Ring a Day Challenge

Starting March 1st, 2010 I will be participating in the Ring a Day Challenge presented by a member of crafthaus.  The challenge requires that participants create a ring a day for an entire year.  I've committed to participating in the challenge for the month of March.  I will be posting images as frequently as possible to the Ring a Day page here on Metal Musing as well as posting weekly updates to the main blog stream.  Images can also be viewed on Flickr in the Ring a Day group where you can view pieces by the other artists participating in the challenge. Where else would you find a ring made from string cheese and ritz crackers, a portable sun dial ring, a ring formed from a candle, and one formed from sterling silver, brass and pearls all in one group?


becksbecks90

 

 leftwingofthecrow



MetalRiot



Danielle Miller Jewelry

So Why am I taking this challenge?  Anyone who knows me knows I have trouble with motivating myself to start working and to work on a regular basis.  With the new studio almost finished (hoping it will be ready for next week), I thought this would be a great project to get me really excited and motivated about using the space.  Although I wont be able to work in the studio every day (Thursday and Friday I have back to back employment commitments), the participants are encouraged to step out side their comfort zones and work with alternative materials, so I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something quick and hopefully interesting on my lunch breaks.

This challenge presents a great opportunity to work on my motivational techniques, follow through, imagination, and ability to push the boundaries of my work.  Who knows, if all goes well I might sign on for an entire year.  What a wonderfully disjointed group of rings 365 days would yield....

Hunter Plaid Gallery

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of visiting the Hunter Plaid Gallery and studios at its new location in the Sunny Brae Shopping Center just outside of Arcata, CA. What a great space they've landed for themselves! With a small gallery space in front, and work by several other artists in the collective up for viewing in the studio space, one could spend hours milling about.  There really is nothing like seeing an artists working space to get an understanding of the process they employ in their craft.  With work ranging from jewelry, to sculpture, to oil painting, to photography, Hunter Plaid has something for everyone. Not only do they provide an opportunity for the public to experience the the work and working methods of some very talented studio artists in Humboldt County, they also provide practice space and a venue for several local bands including: Ashes, Plush Fuzz, the Littlestillnotbigenough, and Dragged by Horses. Open on the second Friday of every month for Arts! Arcata, The Hunter Plaid Gallery is not to be missed. 

*Work by the artist of the Hunter Plaid Collective can also be viewed at Wildflower Cafe and Bakery in Arcata.  The work changes monthly for Arts! Arcata.

Back into the swing of things

...several months later... Two new jobs (tutor by day and pizza slinger by night) take up a great deal of my time. Luckily with my hands in much better shape and my jewelry cohort Erin House urging me forward, I've found a bit of time to re-organize my studio space, update my inventory, catch up on book keeping, and sketch sketch sketch.

Several new hollow-form pieces focusing on form and repetition are in the works. And that great gal Erin has opened her studio space in Old Town to myself and fellow metalsmith Lia Sharp for Eureka's monthly cultural event Arts Alive! You will find us set up in the artist studios of the Buhne Building (above The Art Center) on the first Saturday of every month!

Don't quote me on this but plans may also be in the works for forming a jewelry guild!?!? As the days of college deadlines are farther and farther behind us, we've found it increasingly difficult to stay on track. Thus, a regular meeting of the minds where we might share ideas, critiques, tips, and inspirations seems to be just what we need. A steady dose of commitment and organization may also be in order.

As if all these exciting happenings are not enough, I've just learned that my studio space may be tripling in size as my sweet husband has relinquished our office/gaming space for my artistic needs... what a great guy! Stay tuned for more updates which I hope will include: organizational ideas from my new studio space, photos of the new pieces I've been working on, minutes from the jewelry guild meetings ?!?!?, and a step by step accounting of the cuff-links I made my brother for his law school graduation last summer(I guess I was a little too excited about them/for him as I gave them to him without photographing the finished product!)