I've been a huge fan of JG Ballard ever since I read "High Rise" when I was about 16. I rapidly explored "Crash" and "Atrocity Exhibition" - which, at 16 or 17, I probably pretentiously pretended to understand: as an…

Kicked off from the end of the last post by jumping on a train to Glasgow to go and hear the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra perform three symphonies by Gloria Coates. I've been enamoured of Coates' work since reading an article about her in The Wire…

I will be exhibiting a wide variety of work at the University of Texas at San Antonio's Terminal 136 Gallery from August 31st through September 16th with a public "lunch and lecture" at the Southwest School of Art on Saturday September 16th at 12:30.

For more information about the exhibition please contact Laura Crist 210.458.4391…

Asagi Maeda - A Passionate Narrative of City Life

I will be leading a Radical Enameling workshop sponsored by the Center for Enamel Arts July 5-7 at the Crucible in Oakland, California. Join me as we make torch-fired kilns from trash cans and whip up some vessels with copper foil and wire. These processes promise fast and furious fun for those willing to embrace…

I was in Brighton last weekend, hence this two-week post.

Kicking things off was the ever-lovely John Grayson, the…

That was a week so jammed with things to do that I'm still reeling. It all started on Tuesday evening when I had three different, sequential events to go to, first of these being one of the School of Jewellery's intermittent lecture…

Now available: A beautiful 58-page color catalog of Harlan's retrospective exhibition at UNT Artspace Dallas including a wonderful essay by Cindi Strauss. For in-person purchases its 20$ cash or check (made out to The UNT Foundation). To order from afar its $26.80 to cover shipping (also made out to The UNT Foundation) and sent to me.…

Wendy McAllister - the transformative power of adornment



Wendy McAllister’s love of jewelry started with a live bejeweled Makech beetle on a small gold chain and safety pin. It was a gift from her parents during a trip to Mexico. The experience of wearing this object steered her creativity toward…

Hello again everyone,

Just an update on how the Year of the Harlan is progressing.  For anyone out there that ordered their Harlan Activity Book from Blurb, THANK YOU! If you have completed any of the pages, please post here (or email me if you'd like me to post--I've included a page I just…

Not much to report this week, so I'll digress on the new garden in Birmingham, for where I have been struggling to find that most proasic of vegetables (fruits, I suppose): rhubarb. I have always thought I hated rhubarb but one day a few months back, my colleague, Claire Price, brought in a jar of jam for us to eat at one of our regular staff breakfasts. I tucked in without giving it much thought and marvelled at the balance of sour and sweet, at the hint of orange, at the amazing scent. It…

Hello friends and colleagues,

Some of you might be aware that this Fall marks the 40th year Harlan will have taught at the University of North Texas. In celebration of this, we are working hard to raise enough funds to permanently endow the student scholarship that Harlan started. Part of this effort is the creation of a Harlan-inspired activity book that is now…

I am very pleased to report that I have had a piece accepted into the Maker Moxie Exhibition which celebrates the impact of the craft school experience.

My time as a resident and student…

Damsel Moonstone Vase

Silver, silver gilt and enamel with 22 carat gold cloisonné, and moonstones set in 22 carat gold. Height 150mm (5.9 inches)…

One of my enameled panels is hanging in Kansas tonight. "Alchemical Utensils" was selected by juror Sarah Perkins for inclusion in the annual Topeka Competition in the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. It is an outstanding annual competitive craft exhibition at the Alice C. Sabatini Art Gallery. I am particularly gratified and awed at having something I did in enamels selected by such a world class enamelist. The exhibition runs from December 6th through January 19th.…

One of the newest pieces in the Shape Series is this brooch - the speckled pattern over the textured metal works well, I think.  Would like to find a venue to show these.

One of my enameled panels, Alchemical Utensils, was selected by Curator Dina Deitsch of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for inclusion in the upcoming Fuller Craft Museum Members Exhibition. The show will be up from September 22, 2012 – February 10, 2013 with an opening reception on Sunday September 30th from 2 – 5pm.

8 x 10"

vitreous enamel on steel

sgrafitto and overglaze…