Quarterly Newsletter of the SOCIETY FOR MIDWEST METALSMITHS
January 2011
P.O. Box 31314 St. Louis, MO 63131 www.midwest-metalsmiths.org
midwestmetalsmiths@gmail.com
Next Meeting: Saturday, January 8th, Noon Activity: Spiculum (tapered tube) Demo
SMM
Executive Board
Jewelry to the 3rd Degree
President by Kathryn Bowman
Kathryn Bowman
The Jewelry to the 3rd Degree show was a huge success. Thanks to all of the
Vice President
Elizabeth Wood
members who helped with the show, and to the customers who braved the early winter
weather to come out and support local artisians. Because of the show’s success, SMM
Secretary has been asked by Third Degree Glass to return next year. Shows like this require
Mindy Mass careful planning over the course of several months; and this first show took roughly a
Assistant
year to organize.
Secretary
Jo Tiemann When Anne Murphy, Director of Marketing & Development for Third Degree, originally
contacted SMM she was looking for someone to teach basic metalsmithing during an
Treasurer
Wendy Walsh
event that Third Degree had planned for 2009. Members Linda Lankford, Gayle
Eastman, and I met with Anne, and from these meetings the Third Degree show began
Assistant to take shape. I continued contact with Anne to discuss logistics such as dates, rent,
Treasurer advertising, etc. Third Degree was so interested in partnering with SMM for this event
Aimee Domash
that they graciously offered to discount the rental arrangement for the first year.
Membership
Lee Richards We were so lucky that Ellen Klamon agreed to serve as Committee Chair for the
show. Ellen has planned and organized numerous events and exhibits. Right away, she
Exhibition
Chairman
began the lengthy process of finding out what type of show the members wanted, and
Dayne Sislen how those desires would translate into a cohesive show . Deborrah Daher served as
Ellen’s co-chair, and she was also responsible for coming up with the show’s title
Fundraising Jewelry to the 3rd Degree.
Co-Chairmen
Lanie Kodner
Deborrah Daher
NewsletterEditor
Elizabeth Wood
Web Site
Chairman
Dayne Sislen
Workshop
Chairman
Howard Siegel
Past President
Linda Lankford
Member at
Large
John Baltrushunas
Jewelry to the Third Degree (cont.)
Ellen suggested renting long tables with black tablecloths to help give the room a unified and
.
professional look. In April 2010, she sent out a call for the show And participation was determined
on a first-come, first-served basis. Interest from the membership was out standing. All of the spaces
s
were filled by the end of that week. Ellen also designed the show’ logo, the poster, and the postcard
for the event. SMM members were great about distributing the posters and postcards, and we had
to order a second printing in October.
At the end of November, Ellen sent out a general information packet to participating artists, and
organized a food and entertainment committee. Bright and early on the morning of December 11th,
several members, and their supportive husbands, arrived at Thrid Degree to set up tables, position
lights and electrical cords, and organize the food and beverage table. By 9:30 a.m. all participating
artists had arrived, and the set-up was in full swing. Everyone was ready to welcome
visitors / customers at 11 a.m. The crowd on Saturday was steady since everyone did a great
job spreading the word about the show. Ken Domash’s music on Saturday set a nice mood for
the evening business.
And then the snow came down. Early Sunday morning St. Louis received its first snow of the
.
year. Luckily, everyone made it safely to the show that day A few brave souls did make their way in
to do some holiday shopping, but the bad weather definitely slowed things down a bit. On the bright
side, the slower business meant we got to visit with each other more. We all really had an
opportunity to get to know each other better, and spend some time taking pictures of each other’s
,
work. Breakdown of the show went realtively smoothly even if we did have to slog through the cold
and freezing temperatures.
There has been nothing but good comments about the event from visitors, artists, and the
management at Third Degree Glass Factory. They were very impressed with how smoothly
everything went, and how professional we all were. SMM is thrilled to have been invited back, and
we look forward to a successful Jewlery to the Third Degree in 2011.
I would like to extend Very Special Thank-yous to: Ellen Klamon for chairing the show;
Deborrah Daher for co-chairing the show, and her husband Mark Paradowski for his set-up help;
Wendy Walsh for getting the checks to the right places on time, and her husband Andrew
Gieselman for his set-up help; Dayne Sislen for promoting the show and answering questions;
Aimee Domash for sharing her talented husband, Ken, who provided live music on Saturday
evening; Peggy Jacobsmeyer for setting up, and her husband Dan for his help in configuring the
show layout; Gail Crozier for organizing the food table, and her husband Don for laying and taping
down electrical cords; Lee Richards for organizing the food table, and her husband Lon for laying
and taping down electrical cords; and my husband Bill Bowman for setting up tables.
I would also like to thank all of the show’s participating artists for their help and their
promotional efforts. This show would not have been a success without all of you. Thanks so much
to: Kay Adams, Nancy Brickner, Allison Norfleet-Bruenger, Gayle Eastman, Adam Foster,
Wendy Harris,Nell Kobes, Linda Lankford, Cory Lawson, J. Case Leeser, Kathryn Leventhal-
Arnold, Mindy Mass, Judith McLaughlin, Maribeth Meyer, Melodie Moshure, Nena Potts,
Howard Siegel, Jennifer Walker, and Ray Wenneker.
page 2
Jewelry to the Third Degree (cont.)
page 3
Artist Interview: Dayne Sislen
Were you raised in this area?
I was born and raised in St. Louis as were both
of my parents.
When did your interest in metals begin?
A,
As an adult I went back to college to get my BF with a
dual major in design and sculpture. I started out doing
realistic portrait sculptures in clay, and large abstract
sculptures in stone. When I worked in stone I used an
air hammer, and this caused carpel tunnel problems,
so I had to stop doing the stone work. The doctor
suggested I try something smaller and less damaging.
I took a class in metalsmithing at Craft Alliance with
Joe Muench and fell in love with working in metal. My
first pieces were more like sculpture than jewelry.
Do you have a degree in art or an art related field? If so, from where?
I have an Associates Degree in Graphic Design from Washington University, and a BFA from
Maryville University with a dual major in Design and Sculpture.
What was the first metals piece you ever made?
A small piece, it was an exercise in sawing and soldering. I didn’t like it because it wasn’t sculptural
enough, I wanted more volume.
Have you had teaching experience in the arts or an art related field?
t
Yes, I taught Design Graphics at Maryville University for several years. I have also aught several
workshops for SMM: Hydraulic Die Forming for Jewelry Making, Jewelry Design and Rendering,
and Web Sites for Artists.
Who are some of the people/artists (or things/places) that have inspired your work the
most?
Joe Muench, who was my first metalsmithing teacher, and Joe’s teacher, and my mentor and idol,
Heikki Seppa. I was able to work and learn with Heikki at Penland School of Crafts.
What is your creative process?
,
First I sketch. I love to draw and I am able to create three dimensionally right on p aper. I then make
a paper pattern and play with it until I think it will work. Then I make several copper practice pieces
to work out the details and refine the pattern further. Only when I have worked out the problems do I
,
go to silver. If I like it in silver I would then use 18K gold (this was before gold hit $1400 an ounce).
page 4
Artist Interview (cont.)
Have you received any awards or honors for your work?
s,
In 1993 while I was still a student of Joe Muench’ I won the Special Jewelry Award in the National
Coeur d’Alene Sterling Silver Competition. The next year I won third place in Holloware with a
sterling vessel in the same competition. In 2010, I received Second Place for Ladies Jewelry in the
Bench Jewelers Passion Awards Design Competition (Picture on previous page).
Have you participated in any shows or exhibitions?
I have been in exhibitions and shows off and on since 1993. I have been juried into several of the
SMM national exhibitions: “T alismans,” “Stone/s,” and “At the Table.” My two pieces that won awards
in the Coeur d’Alene Sterling competition each traveled for a year in the U.S. with the accomp anying
a
exhibitions. I was in several invit tionals in Hobe Sound, Florida; Tresa Vorenberg’s in Santa Fe;
and Sculpture to Wear in Santa Monica, where I sold my work for many years. I also did several
retail shows at Craft Alliance; and at the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton with Debbie LaFara as my
partner and co-designer. My most recent show/sale was “Jewelry to the 3rd Degree” with other
SMM members.
Has any of your work been published?
Betty Helen Longhi and Cynthia Eid are working on a book about hollow forming that will have at
least one of my pieces included.
Do you focus on a particular style of jewelry or sculpture?
.
I love to hammer, so all my work involves hollow forming or forging in some way Whenever I try
something else, I am just not satisfied with the finished piece.
What are your goals with respect to your art?
I have been plagued with tendon problems, so right now I am just focusing on trying to work and
keep the tendons in my thumbs and wrists in good health. I’m sure it would help if I stopped
hammering, but that just isn’t acceptable to me.
What do you enjoy most about working with metal?
I love taking a flat sheet of metal and hammering it into something three dimensional and sculptural.
What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in the arts?
,
Since this question is about art in general, I would have to say being able to use my talents doing
the things I love and staying current and still actively working in graphic design for 45 years.
Where do you see yourself / your work in the next few years? I would like to explore ways to
make metalwork without further damaging my hands and wrists. I have tried forming metal using
hydraulic presses, but I don’t get the same satisfaction. I may try wax carving next. I love to learn
and experiment.
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Calls & General Information
• Applications for the first SNAG/Crafthaus scholarship are due January 10, 2011. This SNAG
scholarship is for Crafthaus members, and will be juried by Crafthaus editor Brigitte Martin. The
recipient will receive free registration to the SNAG conference this year in Seattle, a one-year
membership in SNAG, a one-year membership in Crafthaus, and prominent blogspace on
Crafthaus for one year. For more information and an application go to
http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/.docs/pg/10325
• The CaFE site is accepting submissions for the production jewelry competition co-sponsored
by SNAG and Hoover & Strong. The submission deadline is January 15. For information on what
to design, how to submit, and more visit http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/.docs/pg/10402 Proceeds
from the sales of the winning piece will be donated to The Nature Conservancy.
• Apply now to the 35th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. Application deadline is
April, 1st 2011, and the fee is $50.00. For more information and an application go to http://
pmacraftshow.org/application/
• The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO has calls out for three upcoming shows. Paper
Work: In, On, and Of Paper V, a juried exhibition featuring art that utilizes paper as its main compo-
nent; Edge of Excess II, a juried exhibition with pieces characterized by the excessive use of
repetition; and Contemporary Narrative, a juried exhibition of art that has a narrative theme. For
more information and an application go to http://www.foundryartcentre.org/coming.html
_____________________________________________________________________
• Art St. Louis’ Little Gallery is a non-juried boutique section of the main gallery where they sell
artworks by Art Saint Louis member artists. All works in the Little Gallery are small in size, and
priced under $125. Media include: fiber, collage, jewelry, photographs, mixed media, ceramics,
glass, watercolors, and more. For more information and contact numbers go to
http://www.artstlouis.org/littlegallery.html
• The Missouri Arts Council website has some teriffic webinars on a variety of art related
subjects. Their most recent webinar is on soliciting people / organizations to donate money to the
arts or art groups. The website also has good general information about the arts in Missouri.
https://www.missouriartscouncil.org/
• If you are concerned about green jewelry practices, the Ethical Metalsmiths website is up and
running again with a December newsletter. To read more go to www.ethicalmetalsmiths.org
• Dayne Sislen wants to remind members of the correct way to post web articles to the SMM
Chat Group. Remember, the post goes out to the entire group, and you cannot post embedded
images or photos. To avoid this, post a link in the e-mail to the information in the post, that way
readers are not subjected to any embedded viruses or trojans through the chat group.
There are two ways to post to the chat group. If you signed up with a Yahoo! e-mail address, you
get full privileges and can post on theYahoo Chat Group site. If you signed up with another type of
e-mail address, just go to the bottom of a previous SMM chat group message and click on the line
that says “Start a New Topic.”
If you have further questions, contact Dayne at midwest.metalsmiths@gmail.com
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General Information & Member News
• Harriete Estel-Berman has a teriffic article on her blog regarding quality photographic images.
(Thanks to Deborrah Daher for passing it along.) The issue of photo quality is an important one
since photos of your work posted on the internet and printed in magazines can reach an incredibly
large audience. Harriete’s article covers topics like camera focus and exposure, composition of the
images, lighting, proper background colors, textures and fabrics, locating the work within the picture
plane, and showcasing detail or special features of the work. To read the whole post go to http://
www.askharriete.typepad.com/
• If you are interested in learning how to take your own pictures, the Bench Jewelers website has a
free 7 minute introductory video on the basics of photographing your work. Part one is free, but to
view the additional 6 parts you must be a member of Bench Jewelers. http://
www.benchtelevision.com/jewelryphotography/greatimages/gim00.html
• The dogs days of winter are a great time to start thinking about taking a workshop this year. If
you like to travel be sure to check out the class schedules for Penland School of Craft in North
Carolina; Haystack Mountain School of Craft in Maine; Arrowmont Craft School, Applachia Center for
Craft, and Memphis Metals Museum, all in Tennessee; and Thompson Enamels in Kentucky. For
workshops and classes closer to home don’t forget about Craft Alliance, SIU-E division of continuing
education, and, of course, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming list of summer workshops for
Society for Midwest Metalsmiths.
______________________________________________________________________
1
• Rebecca Barton will have a piece titled “Just Begun” in the Gallery section of the January 201
issue of Art Jewelry Magazine.
• Randi Chervitz will show new work at the California Gift Show at the LA Mart January 22nd-24th;
the New York International Gift Fair at Javits Pavilion January 29th-February 3rd; the Buyers’Market
of American Craft at the Philadelphia Convention Center February 17th-21st; and sell new work at
Temple Beth-El Art Festival in St. Petersburg, FL January 28th-31th.
• Kelly Robinson’s work was accepted into the show “Materials: Hard and Soft.”
• Deborrah Daher and Janice Ho will show work in the exhibition “Deborrah Daher & Janice Ho” in
the David and Jacqueline Charak Gallery at Craft Alliance - Delmar. The exhibit opens with a recep-
tion Friday, January 14th from 6-8 p.m. and runs through March 6th. For more information go to
www.craftalliance.org/exhibitions/delmar/regional/daherho11/daher.ho.htm
• Janet Ho will teach a one-day workshop January 15th at Craft Alliance - Delmar on fabricating
with Argentium silver. Follow this link for details www.craftalliance.org/store/
ProductDetail.asp?PoductID=3207
• As always, if you have any news regarding past or upcoming shows, events, or awards that you
would like to have included in the newsletter, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Elizabeth Wood, at
ej1699@prodigy.net
page 7
Bench Tips Welcome New Members
Have you ever opened your rotary tumbler barrel and found your pieces
covered in a black sludge or yellowish film? Then you probably have
rubber barrel breakdown. Cool Tools has tips on how to remedy the
problem. For more information go to www.cooltools.us/Jewelry-Making-
Guides-and-Articles-s/1189.htm Janice Ho
-Howard Siegel
Marylin Roberts
If you would like to keep chemical profile sheets in your studio for
reference go to www.nsc.org for a full list with safety tips.
-Charles Lewton-Brain
SUBSTANTIAL EXHIBITION
DONATIONS MADE BY
The Society for Midwest
Metalsmiths
is indebted to VLAA
for providing valuable
legal services to our
organization.
The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths is an
organization established to promote, educate
and encourage metalsmiths, silversmiths and
goldsmiths. Complete Minutes from the meetings
are posted to the web site.
www.midwest-metalsmiths.org
You Can Follow SMM on these
MEMBER CATAGORIES: Annual Membership Dues payable by: Social Networking Sites
Regular................................$30 Jan. 1 Delinquent after Jan. 31
Dual.....................................$40 http://www.facebook.com/
For membership info.
(Family, same address) group.php?gid=109248719106136&ref=nf
e-mail Lee Richards
Student (with i.d.).................$20
lee-richards@att.net
Silver Level..........................$75
Gold Level..........................$100 http://twitter.com/METALincline
Platinum Level....................$150
Next Meeting Date: http://metalinclinations.blogspot.com/
Saturday January 8th 2011, Noon. Maryville University
Art & Design Building http://metalinclinations.wetpaint.com/
Activity: Spiculum Demo
Disclaimer: The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths, its staff, directors, officers, editors, members, contributors and
quarterly newsletter specifically disclaims any responsibility for damages or injuries as a result of any construction,
design, use, manufacture or other activity undertaken as a result of the use or application of information contained in any http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/
Society for Midwest Metalsmith Quarterly Newsletter. Permission is automatically granted to non-profit organizations to
reprint articles from this newsletter but only with the proper attribution. Articles not to be reprinted will be so marked. orchid.htm
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