Polymer fish lips

Alaskans Karen Ottenbreit and Katie Way brought a northern exposure to Synergy. While I can’t find a proper link to Katie online, I did catch a few of Karen’s sea creatures in the gallery.

Her series of portal pins and pendants tickled me. Karen’s story of how a sassy girl from the south side of Chicago makes good in Eagle River, AK will make you understand why her fish laugh.

Synergized

If you’re following along, check out: Iris Mishly, Amy Crawley, Janice Barbanel and comments on the clay/no clay discussion from Chris Dembinski. “Not Your Child’s Fimo” was the title of the shout out from Lisa Bayne of Artful Home.

Milner’s shifting geometry

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.

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.”

Synthesizing Synergy2

Janet Pitcher's polymer and filigree necklace

It’s taken me a couple of days to process what I heard at Synergy and boil it down to bullets. These are my takeaway points:

We are emerging from the polymer ghetto and crossing over into broader participation in the art world
We are making closer alliances with important advocates – museums and academic institutions among them
Mash-ups of media are commonplace and these collaborations signal an acceptance of polymer
Media tools bring our art in front of a wide audience
Many artists are working in polymer which is raising the bar
Calling our art “polymer” and dropping “clay” is becoming the most favored description and avoids confusion with ceramics

I’ll try to elaborate on these themes and share some of the techniques presented in future posts. You can sense the participants’ energy and excitement in this album of snapshots that I’ve assembled.

Janet Pitcher wore her new polymer and filigree design shown here at one event and I didn’t want you to miss it.

Weekend treasury from Synergy

The last night festivities at Synergy and the trip home left me both exhilarated and exhausted. Here’s a treasury of snapshots to delight you while I sort through my pictures and wash some laundry. More debriefing tomorrow.

More treasure chests

A few more treasure snapshots of Synergy goers’ finery to keep you happy while I process what I’ve learned. Click on each image to identify the artist.

Recharging

Sophia Lenz’ polymer creature, found in the Synergy2 sales gallery with a bunch of his pals, is in the same robot mode that I’m in tonight.

It’s late and this hotel has terrific pillows that are calling me softly. I have plenty of pictures and lots of news but I’ve run out of steam and brain cells. Please check back later when I’ve recharged properly.

(Sophia popularized the lantern bead technique which she shared in a recent issue of Polymer Cafe.)

Strutting at Synergy

These were just a few of the glorious polymer gems at the Synergy2 opening night gala. Participants took the “Strut Your Stuff” theme seriously and the room was full of finery. A couple of the names are missing and I had no time for research but I wanted you to get a sense of how elegant polymer can be.

Polymer clay circus beads

Kate Clawson (OrganicOdysseys) with her polymer Carnival Necklace and Lynda Moseley with her Big Top transfer beads show life as a circus.

The two artists were responding to the ArtBeadScene’s February challenge to capture the Vestie Davis’ painting of Luna Park in beads. They both tell the stories of their creations and share their process on their blogs.

This monthly challenge reminds me of Maureen Carlson’s story beads. What a great exercise.

The busy bright interpretations of the painting fit right in with my overscheduled day. I’m off to Baltimore.

Lynda’s Flickr page of image transfers from vintage fabrics is mouthwatering.

Falkenhagen snags polymer

Falkenhagen's man in red turban polymer/gold brooch

Pictures, often transfers on polymer clay, form the central visual elements of Diane Falkenhagen’s fabricated fine jewelry. She invents images or borrows them from historial sources.

This Man in a Red Turban and her IO brooch looked elegant and mysterious and caught my attention on her Crafthaus page luring me to examine the rest of her portfolio.

“The artistic freedom associated with less-expensive, non-conventional materials leads to an uninhibited spirit of exploration, a broader expressive vocabulary and greater artistic risk-taking,” says Falkenhagen.

She is co-chairing the 2010 SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) conference in March whose theme is Going to eXtremes. Nice to know that polymer is part of that.

Winning streak

2010 Niche Award Winners in Polymer Clay

With four 2010 Niche Awards to polymer clay artists just announced, we continue our winning streak. Here’s the list of finalists and here are the winners including Jeff Dever (2), Melanie West and Sandra McCaw. The Niche site has been updated with some lovely larger photos. Thanks to Loretta Lam for alerting us to the announcement.

And as long as we’re tooting our horn. Did you see the polymer/metal clay work of Pat Bolgar on the cover of the most recent issue of Metal Clay Artist magazine? Her mixed media pin looks like spring.

Virtual Conference

The flurry of tests and silly pictures over the weekend was my attempt to get myself outfitted for the start of the conference on Wednesday. Can’t go the Synergy2 conference? Here’s the list of attendees. Join me and Libby Mills on the Crafthaus blog for your virtual version.

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