Polymer Clay Daily

Muronaka explains the polymer snowball

Cassy Muronaka’s post about her treasures from the recent Grove and Grove sale grabbed me in the first sentence, “Polymer clay was a snowball that really began rolling down the hill in the early 1990s, picking up very fine artists along the way.”

Cassy describes the Grove’s step-blend process and tells why it remains important. She shares pictures of the face canes that were their trademark and says that, “After spending a couple of weeks mooning over these exquisite Grove and Grove face canes, I may have to take another crack at it.”

Monday is a good day to mull over her thought that, “I find it ironic that after all these years, I am getting starting to get new ideas from some of the very old things they produced.” Here are some more pictures from their sale.

Apfelbaum’s cachet

Polly Apfelbaum creates hybrid works that exist in an ambivalent space between painting, sculpture, and installation. For her latest show in New York she fashions small, smooth, brightly patterned panels she calls Feelies from unbaked polymer.

Studiowork showcases an improvisational studio practice and engages an exchange about the dimensionality of clay and its potential for abstraction.

Considered one of the most original artists working today, Apfelbaum pushes painting past its traditional forms, off the wall, and into pop culture. Her work is in the collections of many major museurms. Often arranged on the floor, Apfelbaum’s forms are usually comprised of intricate, nearly psychedelic layers of dyed fabric.

A New York Times review says of this exhibit, “There is a cuteness factor here, but it is quickly overruled by the blazing colors, assorted stripes, dots, checks, swirls and grids and abstract intelligence evident in the 200-plus examples.”

Steven Ford, who sent us the link says he’s followed Apfelbaum for years and admits that, “The work in this current exhibit is crude by most polymer clay artists’ standards but it’s fun to see what she finds consistent with her other work.” The polymer community has worked toward being considered a serious art medium and Apfelbaum’s exhibit may be one more step toward the cachet we’ve been seeking. The show runs through August 13.

Technology and polymer

Several readers have recommended the polymer Jiggly Wiggly Robots by Florida’s M. Held who is an illustrator as well. I’m tickled that she converts her robots into fabric at Spoonflower and creates illustrations for stock image sites. She also offers a clever tip for reducing fingerprints on polymer. (Christie Wright and others sent the link along.)

And as long as we’re talking clever technology, take a look at Betsy Baker’s online Lookbook. It’s a catalog of her latest work that she uploaded free through Issuu.com. Read how she did it here. Nice marketing!

Bangle bender

Bangles are everywhere! Corliss Rose (2RosesJewelry) recently stitched up a fabulous polymer patchwork bracelet. She took the quiltmaking that she learned from her grandmother and brought it to polymer. The Roses experiment with all kinds of materials and it’s great when polymer pops up in their work.

The Roses studio led me to Lauren Abrams brass-based bangle covered with polymer that’s been deliciously striped with alcohol inks.

Lauren led me to the source of this bangle craze, Melanie West. I watched Melanie make one of her lovely biobangles this year and it’s been on my mind ever since.

She’s developed great new techniques and I had no idea that I could refresh my memory with an inexpensive online tutorial. (The brass bangle tutorial is not currently listed but I’m guessing Melanie will put it back up.) Off to the studio!

Garden inspiration from Vee

Veruschka Stevens' bounty necklace from polymer clay

Veruschka Stevens was moved to created this wearable polymer garden after watching Michele Obama on tv gardening and surrounded by children.

“This necklace is very much inspired by the gorgeous garden in the White House and the wonderful health and joy that a garden – no matter how small or large – can bring into everyone’s heart, mind and body,” she explained. Here’s a collage of her inspiration and her results.

Gourley’s Core Sample exhibit

Gorley's polymer core samples

Next Thursday marks the opening of Rachel Gourley’s Core Sample show at the Craft Council of BC in Vancouver. Her colorful collection of self-supporting hollow polymer tubes stand 30″ tall looking like modern totems.

Rachel’s first explorations for this exhibit began when she developed back problems. Awaiting treatment, she would intently study the diagrams of the human spine in the offices of doctors and physiotherapists. Since then Rachel says, “I have thought a lot about the spinal column and how the body supports itself.”

Initially she titled the exhibition Vertical Vertebrae but she realized that the scope of her work had expanded beyond the human spinal column. She found herself investigating the structural core of organic forms and began to see parallels between spines, trees and columns in their ability to support a larger mass.

You can see more of Rachel’s exploration with natural forms in earlier PCDaily posts here and here. The show runs through September 5.

Giveaway winner and your suggestions

Jan Montarsi was the winner of the Friday book giveaway. Thanks to Jan and the more than 500 of you who took time to fill out the survey I can more accurately read the pulse of the PCD community. The number of responses bowled me over and your enthusiasm was a hoot. Thanks for all the suggestions and the compliments. You’ve helped greatly.

Charuau’s polymer galaxy

Céline Charuau’s new polymer “Beetles” cabochons with oxidized silver settings have a cross-century Mad Max look inspired by the work of jeweler Joanna Gollberg.

It’s refreshing when artists name their sources and even better when one medium affects another and moves it in a new direction.

Celine combines organic forms with metal in unusual ways. This year she seems to have moved from wire wrapping and stitching to prongs and bezels. Her polymer gems look like objects from another galaxy. Have a stellar weekend!

Survey/Book Giveaway

It’s your last chance to fill out the PCD survey. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response and your feedback is terrific. Thanks so much. The giveaway drawing winner (of Sherri Haab’s new metal clay book/DVD) will be announced on Monday.

Gone Fishing

SandrART’s Croatian summertime polymer playthings remind us what fun in the studio is all about. Forget serious and studied. Let your fingers do the walking and play.

Her bright colored fish on strings are simple and childlike. Her graduated band of layered polymer winds around to create an aerodynamic sealife pendant.

SandrART’s site is full of experiments that show a joyful approach to clay that we sometimes forget. Go fish!

Summer reading – Ford and Forlano

Ford and Forlano (Dave and Steve) slipped off my radar and when I went back to check their site, I felt like I’d taken a quick dip in the pool on a hot day. Their work instantly refreshes.

In recent work they’ve created an homage to Georgia O’Keeffe, toyed with Alexander Calder ideas, and been surprised by the popularity and wearability of their big pieces that they thought were only for museum display cases.

Even Ford/Forlano get rejected (gasp). You may be surprised at how they responded when a show they’d been in for years passed them over. Good summer reading here.

Feichtinger blends in

Fleichtinger's polymer brooch in graduated colors

Austria’s Carina Feichtinger knows her way around a Skinner blend. With a few beautiful gradations in polymer and a some clay cutters, she layers simple shapes onto brooches and pendants. The subtle shadings and a few metal clay embellishments give the pieces extra dimension.

Fleichtinger's pendant in Skinner Blended polymer

As a bonus, you’ll see a photo of the Austrian and German guild gang on Carina’s Flickr site. They gathered for a Christine Dumont workshop recently.

Survey Results

Your answers to the PCD survey have been very helpful in figuring out how to keep the site lively and on target. We’ll gather your answers Friday night and pick another giveaway winner. Keep ’em coming!