Mesa 30th Annual Contemporary Crafts

My struggle photographing my bronze vase paid off- it was accepted in the Mesa Contemporary Arts' 30th Annual Contemporary Crafts exhibition. 58 pieces from 39 artists were selected from 482 pieces submitted. The exhibition will be from January 23, 2009 - March 15, 2009 at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ.

trying to keep my bench clean

It's been over a month now since I did that major cleaning of my bench and its still relatively clean. I hate cleaning and it took so long, I decided I didn't want to have to do a cleaning like that again for a long time. The thing that makes the biggest mess is the aluminum. So I have started putting up newspaper when I grind aluminum to keep chips off the bench top. That's the area that takes so long to clean, cause I have so much stuff on my bench I need to move everything to clean it all. So far the newspaper is working, but I hate having to put it up every time I want to grind aluminum cause I work with it fairly often.

5x5x(5)

I found out today that I got in the exhibition 5x5x(5). My friend found out last week that she was accepted, since I hadn't heard anything I thought I must have been rejected.

The requirements for the work being submitted is that is must not be bigger than 5"x5"x5". Most of my work was eligible. I hope they make a catalog, I want to see what kind of work was selected.

Another disappointing issue of Metalsmith

I really don't want to use this blog to rant, but I got the new issue of Metalsmith today. I don't know why I subscribe to this magazine. I think it's the name: Metalsmith. I think if they would change the title to something that would more accurately reflect the content I would be able to stop subscribing. But the name- METALSMITH- I feel like I have to subscribe. Underneath the title it says "Jewelry - Design - Metal Arts," and its published by the Society of North American Goldsmiths, this sounds like the perfect magazine for me since I am a jeweler and a metalsmith. I am really starting to feel like a chump for wasting money on this magazine. At least I didn't send them any money when they were whining about their financial problems and begging for money.

There was some talk on the SNAG forum about changing the name of the organization. I didn't participate in the discussion and I don't know if it's still being discussed. I think they definitely should change the name. The organization is not about goldsmithing, and the magazine is only partly about metalsmithing. This year's Exhibition in Print really made me feel that this magazine is not for me, and the long discussion about it on Orchid let me see that there are a lot of people who feel like I do about this. I am not going to cancel my subscription over one or two issues, but my dissatisfaction with SNAG is increasing.

I want to mention my favorite piece in this new issue, Iris Eichenberg's piece on page 35 that looks like dirty socks hanging on branches. I like her installation of wool blankets too.

12" x 12" sterling

I got this awesome 12" x 12" sheet of 22 gauge sterling silver a couple days ago. I am going to make another folded vessel with it. I haven't given much thought to the design yet. I plan to do a prototype in copper before I do anything with this silver.