Opening Night

[Cynthia Tinapple]

Successful polymer artists Steven Ford and David Forlano's opening night presentation at Synergy mirrored their relationship. They easily bantered back and forth from opposite sides of the stage, building concepts in tandem and with good humor. They jibed each other about work habits and control issues while acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses.

From opposite sides of the country (Santa Fe and Philadelphia) the duo create art in much the same way.

After an early brief stint in roofing and siding and over the course of 25 years, they have moved from production polymer work and teaching classes to commissioned work, gallery and museum collections, and mixed media collaborations.

Revelations about how a tax audit improved their business skills and how therapy helped them through a rough patch made this accomplished pair seem more human to a rapt audience.

After the speech, the conference goers demolished a fanciful three-layer cake celebrating the 20th anniversary of the polymer clay guild which just last year became an international guild. The cake, by Baltimore's Ace of Cakes, was themed around polymer designs...but was edible and delicious.

See more pictures from the evening's events at polymerclaydaily.com