crafthaus2024-03-29T00:19:09ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBermanhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/357592760?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://crafthaus.ning.com/forum/topic/listForContributor?groupUrl=snag-conference-2012-phoenix&user=0jrd2ywywagjo&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLots to Think Abouttag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-06-25:2104389:Topic:3526912012-06-25T14:14:14.313ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">While there was much to enjoy about this conference, I found that there was much that caused me to seriously (and uncomfortably) think about my future in the field and the choices I know I <em><span style="font-family: Times;">should</span></em> be making.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">The first of this uncomfortable thinking moments came during Garth Clark's lecture. Of course I had the same knee jerk reaction to his…</p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">While there was much to enjoy about this conference, I found that there was much that caused me to seriously (and uncomfortably) think about my future in the field and the choices I know I <em><span style="font-family: Times;">should</span></em> be making.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">The first of this uncomfortable thinking moments came during Garth Clark's lecture. Of course I had the same knee jerk reaction to his comparison of studio craft as a sinking ship, but his argument made sense. We are marginalized, and there's no sense pretending that we're not. Sure, it stems from lack of understanding, and it is our duty to educate people as to what we do, but we're marginalized by people who should know better. You can see it in the simple fact that the <em><span style="font-family: Times;">Humor in Metal</span></em> and <em><span style="font-family: Times;">Hot Under the Collar</span></em> exhibitions weren't given space in the SMoCA galleries. After much back and forth, we were given the atrium we were in. They almost stuck us in the gift shop. Don't get me wrong, I thought the atrium was fantastic and in the end both shows looked phenomenal, but I just wonder, did it have to be so difficult to secure space to show art from people who know about art?</p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">I found the two paths for success that Clark laid out for up and coming metalsmiths to both be a poor fit for myself. Again, while I understand his arguments, I am not a designer. I know this about myself as sure as I know my show size. And I know this because I tried. Don't get me wrong, I love design, I think it's great and I admire other designers, but this path is not for me.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;"></p>
<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">Which leaves the path of creating fine art out of craft materials. Maybe more doable from my perspective, but I still feel that my work is inherently craft. And I love craft. I feel that craft is (or should be) valid. My idealistic self wants to believe that there is room for all of us. My post conference self is oscillating between wanting to throw on my super hero cape to single handedly save craft and the more practical (and more likely to be effective) tactic of fundamentally and adamantly making my own work, whatever that may mean. I'm not sure what the answer is, but maybe if I spend enough time in the studio, I'll figure something out.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">Another uncomfortable moment came during the Education Dialog. While the panelists were introducing themselves, I noticed a trend. "After I graduated I went here, and then I went here for a year, and then I went here, and now I'm here." Meaning, you have to be willing to go where opportunity knocks. Which I always sort of knew while I was in school, but after a year living in my car and never knowing what address to give out, I'm kinda tired of it. I found where I want to be, and feel like I'm doing a myself a disservice by being so reluctant to move. I'm wondering if I can create the opportunities for myself, based on where I want to be. I suppose other people have done it, people with actual commitments of home ownership and families. Perhaps this could be a viable discussion topic: not how to get to where you want to go, but staying where you want to be.</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.1pt 0in;">I hope you all left the conference exhausted but excited, and that these posts have given you something to think about. Hopefully I'll be able to make it to Toronto next year. I here it's pretty cool.</p> Lots to Improve (Seriously)tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-06-13:2104389:Topic:3508612012-06-13T16:50:10.131ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><span class="font-size-3">While there was much to enjoy about this conference, I found that there was also much that was not so great.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The first thing that was not so great? The Digital Student Show. I walked in a couple minutes late, so I missed the opening statements, and not being a student myself this year, I didn't apply. It wasn't until about half way through that I realized that the coordinators had…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">While there was much to enjoy about this conference, I found that there was also much that was not so great.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The first thing that was not so great? The Digital Student Show. I walked in a couple minutes late, so I missed the opening statements, and not being a student myself this year, I didn't apply. It wasn't until about half way through that I realized that the coordinators had deviated from the traditional format. I got the low down from some students and educators after the fact, and the more I heard, the more upset I became.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">First off, the student show wasn't jurried. It was up to each individual program to submit a presentation of work, and then all works were to be included in the Digital Show. It was up to individual program faculty to jury their own students work, but they were never given a set limit of images they could submit. This lead to the coordinators receiving more than 800 images, which of course then had to be edited. Well. What the hell did you think was going to happen? Seriously? Everyone wants to be in the student show and every educator wants their students to be in the student show. The method behind the editing seemed a bit arbitrary to me too. Whole programs were cut ( a particular sore spot, since one was my alma mater), small obscure programs had 12-15 images while the top schools in the country had only 2 or 3. And I love the small obscure programs, I think it's great that they get exposure, but isn't it better to showcase 1 or 2 amazing pieces as opposed to 15 okay pieces? The thing went on forever too, all the work blending into one long string of mediocrity and repeated music (seriously, you couldn't even take the time to find 3 more songs for the soundtrack?). There were a few stand out pieces, but not many. Much of the work I found to be derivative, and I wonder with all the edits they made why were we still left looking at essentially the same ring from two different programs?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The purpose of the Digital Student Presentation is to showcase more quality work by students. I always felt that the Digital Show should be for those works which just missed the cut for the actual Student Show. I hate seeing duplicate works in both shows and this attitude of showing everything is even worse. For the participants, the Student Shows are a point of pride, and a great line on your resume. How did it get reduced to this? It's already horribly expensive for students to attend the conference, and we're steadily marginalizing the one thing that is uniquely theirs. They are the future of the field, trained by some of the top practitioners in the field. <span class="font-size-3">Shouldn't we be treating their work with more respect and lifting up those who deserve the recognition? It is my sincere hope that the student shows are shown more care and respect in future.</span><br/></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3"> </span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3">So after that debacle, I stayed for the panel discussion, something which I had eagerly looked forward too. And walked out of 45 minutes later, before we even reached the question and answer section. I thought the topic was great, but the presenters didn't do it justice. They seemed more invested in talking about themselves and their programs, than actually giving advise to one who may want to do something similar. They all talked for WAY too long about themselves, giving useless details, like the exact steps that couples take to make their own rings (seriously, if ever there was a group of people you didn't have to explain that to, this was it) and the number of solar panels on your roof. The presenters seemed like they had set up great little studios and programs but were not public speakers. Which is fine, not everyone in a public speaker. But if you aren't, then maybe you shouldn't do this sort of thing, or at least practice. I left bored to tears and terribly disappointed. But ice cream in with the canucks helped a lot in my recovery.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3"> </span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3">The last thing that was a bit disturbing was the topic choice for the Professional Development Seminar, which was packaging. Three hours on . . . packaging. Really? I was not the only one baffled by this programming choice, and many of the people I talked to didn't intend on going. I read the blurb in the program just to confirm, and lost even more interest. Packaging horror stories? I have enough of my own thanks, and so do all my friends. I wasn't too upset though, I don't think I've ever gone to the PDS (didn't they used to be on Wend. afternoons, where people had to make an effort to get to the venue early to attend? Why the schedule change?). I always feel slightly guilty skipping any of the conference programming, but sometimes it's nice to take a break from the freezing cold ballroom and sit and relax in the sun for a bit. Also, it gave me time to prep for the Trunk Show (read: go to the FedEx in the lobby and buy paper.) The couple of people I know that went, wound up leaving early.<br/></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3"><br/></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3">No conference is perfect, and you take the good with the bad. I do feel the the attendee has a certain amount of responsibility to make sure they have a good time. But, having something to gripe about is part of the experience. It builds community. <br/></span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><span class="font-size-3"> </span></span></p>
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<p></p> Lots of Lovetag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-06-06:2104389:Topic:3498592012-06-06T14:40:24.932ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>Like Jillian, I find that my head too, is still spinning, post conference. I came back to Peter's Valley and immediately launched into prepping the studio for our first 5 day workshop, which was amazingly successful and ended yesterday. From this point, the conference is feeling very far away, like a dream. In fact I did have a dream about the conference last night, likely induced by the lateness of my posting.…</p>
<p></p>
<p>Like Jillian, I find that my head too, is still spinning, post conference. I came back to Peter's Valley and immediately launched into prepping the studio for our first 5 day workshop, which was amazingly successful and ended yesterday. From this point, the conference is feeling very far away, like a dream. In fact I did have a dream about the conference last night, likely induced by the lateness of my posting.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058233379?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058233379?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Betsy Douglas's Swap Pins 1998-2011</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>I'd like to use this post to focus on the things I loved about this conference, because there was a lot to love. Most of these things were small, though. I felt that there wasn't really a stand out lecture this year (maybe Bettina's but I missed most of it because of the Trunk Show), the Trunk Show wasn't quite as successful for myself, as I had hoped, and it was difficult to get out and experience anything beyond the Westin Kierland. Which as Jillian pointed out, had both it's advantages and disadvantages.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242334?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242334?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Fancy Schmancy</em></p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p>However, I loved setting this year. I thought the resort was beautiful and I loved the heat and the desert. In fact I was a little disappointed that it wasn't hotter. I was not so thrilled with the expense and dining options of the resort, but I loved this patio. I did finally make it to the pool, but missed out on the fire pit. Sad.</p>
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<p>I loved seeing Betsy Douglas's Pin Swap pins from the past 20+ years. I loved looking at the collections from the other past conferences I've been to and finding pins that I have in my collection. The only thing is, I'm almost positive I swapped with her in Houston, and I didn't see my pin. Bummer. I made sure to swap with her this year though.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242804?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242804?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Kathleen Browne's work in</em> Heat Exchange</p>
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<p>I loved, loved, loved all the exhibitions. No the layout wasn't super great, but that's not a SNAG thing, that's a City of Phoenix thing. I had insider information from someone on the Exhibitions Committee that the plan was to have everyone end up at Mesa Arts center, so I did manage to do things in order and see everything Friday night. I do think that they should have made it more clear to everyone else though. I know several people that got mixed up. I went and saw <em>Heat Exchange</em> first, and it-was -<em>phenomenal</em>. This was my favorite show. I even loved it more than <em>Hot Under the Collar</em>, and boy did I love <em>Hot Under the Collar.</em> I also enjoyed Jan Arthur Harrell's enamels, the Past President's show and <em>finally</em> seeing Lynette Andreason's work in person. (I've been blog stalking her for a long while.) I would have loved to have been in any of the exhibitions this year, and I thought the organizers did a fantastic job.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242968?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058242968?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Why are there water birds in the middle of Arizona?</em></p>
<p>But I think the thing I enjoyed the most about this conference is the fact that I knew so many people and got to reconnect with so many old friends. I remember my first conference, Cleveland in 2005 where I only knew the couple of people from Kent I was with. My first full day in Phoenix, I couldn't cross the lobby with out waving to someone or stopping to talk for a minute (or 5, or 10) or coo over someone's adorable baby. It makes me feel good, like I actually have a place in this field, like I am actually someone worth knowing, or the simple fact that my introvert self has actually managed to put myself out there enough to meet people. I think my favorite moments of the whole conference were the long talks I had with Jillian (she had my in hysterics over her obnoxious cat), and catching up with my undergraduate professor, Kathleen Browne. I realized that for me, this conference was less about meeting new people (which I did still do) but more about reaffirming those existing connections I already have. I love this field, despite the pitfalls and the difficulty. I love the work that we make and the people that I somehow, almost miraculously find myself included in.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I also loved the band. I totally danced my ass off.</p> Review on 'Stage Mom' blog: Mischief with Metaltag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-28:2104389:Topic:3472592012-05-28T13:17:09.837ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
When I learned that mischievous metal artists were in town, I knew I had to take a peek. I’m sure members of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, in town for their annual conference, are plenty tame in everday mode, but some of them are bringing a delightfully odd twist to metal in a pair of exhibitions running through Sunday at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.<br />
After previewing the 30 or so works in each juried exhibition (selected from a total of about 700 submissions), I…
When I learned that mischievous metal artists were in town, I knew I had to take a peek. I’m sure members of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, in town for their annual conference, are plenty tame in everday mode, but some of them are bringing a delightfully odd twist to metal in a pair of exhibitions running through Sunday at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.<br />
After previewing the 30 or so works in each juried exhibition (selected from a total of about 700 submissions), I got to thinking how much the folks attending Phoenix Comicon this weekend would enjoy these works. One artist imagined Darth Vadar as a little girl, and another created a jousting helmet for a newborn. Both are part of “Humor in Metal.” The other exhibition is titled “Hot Under the Collar: Survey of Contemporary Necklaces.”<br />
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While enjoying the exhibitions with my son Christopher, I ran into another mom who was there with her 7-year-old daughter, Arianna. Seems we’d each hit the center looking for something interesting to do that’d keep us out of the midday heat. I asked Arianna to show me her favorite piece, and she was quick to choose one featuring LEGO bricks.<br />
<br />
I recalled Christopher’s many years of building elaborate LEGO towns on a large table in his bedroom when he was younger as Arianna told me about her favorite LEGO sets. Soon her mom, Arianna, was telling me about LEGO builds they’ve attended at Chandler Fashion Center together — and I was sharing tales of a long-ago babysitter who once taught at the school Arianna attends in Scottsdale.<br />
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Continue reading this blog: <a href="http://rakstagemom.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/mischief-with-metal/">http://rakstagemom.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/mischief-with-metal/</a> Day 3tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-26:2104389:Topic:3473172012-05-26T07:23:13.770ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p></p>
<p>Today started off with a lecture by Kevin O'Dwyer, on a specific reliquary in the Hiberno-Norse (Irish and Norse) style from 11th and 12th centuries. I really enjoyed this lecture, even though it go a little dry in places. The images were inspiring and I fee that every conference should have at least one historical lecture.</p>
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<p>Andrew Hayes and Allyson Bone both gave fantastic talks. I never would have guess Allyson was a CAD person, but it totally makes sense looking at…</p>
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<p>Today started off with a lecture by Kevin O'Dwyer, on a specific reliquary in the Hiberno-Norse (Irish and Norse) style from 11th and 12th centuries. I really enjoyed this lecture, even though it go a little dry in places. The images were inspiring and I fee that every conference should have at least one historical lecture.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Andrew Hayes and Allyson Bone both gave fantastic talks. I never would have guess Allyson was a CAD person, but it totally makes sense looking at her work. Her talk gave me a deeper appreciation for her work. I wasn't familiar with Andrew's work, but enjoyed the brief introduction, and his sense of humor.</p>
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<p>I missed Megan Auman's lecture, which is a pity, since everyone who saw it said it was fantastic, and the panel discussion that I was so looking forward to was so awful I walked out before we even reached the question and answer section. Another pity, since I think the topic was so great. The Student Digital Presentation was kind of a clusterfuck in my opinion. I walked in a couple minutes late, so missed most of the opening remarks about how the show was run this year and didn't realize until after it was over that they did things completely differently this year. I don't think it worked. I might talk more about this later, since it annoys me. I'd love the opportunity to run the student slide show some day. I might not do as good a job as Arthur Hash, but I bet I could come close.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058235112?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058235112?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><em>Heat Exchange</em></p>
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<p>Speaking of exhibitions, general consensus on "Heat Exchange was": "Oh. My. God." This was an AMAZING show. ALL of the shows were simply fantastic and I loved that there were so many group shows. This was seriously the <em>best</em> conference for exhibitions and I'm not just saying that because of "Hot Under the Collar". It was a HUGE privlege to be part of such a spectacular line up and I'm proud that "Hot Under the Collar" was able to hold it's own.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226176?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226176?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><em>Kathleen Browne, Heat Exchange</em></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226513?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226513?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><em>Scottsdale Center for the Preforming Arts, Humor in Metal and Hot Under the Collar</em></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226882?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058226882?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><em>Lynette Andreasen Spoons</em>, <em>eleMEnTAL</em></p>
<p>So one last big hurdle tomorrow with the trunk show. I feel completely unprepared and anxious about the whole thing. I'm kinda glad I won't have time to shop, since I don't have money to shop, but I am hoping to maybe make a few trades afterwards. And I'm bummed because Bettina Speckner's lecture begins at 2:30, right when the trunk show ends. I'm hoping I can just toss all my leftover's in a box and dash off to at least see some of her presentation.</p>
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<p>One more big day! See you tomorrow!</p> Day 2tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-25:2104389:Topic:3470582012-05-25T07:25:56.637ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>The first full day of the conference started out with a plethora of temperature related puns, and an emotional presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred Woell. I always love watching this presentation because it gives me a better understanding of our history as a field, and of what a lifetime of making looks like. I love being that close to the giants in our field, and find myself wishing I had been around to know them in their heyday.</p>
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<p>Overall the presentations…</p>
<p>The first full day of the conference started out with a plethora of temperature related puns, and an emotional presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred Woell. I always love watching this presentation because it gives me a better understanding of our history as a field, and of what a lifetime of making looks like. I love being that close to the giants in our field, and find myself wishing I had been around to know them in their heyday.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Overall the presentations were pretty good; I enjoyed bits of each of them, but there was no real stand out, magic moment for me today. I'm sure each lecture will provide little golden nuggets of usefulness once I sift through my notes, but I don't think I'll be talking about them years down the road as stand out lectures (ie. Kristin Beeler's talk on beauty in Houston). I did enjoy the Spot Light talks and I noticed that the other feature length presenters each had a large variety of work to illustrate their topic. I liked seeing such a broad range of works, even though I started to feel real inadequate during Kim Cridler's talk.</p>
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<p>I went to the Education Dialogue for a bit, which I think I'd like to talk more about later, and then just hung out in my room for awhile. The hotel is really nice, and I love this view of the mountains from my balcony.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227413?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227413?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>I also love the view down to the patio below where I can photograph unsuspecting metalsmiths like Andrew Kuebeck and Tom Muir.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227536?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227536?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225836?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225836?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Michael Dale Bernard looking dapper in pinstripes on pinstripes.</em></p>
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<p>The big event for the night was the Exhibition In Motion. I thought the overall presentation was <em>fantastic</em> (loved the catwalk, the lights, the music), but I didn't love most of the work. I noticed most were necklaces, (because this show lends itself to that sort of thing), and that there were several pieces in this show that got rejected from the Hot Under the Collar. I'm curious to know what the show would have looked like, had I sent out my rejection letters a few days later. The one thing I hate about the Exhibition in Motion though, is how hard it is to photograph. At least for me and my limited camera skills.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058228199?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058228199?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Exhibition in Motion: Pomp and Swagger</em></p>
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<p>Tomorrow is another full day of talks and demos, and ending with the exhibition crawl. I'm hoping to get a chance to see Cu:29 and Heat Exchange for sure and I'd also like to see the Past President's Show. I'm anxious to see the response to Hot Under the Collar. I'm ready for another jam packed day, but I'm also hoping for a little time to relax by the pool.</p>
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<p>See you all tomorrow!</p> Day 1tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-24:2104389:Topic:3466952012-05-24T06:38:18.228ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p></p>
<p>Oh my gosh, I love the desert!</p>
<p>I started the day by setting up the Hot Under the Collar Show at the Scottsdale Center of Performing Arts. It was a pretty focused few hours, but by the time it was all said and done, the show looked fantastic. I'm really pleased, and I hope everyone else is too. I have no concept of dimension, unless I'm looking at a thing, so it was really cool to see the work in person. Some was bigger than I expected, some smaller. Oh, and the cases we're…</p>
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<p>Oh my gosh, I love the desert!</p>
<p>I started the day by setting up the Hot Under the Collar Show at the Scottsdale Center of Performing Arts. It was a pretty focused few hours, but by the time it was all said and done, the show looked fantastic. I'm really pleased, and I hope everyone else is too. I have no concept of dimension, unless I'm looking at a thing, so it was really cool to see the work in person. Some was bigger than I expected, some smaller. Oh, and the cases we're using were just used in the Kiki Smith show at SMOCA. How cool is that!?</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225861?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225861?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p><em>Set up for Hot Under the Collar</em></p>
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<p>The rest of the afternoon was devoted to completing a few simple tasks, made difficult by stopping every few minutes to chat with another friend. I finally managed to pick up a few groceries, obtain a toothbrush from the front desk, locate my show post cards and turn in my work for the auction. These things took HOURS so, before I knew it, it was time for the pin swap.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058231441?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058231441?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Bryan Peterson donating a pin for the Silent Auction collections.</em></p>
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<p>I was real excited for the pool party pin swap, but no one seemed interested in actually getting in the pool. The whole space seemed not quite right for the swap. It was too clustered and too crowed with deck chairs, and then it got dark, so you couldn't tell who had pins, and if they were any good. I spent a fruitless hour or so trying to track down someone with folded paper pyramid pins, and never did find them. I know I missed some other good pins as well. I didn't even try to get near the food or the bar. I feel like there should have been a section for people who were swapping and people who weren't.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227894?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058227894?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Pins!!!</em></p>
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<p>I think I had about 70 or so pins and wound up with 45. I gave a bunch away to awesome people. I believe in good pin karma, which is why I won't really say no to someone. I got a bunch that I'm not excited about, but I got some cool ones too. These are a few of my faves, including a tin ukulele by Bryan Peterson, a ceramic packing peanut by Lisa Johnson and the lovely copper oval in the lower left is by Zac Lopez-Ibanez. If you're wondering why you didn't see those, it's because I got the only one. (Thank you Zac!) I was surprised and a little appalled about the lack of business cards accompanying pins. So for many of mine, I don't know who the artist is.</p>
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<p>I hope my pins all went to good homes with good people. I'm a little sad that they're all gone; I'd carried them around with me for so long. But now to bed. If today was tiring, tomorrow is sure to be more so.</p>
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<p>See you in the morning!</p>
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<p></p> Looking Forwardtag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-19:2104389:Topic:3463532012-05-19T01:56:44.556ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>I've been looking forward to this conference for quite some time now, but at the moment the thing I'm looking forward to the most is being able to blog from my nice posh hotel room, with actual WiFi, instead of the floor of the office at Peter's Valley and their psuedo-WiFi. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. But five days without having to worry about ticks sounds like heaven about now.</p>
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<p>What I'm looking forward to most in terms of programming, are:</p>
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<p>- The pin…</p>
<p>I've been looking forward to this conference for quite some time now, but at the moment the thing I'm looking forward to the most is being able to blog from my nice posh hotel room, with actual WiFi, instead of the floor of the office at Peter's Valley and their psuedo-WiFi. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. But five days without having to worry about ticks sounds like heaven about now.</p>
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<p>What I'm looking forward to most in terms of programming, are:</p>
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<p>- The pin swap. Always a good time. I always wind up with some fantastic pins (and a few duds). I only have about 60 or so, so catch me early. Plus, the earlier I'm done swapping the sooner I can hit the pool.</p>
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<p>- The Emerging Artists talks, particularly Loring Taoka and Allyson Bone. I've been a fan of Allyson's work since I saw it at the Student Exhibition at the Savannah Conference (2008), and I've been a fan of Loring since I met him on the dance floor in Houston.</p>
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<p>- Seeing Hot Under the Collar come together. This is a great source of pride and anxiety for me right now, and I'm just praying that it all goes smooth. I have an incredible group of artists in this exhibition, and I'm hoping that it gets a good response. And that nothing goes terribly, terribly wrong. Like, gas explosions, no work showed up, you'll-never-curate-in-this-town-again kind of wrong.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058228496?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058228496?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Swap Pins</em></p>
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<p>- Bettina Speckner's lecture on her work, for obvious reasons. Her work is stunning. End of story.</p>
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<p>- The SNAG Lifetime Achievement award. Always love seeing this presented. It's a great little history lesson and a sobering reminder of what it takes to succeed in this field.</p>
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<p>- The Student Exhibition and the CU:29 show. I'm nosy in that I want to know what the students are up too, in all the programs across the country. I submitted to CU:29, and wasn't selected, so I'm curious to see the pieces that made it in. I'm betting it's going to be a great show.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058229721?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058229721?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Trunk Show Work</em></p>
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<p>- Getting rid of this box of work so I won't have as much stuff to haul around.</p>
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<p>And last but not least, the panel discussion on how to start independent cooperatives, private/non-profit instructional studios, and schools. This, this is what I need to see. I've got a big, devote my entire life to, will take years to achieve goal in mind, and this just might tell me how to take the first steps.</p>
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<p>So much to look forward to! What are you most excited about?</p>
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<p></p> Charon Kranssen to carry Humor in Craft book!tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-08:2104389:Topic:3444642012-05-08T17:11:05.185ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>Bit of shameless self-promotion:</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220281?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220281?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"></img></a></strong></p>
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<p><strong>Great news: <a href="http://www.charonkransenarts.com/" target="_blank">Charon Kranssen</a> will start carrying my Humor book in his repertoire of wonderful art books! He will bring a stack of copies to the SNAG conference already!…</strong></p>
<p>Bit of shameless self-promotion:</p>
<p><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220281?profile=original"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220281?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a></strong></p>
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<p><strong>Great news: <a href="http://www.charonkransenarts.com/" target="_blank">Charon Kranssen</a> will start carrying my Humor book in his repertoire of wonderful art books! He will bring a stack of copies to the SNAG conference already! Yay.</strong></p>
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<p>Amazon seems to be moving a bit slowly these days, somehow the delivery of my book gets delayed again and again. If you buy the book from Charon at the conference, this might be the earliest possibility to get your hands on it...</p> Count Down!tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2012-05-02:2104389:Topic:3435922012-05-02T23:49:34.069ZHarriete E Bermanhttps://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>Wow! I can't believe it's the month of May already and the conference is happening in just a few weeks! I am absolutely <em>thrilled</em> to be blogging again for Crafthaus, and have never been more excited to be attending a SNAG conference!</p>
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<p>For those of you who may not know me, my name is Liz Steiner. This is my second time blogging for Crafthaus, but my first time blogging the annual SNAG conference. I was still an MFA student at East Carolina University when Brigitte asked…</p>
<p>Wow! I can't believe it's the month of May already and the conference is happening in just a few weeks! I am absolutely <em>thrilled</em> to be blogging again for Crafthaus, and have never been more excited to be attending a SNAG conference!</p>
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<p>For those of you who may not know me, my name is Liz Steiner. This is my second time blogging for Crafthaus, but my first time blogging the annual SNAG conference. I was still an MFA student at East Carolina University when Brigitte asked me to blog the ECU Symposium, Material Topics. I couldn't believe it when I got asked to blog this conference, almost a year in advance!</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220157?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058220157?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="927" width="621"/></a><span class="font-size-1">Save Me From Myself, copper, enamel, stone, string, 2011</span></p>
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<p>Just a little bit about myself and my work: I'm a recent (2011) MFA graduate from ECU (BFA, Kent State University). My work deals with spirituality, meditation and my love of geology. I electroform and enamel, making rocks with varying degrees of realism. I also use actual rocks, sediments and sometimes salt, combined with fabric or string. I make primarily necklaces and brooches, and am not terribly concerned with wearability, or even the final product. For me, my work is all about the process of making and these objects that I love.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058223157?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058223157?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="853" width="572"/></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Salt in the Soul</em>, copper, enamel, salt, string, 2011</span></p>
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<p>In my year out of school, I've done a whole slew of things from a stint as a studio assistant at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, to taking care of Linda Darty's cats, to working at a Children's Museum, running planetarium shows and sorting plastic produce, to teaching at community college. In a week or so, I'm headed to Peter's Valley as their Artist Fellow in Fine Metals for the summer, which I could not be more excited about! All the while I've been trying to maintain some semblance of a studio practice and figure out what's next for my work.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225156?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225156?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="424" width="636"/></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Slate Brooch</em>, copper, enamel, stone, silver, 2011</span></p>
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<p>This is a huge conference for me. I am going to be EVERYWHERE. You lovely people are going to get sick of me, I swear! In addition to blogging, I'll be making my first big curatorial debut. I've spent the past year coordinating/curating the <em>Hot Under the Collar</em> exhibition, which had an <strong>overwhelming</strong> response. I still don't quite believe it. <em>Hot Under the Collar</em> will also be sharing space with Brigitte's <em>Humor in Metal</em> exhibition, so make sure you all stop by during the exhibition crawl, and show us both some Crafthaus love! (I'll be the one looking completely stunned at having a show at a SNAG conference.)</p>
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<p>I'll also be participating in the Trunk Show Sale. I couldn't make it to the conference last summer, so I really have no idea what to expect; I'm both excited and nervous. I've been working on a line using sheet mica (shiny shiny!) that I'm pretty pleased with, and I hope everyone else is too. I'll also have some rock enamels and maybe a few electroforms. My goal is to come out with enough profit to invest in some much needed studio equipment. I'm hoping once I'm settled into the studio at Peter's Valley, I'll have a couple more weeks to furiously <em>make make make</em>.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225172?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058225172?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="375" width="565"/></a><span class="font-size-1"><em>Mica Earrings and Brooch</em>, copper, silver, mica, 2010 <br/></span></p>
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<p>Whew! So there you have it! Three huge opportunities to succeed or fail spectacularly! Regardless of how any of these turn out, I'm still sure it'll be a fantastic conference. I always manage to have a great time at SNAG, aided of course by reconnecting with old friends. I always manage to meet a key few new people, as well, who somehow turn out to have some important role to play in my life and career. All of this, <em>plus</em> my first ever trip to Arizona, in just three short weeks! Yikes!</p>
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<p>I'm feelin' the heat! Are you?</p>