrastinate
    This relates to #1 in that I know I am putting off making all those tiny soldered rings, or polishing, or filing something - those tedious jobs that I have to get through.  It's been a lifelong issue with me.  Why work through something at a steady pace when you can stress yourself out with frantic last minute deadlines?  The only time in my life that I didn't put things off was in university.  My professors would hand out the term paper assignments in the first week of class and I would promptly go to the library, take out something like 50 books (anyone remember just how far B Lot is from the UBC library?  Ugh!), and get started.  Yes, I was a studious nerd in those days.  Anyway, along with my resolution this year to start enjoying life in the moment, comes the side benefit of dealing with everything in the now too.  Or as the Nascar fans like to say, (and this pains me), "Git er done!"

3.  Don't market yourself.
    This is a biggie.  But it is difficult when you are on your own in the business.  I know I don't spend nearly enough time promoting Pink Gargoyle.  Word of mouth and exposure at markets can only do so much.  I have very little on Etsy, and don't have all the strong tag words and SEO stuff that I need for my website.  Honestly, I find that very tedious and I'm sure in part that has to do with the fact that I need to learn more about how to do it all better.  I need to get out to more stores, more fashion events - try to broaden my exposure with a larger retail environment, get some press, get my work in some fashion shows.  It all takes time away from being in the studio where I am happiest.  It is an issue of time management, self-confidence, knowledge, and chutzpa.    But not doing it is clearly not working for me.  It is possible to hire PR people to help with the marketing and maybe that is something that needs to be explored if I can't get my butt into gear (see #2).

4.  Be Shy.
    This is a difficult one, and one that I wish would just go away.  I am terribly shy, always have been.  I know I chat with you all at the markets, but it's not easy.  I feel very self-conscious, and worry that I will ramble on, or stumble over my words, or... or....Honestly, just making a cold phone call to a store or contact takes ages to work up the gumption.  I do believe in my jewelry and do believe that I have something worthwhile to say with the art that I do, but getting that message out there - stomach knotting anxiety.  I'm great on email but that doesn't really deal with the issue - at some point, I have to talk to a real person.  This one, I don't have a solution for right now.

There are more things I can add to this list, but as you see I am working heavily on issues 1,2, and 3 right now.  I need to go sit down at the workbench and not get up again for several hours.  And as for #4 - I don't know - just please remember that I am not anti-social, unfriendly or a snooty B - and thank you for taking the time to talk to me.

Cheers,
Christine.

A Quick Sum Up of a Good Week

I'm supposed to be doing the dishes, changing the laudry and supervising the kids while they practice their instruments but I'll just do a quickie here.  It's been a week of good news - first, Influx Jewelry Gallery in Calgary, Alberta (www.influxgallery.com) has accepted me to be one of their regular selling artists.  I've got to put together a package of about 25 pieces to ship out to them by the end of the month.  As well, Belle Armoire Jewellery magazine has accepted me for a technical article feature on the how-to of making one of the steampunk-inspired soldered rings.  Not sure what issue it will appear in, but it will be sometime this year.  So I'm very happy.  Maybe this will be the year that Pink Gargoyle breaks through.  I've finished two more journal this week too.  One is a little book, about 3*5 - it's very manly though with a vintage strongman image on the cover.  The other is meant to be a cookbook - there are kraft tags attached to each page that spin out of the way.  I see it as having the ingredients written on the tags, and the instructions underneath on the page.  I'll get pictures done this week.  I have to photograph the making of the ring step-by-step so I will have the camera and lights properly set up.  I've got some more silver birds to photograph too.

Anyway, I've got to get back to domesticity.  But I'm looking forward to another great week with lots of time in the studio (with regular outings to yoga!).

Cheers!

Working with my hands

So last week I spent working with polymer clay.  I've had the supplies since Christmas 2010.  I did fiddle around with it a bit at the start of last year, but wasn't having much success and got caught up in designing White.  Everything got shunted aside while I went back to work and then all the summer/fall markets, when I just need to keep up with the supply of my regular pieces.

However, during the Harrison Hot Springs labour day craft fair, I met a very talented artist named Andy (facebook: A. Brown Designs) who creates fabulous jewelry in clay.  I bought of pair of her fooler gauge earrings and a ring.  I fell in love with her octopus tentacle earrings and raven head pendants.  She gave me the inspiration to try again.

With no markets in sight, I was able then to spend several carefree days rolling out clay and experimenting.  First project was to make calla lilies.  I have always loved Diego Rivera's paintings of lilies, and of course, I have my own Lily.  After sketching them, I began to roll them out, intertwined with leaves and vines.  I wasn't interested in making them realistic in terms of colours, and the ones in deep purples, blacks and reds are my favourites so far.  Even the gold and black looks pretty good. 

You have to understand, while I love working with my hands, working in clay has always been a sore point.  Even as a child, I had a small kiddie pottery wheel.  And I spent hours trying and trying to make a simple, smooth pinch pot, to no avail.  They were horrid, mishapen lumps.  Even in university when I was studying for my B. Ed, our art classes touched on clay, and I was again left with some shrivelled lumps.  Several years ago, I even took a class at the Rotary Arts Centre in Kelowna on working with PMC (Precious Metal Clay - fine silver).  While the class was supposed to be beginnner level, my fellow 'students' were sculptors.  I ended up with hard lumps of mangled silver compared to their detailed pendants.  Trust me, PMC is very expensive and is not something you keep practicing with unless you know you can produce something reasonably attractive.

Why on earth would I invest in purchasing all the tools I needed for polymer clay?

I guess we all have yearnings for secret talents.  Anyway, I like how things have so far come out, and I think I've figured out what works for me.  The beads and art pieces in the books by Donna Kato and Carol Blackburn are very pretty.  And I'm not even going to try to make them.  I'm sticking with simple lines, flowing shapes.  It's what works for me in my silver jewelry, and it seems to work for me in clay.

Technical notes on clay:  I've only worked with Fimo so far, but have some packages of Sculptey which bakes at a different temperature.  I'll try it out next and compare the two for ease of manipulation, texture, etc. 

Short nails seem to be best for working with clay - you don't want to mar a piece with a poke of your fingernail. 

Don't drop unbaked clay onto the dog bed.  It picks up hair very easily.

And so we try again

Move ahead 6 months since I last sat here and wrote something, and I find myself staring at the white screen with the cursor's nagging blinking urging me to come up with something interesting or witty to say.  I have been putting this off.  It's really not that I don't think about writing these posts, but somedays what I want to talk about isn't really the norm for a jewelry blog.  Somedays I just need to vent about something, or am looking for a sympathetic ear.  When there isn't really anyone in one's life who can fill those roles, then cyberspace calls, but that's TMI for anyone reading out there.  I read other crafty blogs from time to time, and they are all about the creative process, with great tutorials and the like.  Moving forward, should I decide to continue this seriously, that is what I should be doing. 

Overall, last year was a good year for Pink Gargoyle.  Sales were consistent with 2010, which I guess in a fragile economy, is a good thing.  Some new shows were absolutely fantastic - the Bloom Markets in Ft Langley were superbly organized, marketed and attended.  A Crafty Affaire in South Surrey shows tremendous potential.  Make It Vancouver continues to grow in scope and attendance.  My hat is off to these talented people who conceptualize and realize these great markets.  I know it's not easy, especially to do it so graciously as well.  I really respect their dedication to promoting local artists and designers. 

I learned a hard lesson too.  Responding to an invite for a series of new Christmas markets, called "Made in BC," I learned that no matter how professional the application looks, or the apparent capabilities of the organizer, some people are strictly there to scam you.  Losing several hundred dollars in application fees to shows that didn't happen is a bitter pill to swallow.

Looking ahead to 2012, I'm going to try for some of the even bigger shows - One of a Kind, the Harmony Arts Festival.  With so much beautiful jewelry in Vancouver, it's hard to know if I stand a chance.  However, my collage paintings got such a great response during the last few markets, I am continuing with them this year and will actually agree to sell them this time.  I have also been learning how to do bookbinding, with the covers being smaller versions of my collages.  I hope that by adding to what I have available beyond jewelry, then I can venture into new markets.  At any rate, creating these have been a tremendous outlet when I need to take a break from jump rings and polishing.

That's pretty much it for now.  I've been more of a recluse the last six months, except for going to markets.  Maybe recluse is a bit strong - let's say I'm more selective about whom I spend time with.  After a rather harsh comment about the future of a friendship at the end of the school year, I tend to keep to myself and my family.  Ultimately, they are what matters most anyway, and I am so tired of the way a lot of women seem to treat each other.  Frankly, it's no surprise that some of my best friendships in my life have been with men.  They are not so quick to pass a damning judgement and terminate a friendship over some imagined slight.

Off to yoga now to find some inner zen, and to try to not fall over.  Then back into the studio, to explore what possibilities await.

     

The Perfect Woman in Black & White

Statement about “Branded” – The Perfect Woman in Black & White

Combing through a mid-1960’s woman’s magazine, I was struck by the constant running theme of having to be the perfect woman pleasing her man - she had to be beautiful, coiffed, a gracious hostess, and doting mother.  Whether or not she had ambition, her own wants, or any other thought in her head seemed irrelevant.  Indeed, it seemed that that ideal image was a marketable brand.  Sadly, in many ways, this brand of perfect wife/mother/sexpot has not progressed very far in forty years.  We are still reminded on a daily basis that we can have it all – motherhood, career, size 00 jeans, and a fabulous man – if we just stay thin and beautiful so that we attract all the right kind of attention.  There can be campaigns for natural beauty, there can be movements to empower women across the world, but until we truly feel that we are worth more than a number on the scale in order to snag a man, we are still simply accepting that the brand of the Perfect Woman is the best that we can be. 

Hey April Fool's Day!

And I'm actually writing something. Neat trick huh? I guess I haven't had much to say the past few weeks. Just working and living. Seems to take up all my time. I've had my first few shows of the year and the feedback (and sales!) are off to a great start. Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments about my new pieces. I especially like talking to those of you who have known me from the beginning and have seen the changes over the years. Your support and encouragement for me to keep growing mean the world to me. And for those who are seeing my jewelry for the first time and like it, just know that I am always looking at new ideas and want to keep growing in my craft. I take all of your comments and suggestions to heart so please continue to let me know what you think. "White" is now finished and made its debut last night at the Newlands Wedding Show. I had a new table display too. All in white of course - set up on blank canvases with white flowers and loose white petals. A big blow-up of one of the pictures of Lily modeling for me too. I really thought it looked pretty. Of course, there is not a picture of it as my camera is possessed and often chooses not to work. I have taken quick shots of all the pieces in the line and put them into a price catalogue. If you are interested in receiving it, please send me a message and I will email it to you. This is just until I convince Lily to pose for me some more and I get the rest of the shots done properly. She's happy to do it, but she would prefer that I take the pictures on a warmer day than last time. Poor thing was wrapped in just a scarf on the dining room table while I snapped away. When I get some more of the seaglass pieces done, I'm taking her to the beach to pose there. What else? Damn genetics I guess. I've doomed my children - especially Lily. So far this week she's had her first real migraine, been told she's getting braces by the end of the year, and tomorrow chances are high she will be getting glasses. Max got his eyeglass prescription today. Hopefully he won't be getting the migraines too. I've read that while fewer boys are prone to them, those that do get migraines are often also sleepwalkers. Max had been over his sleepwalking for about the last six months, but he has started again in the past couple of weeks. Recently, I found him on the couch in the middle of the night, just sitting there, eyes wide open but clearly still in sleep-mode brainwise. I'm thinking that he might be going through some kind of growth spurt again and things are firing a bit off kilter. Anyway, got to run right now. Just a reminder - please let me know if you would like a copy of the white catalogue or pictures of anything else you've seen at my table but hasn't made it onto the website yet. I'll get it to you. I'm am working to get the website totally up to date so thanks for bearing with me. Cheers, Christine