Book Club Challenge: "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons

Hyperion, by Dan Simmons, is one of my all time favorite sci-fi reads. When it was chosen as the most recent book for the Etsy Metal book club I was super excited to read it for the second time. I went back and forth about the piece for a long time and actually ended up reading all four books in the series again before I finally decided.

Hyperion is filled with mystery from the Prologue all the way through, and for me the most intriguing part was the juxtaposition of Christianity and the Church of Final Atonement. Both are fringe religions at the start of Hyperion and both are presented as equally preposterous, the first being outdated product of an antiquated society and the second focused around "The Lord of Pain", better known as the Shrike, and viewed by the general population as a barbarous cult that sends it's pilgrims to certain doom.

Atonement Brooch: Sterling Silver, Copper, Garnet

Hyperion recalls the tales of the seven pilgrims of the final Shrike Pilgrimage. Each tale tells of the connection the pilgrim has with the Shrike and the planet Hyperion. The Shrike is first mentioned in the Prologue as the Consul remembers "screams in the night and the hundred-faceted, ruby blood gaze of the Shrike itself". As the pilgrims tell their tales a clearer picture of the form and brutality of the Shrike slowly develops with "metal blades protruding from [it's] forehead, four wrists, oddly jointed elbows, knees, armored back and thorax." The reader is never presented with a clear explanation or solid connection between the events that have unfolded in the pilgrims lives and the motivations or intentions of this creature, this "Lord of Pain".

When Sol Weintrob takes his child, who suffers from an illness that has her aging backward, to the priests of the Church of Final Atonement and asks for guidance in having her be "made well" the bishop states that Sol is speaking of physical well being and that "[The Church of Final Atonement] is the final arbiter of spiritual salvation".

Atonement Brooch: Sterling Silver, Copper, Garnet

What is the Shrike? Should we fear it or revere it? Either way, I hope my piece does the Shrike a bit of justice. For a look at what the other Etsy Metal book club members came up with please follow the Etsy Metal Blog or Become Friends with Etsy Metal on Facebook. The book club post will be up next week! 

It's all about the process: Etsy Metal Charm Swap 8

So excited that I was lucky enough to sign up for Etsy Metal's 8th charm swap! What's a charm swap? The best thing ever! 20 Etsy Metal members sign up to make 22 charms each. One complete charm bracelet is sold through the Etsy Metal shop with part of the proceeds going to a youth organization, one of each of the charms goes into the shop as well, and each participant gets a fabulously wonderful charm bracelet. For a look at some of the previous charm swaps go to the Etsy Metal Blog and search for "Charm Swap". While you're there make sure to follow the blog, sign up for the news letter, or make friends with Etsy Metal on Facebook for Charm Swap 8 updates and tons of other cool info.

I decided to fashion my charms after some rings I made early this year for Ring a Week (I know, I know, totally dropped the ball on that one). I really enjoyed using origami techniques with foldforming and everyone knows I'm hooked on the red patina.

I started several weeks ago folding some strips of copper:

 

Today I cut the folded strips into cabs:

 

And then gave a few of them a red patina:

I'm really excited about how they're coming out. Stay tuned for more progress!

Featured Artist: Lorena Angulo

I first came across Lorena Angulo's work through the Ring a Day project and was immediately drawn to her amazing use of texture, detail, and color. Her pieces often explore cultural themes related to her heritage and feature many iconic forms such as hearts, skulls, flowers and birds. I am always stunned by the incredible presence that small jewelry objects can have. Lorena's work is both intimate and powerful.

Flaming Heart

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Lorena Angulo and I was born in Mexico where I grew up surrounded by wonderful folk art and jewelry from the Native Indians of a lot of states. My biggest influence while I was a very small child was when I lived in Chiapas, Mexico; this magical state has filled my heart with wonderful memories.

I always loved to create and I have been a self taught artist since I was young. I decided to study Mass Communications and lost for a little while my passion for art and creating. It was until I moved to live to the USA that I started to missed my culture and traditions a lot and in 2006 my sweet husband told me I need it to follow my heart and find my wings again. This was the year I started to take silversmithing classes at Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas. This was the year also that I was introduced to a very new material called PMC (precious metal clay.)

  

Describe your work in one sentence

Artisan Jewelry with Soul! 

What pieces are you most proud of?

This is a hard question for me because a lot of my pieces are very close to my heart. If I have to choose a couple of them it will be my first “Milagro Heart” I made and it was also my first piece published, my “Arbol de Vida” (tree of life) and a commission piece I was honored to make for Corliss and John Rose; “Corliss Calavera”.

What are you favorite materials to work with?

Metal clays (Pure Silver, Bronze and Copper) but I also enjoyed fabricating with sterling, copper and brass. In reality I am always in the look out of new materials to play with and my list can get very long!

Lately I have been playing with Creative paper clay and Craft Porcelain.

LOVE CATRINA

What direction do you see your work going in?

I want to be able to show my work in more places and be able to tell my story in every piece I make. I want to be in more galleries and be able to create wholesale collections but keep on creating my one of a kind work that I love so much.

Who or what is your biggest artistic influence?

My biggest artistic influence is my culture and traditions. My country and all the wonderful memories I have are always present in my work. I admired the work by native artisans.

If you could have your work critiqued by another artist who would it be and why?

Robert Ebendorf. I met him when he came to teach at Southwest School of Art here in San Antonio and I will always remember my experience with him forever. He is an incredible artist and his wonderful spirit can be seen in his work.

I have a big respect for him and his work and I am very sure that taking his class gave me a different perspective in how to transform my work and be able to tell a story in a new way.

What is the best advice you've ever been given?

Follow your heart!

Never compare yourself with others because everybody is unique and your work has to represent what you are.

ARBOL DE VIDA

If you could add one tool to your collection what would it be?

A rolling Mill!!!!!!

I will have so much fun with it!

What do you listen to in the studio?

I usually listen to Latin Music from romantic to dance music. I love to have good energy when I work and if I can sing and dance (if it is possible) I will do it!

What is your most prized possession?

My Family.

My husband and kids.

Do you collect anything? If so, do you display your collections?

I collect Folk Art, mostly from Mexico. I have all my folk art pieces display around my house.

Arbol

How do you spend most of your free time?

Going out with my family. We all enjoyed a lot going to small towns around the city where we can listen to wonderful live music; eat great food and visit galleries and antique shops.

What do you wish you were doing with your free time?

Spend the time with my kids is what I love to do with my free time.

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

Racism and compassion.

I am so sad to see how people can be so rude to each other. Some people and kids do not realize how hurtful their words are sometimes. We need to have more tolerance and be kind to each other.

Corliss-Calavera

Where can we see your work?

http://www.lorenaangulo.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenaangulo/sets/

http://blog.lorenaangulo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LorenaAnguloJewelry

I will be in Gruene, Texas in September for the Texas Metals Arts

http://www.texasmetalarts.com/index.html

RAW: Featured Rings

As you may have noticed, I haven't been keeping up with RAW at all! tsk, tsk, is all I've got to say about that.  So today I thought I would take a look at some of the rings the other artists are coming up with. Talk about inspiration. It may be enough to get me back in the game. We shall see.

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 e-bu Jewelry: RAW52/15 Marquesan Tides Series

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From Rae The Smithy: In Between

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 From lorahart: Raw 16 (Japan Donation-click here for more info)

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From mairedodd: Raw 15-Urban Posey

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From Lorena Angulo: Raw 15

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RAW: Week 10, 11, and 12

I got a little behind so these three are coming out together. They are a nice little collection, but the setting isn't really doing it for me. To be honest, I rushed them so I could catch up. But to be fair, I started them three weeks ago. So in a way, they are right on time!

RAW: Week 9

I'm really happy with this ring. I've been working toward adding more detail and texture in my work and I think this piece is on the right track. I'm hoping that the different flower forms and mixed metals lead the eye around the piece creating movement.

RAW: Week 8

 

I continued to explore the kirigami flower forms this week. It was difficult to get the forms flush for soldering. They also got a bit squished at some point and it was impossible to get them straightened out because they are so close together. Definitely learned a lot for next time.

RAW: Week 7

RAW 7, Copper, 2/22/11

 This piece was so fun to make and I'm really pleased with the transition from paper to metal. It's based on the Japanese art of Kirigami, an offshoot of Origami that combines folding, cutting, and opening paper to create forms. Think paper snowflakes. This piece has been folded and cut but not opened. There are a few things I would like to work out with the construction, especially with the band. Ideally, the band and the flower would both be seamless. Expect more of these Kirigami pieces in the weeks to come and look for similar pieces in my Etsy shop soon!

RAD 354, paper, 2/18/11

RAW 7, Copper, 2/22/11

RAW: Week 6

More origami this week. I call this piece "My Little Friend". I just couldn't help myself, these folds were too much like the abdomen of a beetle and when I started browsing images I realized they most resembled cockroaches. Then I started thinking about how some people enjoy having cockroaches as pets. So naturally I imagined holding one of the little guys... probably not a pet choice I'll be making in my future. 

RAW: Week 5

This week I continued working with origami folds but moved away from identifiable objects. I started by making a long strip of pleat folds and then formed the strip into tubing. The pleat fold in copper has a very organic feel which reminds me of the segmentation found in beetles and caterpillars. I love pairing the organic with the industrial, so rivets were a natural choice.

RAW 5

Copper

02/07/2011

RAW: Week Four

RAW 4: Origami Shrimp, Copper, Foldforming

      Earlier this week I made an origami shrimp ring out of paper for RAD #330. I loved the little guy so much I knew he would be the next one I made in metal. The metal version has a very different feel and gave me a good bit of trouble. By the end I was folding 4 layers of 26 gauge copper to create the pleats, but it was really folding the pleat folds in half that got me (8 layers of metal really does not want to move). However, I also worked on a smaller pleated ring for today's RAD and I really like the way it turned out. I have a feeling there are more pleats in my future.

RAD 330: Origami Shrimp, Paper, Origami

RAD 334: Pleats, Copper, foldforming

RAW: Week 3

RAW: week 3

Copper

Origami Pelican

Continuing to work with origami this week. This form was a lot of fun. Switching to 24 gauge copper definitely saved me some frustration. Although his beak should be more elongated for a pelican, I still think he is a fine specimen.

RAW: no I'm not growling; it's time for Ring A Week

That's right, a new challenge to create a ring a week for an entire year. Only 52 rings? What will we do with all the spare time! For most of the group RAD (Ring A Day) ended with 2010. I'm still hanging in there until the end of February to complete my 365 rings. However, my RAD rings will primarily be models for RAW from here on out. This year I'm going to take my infatuation with paper even further and explore the translation of paper craft into metal.

Week One 

1/8/2011

Origami Airplane

Copper

Week 2

1/16/2011

Origami Boat

Copper