February 2008

Barbee’s Wearable Works

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 29, 2008 · 23 comments

By the end of last week, you could spot Meisha Barbee’s work on the neck of many Synergy shoppers. She combines simple canes and soothing colors in graphic ways with subtle textures woven in. The modern minimalist design continues through her findings. The harmony and detail in these pieces make them very pleasing to wear.

Since Meisha has no web site (her studio and shop are in the Spanish Village Art Center in San Diego, CA), I’ve assembled a few pictures here. Her brothers are glass artists and they urged her to enter her work in the Niche competition which she and Loretta Lam won earlier this month. Have yourself a winning weekend.


Meisha Barbee

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ACC polymer artists

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 28, 2008 · 6 comments

Last week during Synergy I flew past the 700 booths in the Baltimore American Craft Council show with no time to photograph polymer clay work from more familiar artists like Louise Fischer Cozzi, Kathleen Dustin, Mary Filapek, Ford/Forlano, Karyn Kozak, Sue Fleischer, Karin Noyes.

It’s difficult to attend a conference, report and shop at the same time. I tried to stop only at artists you might not otherwise see.

Virginia’s Wiwat Kamolpornwijit and Wisconsin’s Susan Dyer allowed me to photograph a sampling of their work. You may not be familiar with them and Susan has no web site. Ponsawan Sila is a friend of Wiwat’s and assisted him in his booth.

There’s more coverage of the Synergy conference over at the fun blog, Art and Tea.

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Gathering Ideas

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 27, 2008 · 9 comments

Even though no one brought polymer clay to work on at Synergy, you could tell that participants were filling their heads with ideas.

These ping pong balls covered with polymer by Gloria Askin made me smile and shifted my brain into high gear. They’re super light.

Robert Dancik showed wire forms covered with pantyhose and made rigid with white glue. Yes, you can cover the pantyhose/wire/glue forms with polymer and bake them. His classes made your head reel with the possibilities.

The glowing neon colors and velvety texture in this necklace by California’s Cheryl Lois Walker made me reconsider using Ultralight clay as a base as she did. She packages her necklaces in a clear plastic box with a matching bead glued on the lid as a handle. Nice presentation.

The microwave clay from Eberhard Faber has me stumped and wondering. Could it be useful? Do I want to use it in my microwave?

Donna Kato has information about the reformulation of Kato Polyclay on her site plus a nice album of conference pictures.

It takes time to process ideas and figure out which ones fit with your style, your ideas, your voice.

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Tribal Trends – Kuskin and Dewey

by Cynthia Tinapple on February 26, 2008 · 8 comments

I’m digesting the ideas and information from the Synergy conference and may be rolling out new materials for weeks.

These new polymer clay earrings by Judy Kuskin were jaw-dropping (to use Ponsawan’s terms). By the time I got back to the gallery to buy some, she had sold out.

Don’t they remind you of the primitive ones by Philadelphia Perishables we looked at a few months back? There must be a tribal trend in the air.