Milner’s shifting geometry

Kylee Milner's autumn disk necklace

Need more Synergy? Try Heather Campbell’s site, Libby Mills’ or Julie Eakes‘ blogs and Kelly Russell’s site. Maureen Carlson commented yesterday and brought up issues to think about in the polymer versus polymer clay debate. Leave your thoughts and I’ll try to pick up the thread soon.

I’m going to let the topic rest for a few days as I pack for a month-long trip out west and prepare to take this show on the road.

winters_ifil_beads

The necklace at the left from France’s Kylee Milner (Bijoux and Banter) popped up as I was catching up on research. Polymer disks bump up against one another to form a shifting geometry amid the play of autumn reds.

This just in…

Elise Winters writes that while her jewelry’s debut on the fashion runways was exciting, it was, “…nowhere near as thrilling as seeing Gwen Ifill wearing my teal lattice rope necklace on the PBS news hour tonight.”

  • reply Kylee - Lunes ,

    Thank you for taking the time to feature my work. I am over the moon!
    Cynthia, you have made my day…..have a wonderful trip out west.
    Kylee

    • reply myra katz ,

      My vote is for….”I am an artist and this is my work”.

      • reply Kelly Russell ,

        Thanks Cynthia, for including me in the list…I was just trying to let me friends know I hadn’t deserted them and wanted to include them in the fun….It was nice getting to know you a bit better and I was honored that you included my work in your seminar. So, Thank You on a lot of levels. Kelly

        • reply slenz ,

          Polymer clay vs ceramic clay. During SynergyII, it was a bit dramatic as well as funny when Seth Savarick decided to cross the word clay off of his tee shirt that printed “Got Clay?” Maureen Carlson was the reason that I decided to purchase my first block of sculpey and gave it a try in 1997. A year later, I veered off into ceramics and picked up with polymer clay again late 2007. The two very distinct medium are my current passion. It doesn’t matter to me if polymer clay should be referred to as just “polymer” and ceramics remained “clay”. How well they each lend to our creative process and voice matters most. One has no precedence over the other because in a successful marriage, it doesn’t matter which spouse was born first, it is only magical when one completes the other.

          On another note, thank you for your wonderful posting, I was foremost humbled and honored. It was a great moment when I met you.
          Sophia Lenz

          • reply Jeannie ,

            Thank you for all the wonderful links. These women are super talented.

            • reply Debbie G ,

              Hooray for Elise! And I’d agree with her… seeing my artistic work worn as an everyday accoutrement, particularly on a ‘personality’ (insert any celebrity status you want here) would have me over the moon.

              • reply Polymer Clay Daily – thanks! « Bijoux & Banter ,

                […] by Cynthia Tinapple on March 3, 2010 · 1 comment […]

                • reply Carol Simmons ,

                  “Polymer” is simply a word that describes the chemical structure of tens of thousands of materials in our world – natural and synthetic. Scientists, engineers, etc, would use the term “A polymer” to describe anything from amber, shellac and natural rubber to bakelite, nylon, polypropaline, PVC, and neoprine. The word “clay” provides useful information about the properties of our medium. It belongs in a category with paper clay, cork clay, modelling clay (plasticine), metal clay, and yes, “earthen” or “mineral” clay. As more and more high quality art is created with polymer clay the name will lose its negative connotations.

                  • reply judy summer ,

                    i would never call my work just ‘polymer’..it makes people think of the plumbing, plastic janges, and industrial parts, not to mention chemicals. having sold my horse sculpture at many, many art festivals and contemporary galleries, i have found that when you say “polymer clay”, there is often a pause and a place to begin a conversation about what it is, why i use it, and how i do my work. i also talk about about polymer art as a community, and about artists who are courageous enough to use a non traditional medium as a means of expression. i am old enough to remember when acrylic paint came into the art scene. now it is a norm, and few ask what or why, noticing the work instead. i have sculpted in bronze [lost wax] fine metals, sheet metal and wet clay..i have chosen polymer clay for the many reasons that we all love it, and i dont feel that i have to , or want to apologize in any way.

                    • reply Cynthia Becker ,

                      Being a PHS News Hour junkie, I remember seeing Gwen Ifill wearing that suit and jewelry. I’m delighted to know it was Elise’s work. Too bad the credits don’t include “Ms. Ifill’s wardrobe by ___ and jewlery by _____!

                      • reply slenz ,

                        Judy Summer made a great point. The curiosity towards the medium has been of a positive and beneficial nature in my experience. Most people recognize ceramics at once by sometimes knocking at the material. Polymer clay has been a conversation starter for me, explaining its existence and potential while trying to learn about the customer’s interest for entering the booth and taking a closer look at the work.

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