these have been missing from the etsy shop for a while now, but they’re back and even better!  -now featuring 14kt gold rivets.  the reversible scallops necklace.

it’s been a crazy few days here!  we moved our studio and home office five miles up the road.  getting back into the swing of things has not been easy.  you know the usual stuff- internet breaking constantly, printers refusing to work, forgetting lunch at home. . .i am so happy to be here and can already feel my creative juices flowing.  and a plus?  at five o’clock, when i close the doors of the studio- i get to go HOME and take care of home-things that i was so good at neglecting before.

it’s a dark day today, but here are some shots of the semi-empty studio.  the transition will be sllooowww. (look at that totally blank bulletin board above the shipping counter!!).

i can’t believe i’m actually here. . .

i hope to see you all at april’s thesis exhibition this thursday! congratulations april!!

A Consuming Desire

Towson University - Center for the Arts
Holtzman MFA Gallery

Friday, March 14 – Saturday, April 12
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 13, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

you might want to brew a cup of coffee before you sit down for this one . . .

Please bear with me now as I try to work through my thoughts. Firstly, to understand what I’m about to delve into and why I’m feeling a bit angst-ridden at the moment, i have to spill the beans and let you in on my “semi-secret” mentioned in a previous post:

Weeks ago, when I decided to attend the SNAG conference, I submitted a story pitch to Etsy’s Storque. The PRIMARY reason for my interest in the conference this year was in one single lecture: Bruce Metcalf and Andrew Wagner’s presentation entitled, “D.I.Y, Websites, and Energy: The New Alternative Craft”. I was so excited to hear what these highly-regarded individuals had to say about what I do, what WE, my peers and I, do. Furthermore, I couldn’t wait to bring back information to share with the Etsy community. After all, wouldn’t you agree that Etsy currently stands as the largest force in “D.I.Y, Websites, and Energy: The New Alternative Craft”? The folks at the Storque agreed to let me write a short and sweet article about my SNAG experience to include a few quotes from the lecture, “D.I.Y., Websites and Energy: the New Alternative Craft”, which I attended during my last day in Savannah.

Here begins my turmoil. It turns out that SNAG wasn’t EXACTLY what i thought it would be. What if, actually, Bruce Metcalf’s quotes read something like this:

on vendors at the 2007 Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn:

“. . . untrained. of the vendors that I spoke to at the fair, only two held B.F.As”

on the field of alt craft:

“I do not believe that there are self employed crafters”

“the average level of craftsmanship is low”

“many of my colleagues find the work to be dreadful”

Metcalf also spoke spoke of unprofessional displays, kitsch, a general lackadaisical approach and at one point even used the words “dry, airless, and boring”. my apologies, at this point, i was shaking in my seat from anger and was unable to jot down his exact words.

In Metacalf’s defense, he did speak positively of alt craft’s sense of community and political consciousness. But a general negative and almost mocking attitude continued throughout Metcalf’s talk. My blood boiled. I was horrified. Metcalf, a well-respected writer and TEACHER in the field of metalsmithing, stood before a SEA of people and summarized the alternative craft movement with complete ill-researched inaccuracies.

Had he done any research aside from his stroll through ONE craft show or a quick gander on Etsy? He must not have spoken to me, the ladies of Art Star, Something’s Hiding in Here, Figs and Ginger, Twigs and Heather, Megan Auman, Red Prairie Press, . . . i could make a very very VERY long list of alternative craft participants who hold b.f.a’s. or m.f.a’s and/or people who craft full time.

Furthermore and of MORE GRAVE CONCERN, what exactly is Metcalf implying here? that unless work is born out of b.f.a/m.f.a. hands that it cannot be valid? This ivory-tower mentality is exactly what creates an unnecessary divide and alienation between me, the new alternative craft to THEM (old alternative crafters?).

There I was. Sitting in this conference room with a broken heart. Bruce Metcalf is an elder in my field of choice - jewelry and metalsmithing. Here is an influential role model (and did I mention teacher?) dismissing and insulting my very joyous and successful livelihood.

But wait. There is a happy ending. Next up to present is Andrew Wagner, who we all know is the editor-in-chief of American Craft Magazine. I knew immediately that Wagner would be an alternative craft advocate when he opened his presentation with a video clip of Bad Brains live at CBGB in 1979 and then a still of Bad Brains was splashed across the screen reading “PUNX NOT DEAD!” In Wagner’s words, “punk rock is to music what alt craft is to established craft”.

Wagner spoke of the success of Etsy , the founders’ and members’ openness to learn about established craft, and the vibrant community of alt craft. More importantly, Wagner emphasized the need to develop a bridge between the ever-relevant alt craft word and established craft world through communication and support.

I am not yet sure what I will do about my Storque article. Perhaps I will withdraw it. Quite frankly, now I have no interest in playing advocate for SNAG. Perhaps in the future, SNAG organizers could show respect for us new alternative crafters by actually inviting an active participant to speak on the topic.

I have come to this conclusion: I am so proud of the work of us young “alternative crafters”. I feel so blessed to be a part of this supportive, open and ALIVE community. I am most proud to know that the generations of crafters to follow us will always be welcome. the most inspiring work that I saw at SNAG was that of students- thank you students, for always teaching and inspiring me!

I also want to thank all the folks at met at SNAG who are advocates of the “new alternative craft”:

Megan Auman (okay, I didn’t meet her there, we are friends!) who gave a presentation entitled “Navigating Web 2.0″)

Amy Tavern who spoke about indie shops and events

Arthur Hash

Marthe le Van

Heidi Lowe

Harriete Estel Berman

and

Gabriel Craig

fin

xoxo

i hope you will leave a comment with thoughts on either your SNAG experience or the post. i am eager to hear!

Thank you so much, as always, for listening.

it’s so good to be back.

i’m leaving the conference a day early to prepare for my studio move happening next week.  it’s been an exhausting few days of lectures, debates (interpersonal and intrapersonal), and visual overload- now it’s time to digest.  please check back in a few days for more information on my SNAG experience- i have a semi-surprise!

as i am recuperating from nonstop activity, my friends are attending the working class studio trunk show.  lucky ducks, aren’t they?  we all had the great opportunity to visit the studio yesterday and receive a brief tour from jessica pope, the sales and marketing manager at working class studio.  thanks jessica!

now i’m off to go on a gallery hop.  already stopped by this one at the whitney gallery:

more pictures to be uploaded to flickr when i get home!

i made it! i’m here! the weather is gorgeous- i even rented myself a convertible to better enjoy the sunshine.

i’ll tell you all about today’s presentation when i get back. i’ll just say that i feel so inspired and happy to be here. i just wanted to pop in and share this with you- i picked up this delicious postcard today.

by artist lauren kalman

mission of the night: find a tv with the bravo channel for the PROJECT RUNWAY FINALE!

i’m signing off for now to do some last minute packing for my much-anticipated trip to savannah where i will be attending the snag conference.

all imogene boutique and etsy shop orders will ship upon my return. steve, being the darling that he is, will handle all vintage bead boutique orders while i’m away.

xoxo!

work travel essentials: dark chocolate with espresso beans, jill bliss notebook, laptop

i drink more than my fair share of coffees and lattes. in my lifetime, i have probably used hundreds of those cardboard cup sleeves that protect your hands from the heat of the yummy beverage. VERY BAD ME! i’ve seen knit cozies, but they are just not my cup of tea (HA!). then today i spotted these on the front page of etsy! by cupkozy, these good lookin’ sleeves even have a little clip and elastic band so that you can roll it up and attach it to your key chain! so brilliant. goodbye cardboard sleeve! for those days when you forget your reusable thermos, of course!

the price of silver and gold has skyrocketed in the past few months. this is the less glamourous side of being an artist and craftsperson. i have to think about market price when purchasing and refining silver and pricing work. sigh. only two months ago the price of silver was about $15 per oz. today it is over $20. (and when i was in school - less than $9 an oz.!!!) had to share.

january 1, 2008- march 3, 2008 trend

though i’ve neglected the gloves for a few days, i was able to knit last night while watching a dvd and sipping some hot chocolate.  here’s what i have so far:

it’s quite warm out today, which probably means that by the time i finish these gloves, i’ll have to store them away for next winter!  perhaps i’ll knit the matching beret when i’m done- that way i’ll have a complete set when the cold returns

currently on repeat in the studio:

so so good.  the kinks, belle and sebastian, and kimya dawson on one soundtrack? awesome.  i saw this in the theatre twice and could go for a third viewing too!

that’s right ladies and gents!!! announcing the SECOND annual Pile of Craft!  to take place on June 21st.  for more info click here. to go directly to the application click here.  and if you’re feeling nostalgic, like me, check out the photo pool from the 2007 show here.

it seems as though i’ve been taking to the skies often these days.  on wednesday i’m boarding a plane and heading to SAVANNAH!!!  i could not be more excited about this.  how many of you relate to this:  you read midnight in the garden of good and evil years ago and ever since then you’ve wanted to take a stroll through bonaventure cemetery.  i’m actually going to get to do this!

alright, the PRIMARY purpose of my trip is not to roam the cemetaries of savannah.  rather, i will be attending the Society of North American Goldsmith’s conference.  reports to come!  in the meantime, please let me know if you have any savannah tips and suggestions.

(coincidentally, this month’s domino magazine included a two page spread on savannah destinations, some of which i’ll be sure to visit)

i must go find my book to squeeze in a re-reading.  . .