Accepted in a Gallery(long)

Congrats, Kathy! ;)

This is wonderful news.

I really like your artist's statement. And what the heck do you mean you aren't an artist!

Interesting about other displays being distracting. I would have thought lentils and drift wood would be neutral enough. On the other hand I've seen sea shore themes (or other themes) that are very plain colored, etc, but still makes the picture too busy.

I'd prefer leather to velvet, mostly just because the edges can just be cut and don't need to be finished. I also like the texture of leather. On the other hand, other parts of the country don't find leather to be politically acceptable.

Tina

To apply, I had to do an artist statement. This was weird. I never said I was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Here is what I did for that:

"" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me. This is where she kept everything from huge gaudy rhinestone buttons to little black plastic buttons. I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.

Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard. My treasure chest has beads of every color of the rainbow. They come from all over the world. Most have a rich tradition and history behind them. In creating one of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia. The elements complement each other and become a whole.

I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me and then build the rest of the piece around that first element. I use a variety of colors and textures. Sometimes the effect is a piece that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel. I don't confine myself to one style. I prefer instead to pursue the endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

I have been making jewelry for 6 years. Before that I worked with textiles and wood fired clay forms. I have work in the Seaweed Gallery, Sanibel Island, Florida and in Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.

Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.

I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest materials and made to last. """

I set up my case the end of this week. It's $60 per month but then all the profit is mine. The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one parallel side to the other. I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at different levels using shapes under it. Some people have beans and drift wood, etc. Their displays are almost too distracting. I want the focus to be on the jewelry. If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire away. I am open to suggestions.

Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile. Had to play catch up.

Beadingly yours,

KathyH

Congratulations! And I love your 'artist's statement', even if you feel odd calling yourself an artist. To my mind, artists aren't 'above' ordinary life, they are in the midst of it, and help us see the beauty in it.

Deirdre

gallery is an Artist Co-op. It is gorgeous. All work in the gallery must be juried in.

The thing is that I am not trying to reinvent anything. I try to make well balanced, eye pleasing, classy pieces using good materials and craftsmanship. Because of whatever talent I have, my pieces seem to end up looking a little "special". I think this is because I am really picky and won't finish something until I think it looks "right". At art shows, people tell me my work has a special something to it. We haven't defined what that is!!!! Being inventive is not my goal. I guess that all in all the jury must have seen something they wanted or I would have been turned away.

an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me. This is where she kept everything from huge gaudy rhinestone buttons to little black plastic buttons. I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.

beads of every color of the rainbow. They come from all over the world. Most have a rich tradition and history behind them. In creating one of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia. The elements complement each other and become a whole.

and then build the rest of the piece around that first element. I use a variety of colors and textures. Sometimes the effect is a piece that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel. I don't confine myself to one style. I prefer instead to pursue the endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

and wood fired clay forms. I have work in the Seaweed Gallery, Sanibel Island, Florida and in Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.

stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant.

materials and made to last. """

profit is mine. The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one parallel side to the other. I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at different levels using shapes under it. Some people have beans and drift wood, etc. Their displays are almost too distracting. I want the focus to be on the jewelry. If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire away. I am open to suggestions.

How about ultra-suede? Same advantages, and animal-friendly.

Deirdre

don't need to be finished. I also like the texture of leather. On the other hand, other parts of the country don't find leather to be politically acceptable.

Congratulations!

Please let us know how things go with the Artist co-op.

Since visiting some really nice ones in Charlottesville, I keep thinking what a great idea that can be if done correctly. (I really think those places that look like abadoned warehouses with rows of seperate little wooden stalls for each crafter usually look pretty unprofessional and don't appear to be a very favorable way to set things up, especially when compaired to the small co-op stores layed out like a gallery or high-end gift-store).

marisa2

Kathy:

Congrats to you! As a new gallery co-op members, you are probably also a co-owner of the gallery, if it is set up the same as my gallery in Chicago. You should send a note out to your mailing list telling them that they can see your newest work year-round at the gallery! Also, if you ever have to remove your work for a show, remember to set out a sign saying when everything will be back!

The whole "artist statement" thing drives me crazy, too. You are, however, a REAL artist, since you spend time thinking about layout, design and color theory. You did a really nice job of the bio, though.

I usually take the easy route and send in my resume (or my biography, which in effect is just my resume). Since I teach beading and lampwork at colleges and art centers around the country, I seem to get requests for it a lot. Keep yours on hand; you'll need it again some day.

Regards, Hannah

Congratulations Kathy!

Congrats Kathy!!!!!

To apply, I had to do an artist statement. This was weird. I never said I was an artist, and now here I am having to state I am!

Here is what I did for that:

"" "When I was a little girl, I spent hours playing with the buttons in my Mother's button tin: a treasure chest to me. This is where she kept everything from huge gaudy rhinestone buttons to little black plastic buttons. I loved to sort them by color, by size, by how "fancy" they were.

Now I have my own treasure chest: my bead cupboard. My treasure chest has beads of every color of the rainbow. They come from all over the world. Most have a rich tradition and history behind them. In creating one of my pieces, I may incorporate lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Bali and glass from Czechoslovakia. The elements complement each other and become a whole.

I begin a piece by selecting a single bead that attracts and inspires me and then build the rest of the piece around that first element. I use a variety of colors and textures. Sometimes the effect is a piece that has a tribal artifact look; other pieces have a decidedly modern feel. I don't confine myself to one style. I prefer instead to pursue the endless possibilities that the beads offer me.

I have been making jewelry for 6 years. Before that I worked with textiles and wood fired clay forms. I have work in the Seaweed Gallery, Sanibel Island, Florida and in Gwendolyn's, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Both Galleries have done exceptionally well with my work.

Clients tell me I have a good eye for color and design and that my work stands apart from the work of others. My work is simple, and elegant. I am committed to creating work that is beautiful, made of the finest materials and made to last. """

I set up my case the end of this week. It's $60 per month but then all the profit is mine. The case is a hexagon and is 10" high and 40" from one parallel side to the other. I'm thinking of buying a fawn colored velvet fabric for the base and then just adding interest by arranging the fabric at different levels using shapes under it. Some people have beans and drift wood, etc. Their displays are almost too distracting. I want the focus to be on the jewelry. If any of you have any ideas about this setup, fire away. I am open to suggestions.

Sorry this was so long! I haven't taken time to write for awhile. Had to play catch up.

Beadingly yours, KathyH

gallery is an Artist Co-op. It is gorgeous. All work in the gallery must be juried in.

Congrats! You have every right to be proud of yourself and I'm glad you acknowledge that. Too often, we feel "lucky"or "honored" when, in fact, we worked hard, nurtured our talent, and deserve what came to us.

Keep us posted on how things go. Your display idea sounds very elegant. Perhaps adding a few pieces of velvet in a darker shade if you feel as though you need more variety?

Jewitch