Casting at Art Avenue

Last night I had my friend shoot a video of me casting with the vacuum machine.  It was SO hot in the studio even with the AC on...so please forgive my language (I say the Fword more than I should).

And mixing the investment prior to casting.

Vacuum machine that I'm using isn't mine, Autumn Brown is generous enough to 

let me use it over the summer.

And my lil' kiln.  

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Casting in the studio at Art Avenue

It's so great having a casting buddy/Autumn Brown back in Greenville!  Autumn did a residency in Athens, Ga for several months, she's back now and has helped me and Art Avenue in reorganizing the metals and casting studio at Art Avenue.  I've learned so much from her.  Here we are casting together using a vacuum casting machine.  It's alot less stressful than centrifuge (I was having major issues with it).  

Photo by Aileen Devlin for Art Avenue.

Photo by Aileen Devlin for Art Avenue.

As usual, thanks for stoppin' by!

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Renovations and new studio spaces at Art Avenue

 So it's been awhile since I've given you an update on Art Avenue.  Not sure if I even posted it, but Art Avenue did receive a city revitalization grant of $15,000 - woohoo! Which is what led us to move forward with renovating the back studio space; creating four new spaces for rent.  

First the floors were stripped of the very ugly tiles that have been there for ages, then we hired several guys (Jeremy Fineman and Andy Denton being two of them) to build wall space and floor boards to designate the new studio spaces.  We are beyond thrilled at how this will benefit the arts community in Greenville.  

And all of this will be semi-ready for the ECU Metals Symposium happening this coming weekend.  We've been literally busting our buns (from painting and squatting) to get this all done in time.   Some may not realize it but everyone that 'works' at Art Avenue is a volunteer; none of us are paid but we do it for the love of our art community and to make it bigger and better. 

Below are photos, taken by our resident photographer, Aileen Devlin of the all out paint/renovations we've had.   There are even more photos on the Art Avenue Facebook page. 

Sarah Setzco and Autumn paint the doors.

Andy bein' his usual silly self.

Our awesome construction/builder guys BJ and Mike.

Holly, a resident ceramicist came to help with her husband! We're so grateful!

There I am in the window on the other side of one of the new studio spaces.

And Jeremy Fineman bein' a clown! 

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Art Avenue update

I haven't written about the really great progress we've made at Art Avenue (where I run my jewelry business and studio) in awhile, so here is a brief update.  We recently we hosted a Cinco de Mayo member social to celebrate our biggest supporters in the eastern North Carolina region.

The idea came about from Claire Edwards, the Director of Art Avenue, to share with the community how the studio space and gallery has improved over the past year.  We also wanted to tell people about the studio rentals and how much this benefits artists from the School of Art and Design at ECU and at Pitt Community College.  

Below are some of the photos from the event.  We were able to raise a good amount from memberships that will go to making small renovations in the studio space to allow for more renters and future exhibitions.  

Thanks for reading!

A member admiring Jeremy Fineman's Bullfrog Ceramics. Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Me, talking about how important community support is.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Andy Denton singing his praises, literally!  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Jalapeno beer!! I really loved it, generously donated by these young men.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Our awesome interns, aka Pitt Community college students.   Photo by Aileen Devlin.

Guests and supporters having fun.  Photo by Aileen Devlin.

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Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios profile

Just got some really great photos Aileen Devlin took of me for Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios Facebook page.  It's interesting seeing myself at my bench, I look super serious, which I love!  Aileen is a photographer for the Greenville Daily Reflector newspaper and part time photographer for AA.  She is just one of the amazing and generous volunteers for Art Avenue. 

Some days I can't believe how lucky I am to have landed such a wonderful opportunity to have a studio at Art Avenue and to work with such talented artists like Aileen, Autumn Brown, Andy Denton, Claire Edwards, Jeremy Fineman and Sarah Setzo.  These great people are what make an art community grow and become something bigger. 

Getting ready to grind some castings.

Grinding the excess metal on castings.

Now which stone to choose?

My inspiration table.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed this post!

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Autumn Brown demo at the ECU symposium

As I stated in my previous ecu metals symposium blog post, there were so many great demos and visiting artists, and I was really excited to see my good friend Autumn Brown demonstrate how she combines metal and enamel with porcelain (cone 6).  I wasn't able to take extensive notes but I'm going to borrow words from the ECU Ceramics guild blog: "She fires the porcelain with the metal in an enameling kiln at 1500-1535 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes.  The decorative porcelain pieces are then set into constructed metal frames with clutching prongs that hold the porcelain into the metal backing."

My favorite part of how Autumn combines metal with clay is the use of copper wire placed on the porcelain making cool shapes or images.  She showed us how you can use thin 22 gauge wire to make a saw frame on the porcelain.

Autumn is an MFA alumni of the metals program received her BFA from the University of Georgia.  She currently teaches several courses at Pitt Community College (here in Gvegas), works out of her studio at Dirty Lamm, AND contributes to Greenville's newest gallery and studios over at Art Avenue -whew, she's busy! I met Autumn when I first moved to Greenville and she is a great source of knowledge for me and advice; I'd say she's my big sister metalsmith!

Autumn getting her demo ready.

Autumn's eery  yet goregous samples and pieces.

Linda Darty enamel and silver cups

Felicia Szorad necklace (enamel, silver, felt).

Kathryn Osgood's delicate yet strong pierced enamel pieces.

Above are several shots I snapped, very quickly between workshops, of the Enamel Exhibition. 

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My new studio space at Art Avenue

Moving out of the ECU metals studio took a bit of a push but once I started packing my stuff I realized that I was very much ready for a new chapter in my life.

I'm so very excited about the possibilities at Art Avenue; currently we're awaiting a city grant to move forward with renovating the space for roughly 10 private studio spaces.   It's so necessary for a recent art graduate to have some kind of working space, which most of us have a hard time finding.  But with Art Avenue, there is so much potential.  Working with Jeremy Fineman, Claire Edwards, Andy Denton and Autumn Brown...it feels fresh and exciting!

And the Gallery space is huge, we have a great location and large windows to showcase handmade artistic work.  I'm praying to the art gods that we receive a blessing in the form of this grant!

Front Gallery

Side wall of gallery.  My pieces are still up!

BEFORE photo of initial set up of my studio (I get my own room!! for now)

AFTER my studio with all my junk!

Jeremy's lovely bowls...I need to get one eventually.

The ceramic side of the 'active' studio

The soldering and kiln area.

And in the most final and exciting news is that i'll be able to set up a casting studio!!! With the help of Autumn and my boss at the Jewelry Dr., I'll have the equipment and space to do it myself.  I love the process of casting, watch the metal melt and turn into something I created...it's powerful.

Stay tuned for more news about Art Avenue and thank you for reading!

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First Friday in Greenville

Lots of great things going on tonight in the great G-Vegas. Here's a snippet of what I'll be checking out:

Art Avenue will be hosting Bringing the Heat exhibition, as posted in the FB event: First Friday Art Walk Extravaganza: Art installations by Laritza Garcia and Autumn Brown, featured work by Mike McAteer, Andy Denton and Jeremy Fineman. This showcase will include sculptural work, ceramics and jewelry. Come feast your eyes and salute the summer night.

Uptown Art is hosting an Encaustics Demo with Charity Valentine (ECU Alumni).  For which I'm very psyched about since I've never tried encaustics and it looks like fun!

Soooo, if you are in the Eastern NC area come out and see great artwork, music and demonstrations!

Art Avenue Gallery and Studios

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Dirty LAM studios open house

Parents in arms: Mario Paredes' Mom and Laura Wood's Mom, two very supportive ladies

Ms. Laura Wood posing in front of her studio space and with an Andy Denton mug!

Autumn Brown's lovely display case.
Her porcelain mini-sculptures are like small worlds!

Autumn's studio space/workstation.

This past Friday evening was the open house for Dirty LAM studios (Laura Wood, Autumn Brown and Matt Amante shared studio space).

It was a fun event and really great to see their new space and how they work in their respective mediums: Laura with paper and metal, Autumn with porcelain and metal and Matt with his sculptures. I also learned how Laura stores all her pulp and Autumn with her porcelain. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of Matt's space and work.

LAM studios participated in Greenville's First Friday art walk, residents can ride a trolley and visit all the local art studio's, galleries and participating restaurants and business'. It's a wonderful way to nurture Greenville's small but burgeoning art scene.

It's super comforting and reassuring to see my friends and fellow metalsmiths establish themselves and open their own studios. Hopefully I can do the same one day.

Thank you for reading and visiting my friends websites!
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Dirty little lamb

Such a great name for Laura Wood, Autumn Brown and Matt Amante's studio.

L (Laura) A (Autumn) M (Matt) are having their studio opening/soiree next week, Friday May 6th, for Greenville's Uptown Art Walk. I'm psyched because I've heard so much from them on how they love working in their studio since graduating and I want to see how they have it set up.

If you live in the Greenville area please come and join us to toast to their new studio and enjoy local art!
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