Something significant changes when an artwork is set on a pedestal and encased beneath a clear polished museum vitrine. The necklace that was once casually worn to a party is now handled with gloves and tagged with new meaning.
That shift in significance is what we’re all pondering after the opening of the Terra Nova exhibit at the Racine Art Museum. The weekend exceeded all my expectations and you’ll see more as soon as I unpack and catch my breath.
In the meanwhile, you can order the lovely book here. I brought back this souvenir black tee with irridescent artwork for some lucky reader.
Register to win the limited edition Terra Nova t-shirt by leaving a comment below before midnight Tuesday.
Beverley Start ,
I can’t wait to see/hear more!!! Do tell…
Roberta ,
You are so lucky to have seen the show. I bought the catalog as soon as it came available and keep pouring over it. But it isn’t the same as seeing it in person is it? I feel like I missed Woodstock or something.
A tee shirt will have to suffice. Sigh.
Deborah M. ,
The next best thing to having an Elise Winters ruffle neckpiece!
Deborah Ross ,
How lucky for all of you to be there to witness this important event! I would love to win the t shirt.
Barbara Rabkin ,
Enjoying your daily posts down here in Panama. Always something to inspire, learn, share. Thank you!
Kim ,
The black tee reminds me of Elise Winters work. So awesome that polymer clay has an exhibit.
Lyn ,
Your words only tug at my heart harder! I can neither learn nor work with polymer fast enough. A t-shirt would probably help!
Pauli (P-Bijoux) ,
If only I could……sigh……it’s too far away. And imagine me getting up in the middle of the night, my husband asks: what are you doing? I answer: I have to make a transatlantic telephone call to order a book ;)!
Claire ,
What a fabulous event. I still remember with great pleasure the two events I was lucky enough to attend, years ago. Arrowmont in ’97 and Ravensdale in ’03. I’d love to win the shirt.
Amy Brown ,
I just ordered my book! An early birthday present to myself. Thanks for posting about the exhibit, I will have to plan a trip to drive the 6 hours to Racine from Grinnell, Iowa.
Julie ,
An exciting exhibit, I can’t wait to see more of your posts about your trip! Crossing my fingers I am lucky for the Tee.
Daniela \ Alkhymeia ,
I would like to be at the museum, but it’s a bit far from Italy 😉
Marlene Brady ,
What a gorgeous tee shirt! Thank you for the opportunity to enter the giveaway. Welcome back and can’t wait to see more of the museum!
Barb Fajardo ,
oh my! that shirt would look wonderful with my Elise Winters earrings! 🙂
Lenora ,
It is a spectacular exhibit. Since we weren’t able to stay for the symposium due to previous music-playing commitments, we went to the museum Friday afternoon before the crowds arrived for the opening reception. We spent two hours oohing and aahing over everything. Even though I had already seen a large body of the work on display over the years, there was something different about seeing it, as Cynthia so eloquently says, on a “pedestal” under a museum vitrine. This truly is a watershed moment for our medium. I think for me, one of the highlights was seeing Cynthia Toops micro-mosaics “in the flesh” – I had seen them in print and online, but none of the pictures prepared me for the real thing. This is not to single out one artist – it’s just that I had already seen much more work of the other artists in other places.
It was also a real pleasure to see many of the pioneers of polymer, some of whom are no longer working with it like Pier Voulkos, that I’ve been fortunate enough to know over my twenty years working with the medium. What a great event. Here’s to more boundary breakers and more recognition!
Nicki ,
What a lovely shirt and an amazing exhibit.
Hazel ,
How exciting to see this shift in the polyclay world – I too await more details eagerly 😀
Ann Shea-Smith ,
It is a very exciting time to be working in this medium! It seems like someone is discovering a new method or application on a daily basis, or maybe I get a new taste each day via Polymer Clay Daily. Thanks to all the pioneers and the new explorers that are making my journey exhilarating!
Clare Pramuk ,
Thanks for promoting this. I will definitely be getting the book and would love to have the tee as well.
Clare
Randee M Ketzel ,
Thank goodness Polymere is getting the grown up recognition it deserves, in great part due to the constant work that you and others have done to help insure its recognition.
Had a great time leafing through the shots and trying to identify the artists by what they were wearing–but probably most are wearing someone else’s work! (I know my new Stroppel girlfriend is getting lots of face time)—you will post some more captions, please?
Kimberly Arden ,
My head spins and my heart pounds for this very intoxicating time for polymer artists. I don’t simply feel it, I KNOW I have missed a great moment in the history of polymer. It is my history too, quitely and totally immersed in polymer everyday of my life.
There is a buzz in the air about this collection- you can feel itI I was very aware this entire weekend that the world was shifting. I have to remain content with the show catalog that I’ve ordered and get to RAM soon as possible.
Thank you to Elise Winters and everyone involved in making this happen.
Pat Laukkonen ,
What a great T! If I can’t own an Elise Winters necklace, this would be the next great thing!
Ellen Kocher ,
I’m so thrilled for everyone involved in this momentous event. I’m definitely there in spirit and can’t wait to see the book. Thanks Cynthia, for posting the photos. The t-shirt would make a fabulous finish to my outfit of new “Big Girl Polymer Pants” and some stunning co-ordinated polymer earrings 😉
lynn dunn ,
Wow. Those few pages of the book took my breath away. Amazing art with a truly amazing medium.
Michele Norine ,
Can’t wait to hear and see more ….I was thinking about the opening all weekend!! What a milestone in the history of polymer.
Marcia Simpson ,
I was so excited to see the pictures from the opening! I wish I could have afforded to go! It sent goose bumps, to see all my favorite teachers there being honored. Being a classroom teacher for so many years it is nice to see the pioneers of polymer get recognized. To think it was a retired teacher to make it all happen, thanks to Elise. I make going on polymer clay daily a treat to see what is going on in the world of polymer thanks Cynthia for always being there.
Lupe meter ,
How exciting! Can’t wait to see more! This is such an amazing medium and I am so glad that we have the Racine Art Museum to display it in. So glad it exceeded your expectations. Looking forward to hearing more about it!
Trina Williams ,
I don’t wear black but I would wear that! I have admired Elise’s work since I met her years ago at Ravensdale. And I had the pleasure of a two day class with her in San Diego. What a grand addition to our community-RAM!
Cate van Alphen ,
I remember going to a craft fair a few years BC (Before polymer Clay) and seeing some beautiful jewelery, but the artist said it was made using thermal something or other. In hindsight I believe it was polymer clay, but she didn’t want to advertise the fact. It would be amazing to be proud instead of slightly apologetic about it.
Karin ,
Wow, I would love to take a look…
jan Montarsi ,
I’m planning to go to see the exibit in June, Can’t wait !!!!
Mandy Houston ,
I am hoping to find the book under the Chrsitmas tree with my name on it. Seeing the exhibition in person is not an option right now but who knows, perhaps one day polymer clay will be displayed in all major art museums. We can only hope 🙂
Jenny Patterson ,
Wish I could have been there.
Helen Wilby ,
I wish I could get there – but its almost 3000 miles away – which google tells me will take over 29 days walking (and I need to be careful because not all the roads will have sidewalks!)…
….so I’m looking forward to hearing more about it here!!
Marlea ,
I’m so jealous! I’d love to see the exhibit, everything seems to be opening up for us pc’ers thanks to all of our great artists. The T-shirt is really pretty, too. I love how it looks like your wearing one of Elise’s necklaces.
Lela (Lee Ann) Armstrong ,
Sooo sorry to have missed the opening, but hope to drive up to Racine soon.
Robin Daurelle ,
One of the things that is not expressed with the show and should be at some point associated with the polymer clay community is their incredible willingness to share their work, their ideas. I have repeatedly related to people how often people who work in polymer will, if you compliment their work will give you a cane slice or will leave whatever they are working on at the moment to show you a technique you do not know or contribute work or supplies to the Bottles of Hope or Hearts for Heroes. I have been around artist whose work is in the various established mediums since childhood and yes with some individuals there is some of the same willingness to share but not on the same level and not as widespread as there is in the polymer clay community.
Carmen ,
I received my book last week. I’ve only had time to flip through the pages. What I have seen so far is wonderful. I look forward to more info on your trip. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Janice Sears ,
What an exciting time to be involved in the polymer clay community! So happy that this medium is finally getting some well deserved respect because of the untiring dedication and hard work of some of its pioneers. I would love to win the tee!
Varda levram-Ellisman ,
I wish I was there
Ellie Hitchcock ,
What a wonderful event!! And I hope in the days to come you are going to tell us more. Elise also got something going here in San Diego and on December 18th the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park is having a 6 month show of polymer clay works.
Zuda Gay Pease ,
This is so exciting! I would love to see this exhibit. The shirt is way cool! 🙂
Sharon ,
Thanks so much for sharing with us!! I know this exhibit must be fabulous!!
Colleen ,
What an exciting exhibit! Thank you so much for sharing. Isn’t it great to see ploymer clay getting real respect as a medium! The T shirt is a striking design as well.
Marty McGraw ,
What an exciting time! Thanks, Cynthia, for all you do.
Cat Albaugh ,
Oh how wonderful it must have been to see it all. Something I could only dream of doing. That tee shirt is gorgeous and would make a lovely addition to my wardrobe. I have very few dress or even casual dress clothes.
Paula Kennedy ,
I wish I could go to Racine and see all these fabulous creations in person.
Jan Mann ,
I’ve been playing with polymer clay since the early 90’s and it is so wonderful to see what huge advances have been made in this art medium. Hurrah, all!
Kanani Hamman ,
I always am impressed by what I see from Polymer Clay Daily, love to see my inbox with a new message! The Racine show must have been exponentionally better. I gotta get out more…..:)
Kathleen Holloway ,
The tee shirt is gorgeous ! ! ! I would love to win it. ! ! !