Dialogue

Laura Deakin
Necklaces
Polyester filler, silk, plastic mother-of-pearl
2006-07

Over on Facebook, the graduate students from SUNY New Paltz have started "A Dialogue Regarding Beauty and Jewelry", and have asked a great many people from the field to participate. They ask that you respond to these two questions:

Identify a piece of jewelry made in the last two decades that you found to be profoundly beautiful. Explain why, and/or relate the experience.


Is it your intent that skillfulness is clearly demonstrated in your work? Why or why not?

I knew almost immediatly which piece I wanted to use to answer the first question, these "pearl" necklaces by Laura Deakin. Out of all the wonderful pieces in "The Fat Booty of Madness", these are the ones that have stuck with me.

I knew the answer to the second question too, but crafting something that so many top players in the field were going to see was a bit nerve wracking. It's been a bit of a stuggle for me, because I'm not a super personal person, but I've chosen to make this super personal and private work, while I'm still in the position where I have to talk about it. How do you share, without sharing too much?

Anyways, I think I managed to come up with something that was short, to the point and doesn't make me sound like a complete idiot:

The pieces in this series strike me because of their minimalism, use of unconventional materials and, most importantly for me, their subtly.

Demonstrating skill used to be part of my intent when I was making a very different type of work. This is no longer my desire, partially because I don’t feel like it takes a whole lot of technical skill to make my work. My work is about myself and my spiritual journey and my love of these things. My intent has shifted to let this voice, my voice be heard over any overt show of skill.

Tagged

I was tagged on Facecrack, and I thought I would post my facts here as well. Which I can do, 'cause it's my blog and I can do what I want.

Here are my 25 random habits, facts, eccentricities, longings, failings, fears, etc. Enjoy.

1. I didn't major in Geology because I was afraid of taking the Calculus, Physics and Chem. courses.
2. I constantly doubt whether or not I should even try being an artist.
3. I can't not make things. I guess this is why I'm still in art.
4. I got pneumonia when I was a Jr. in High school. I wound up in the hospital for a day and half. It sucked.
5. I wasn't real keen on starting my blog, but now I love it because it makes me think that people are paying attention to me.
6. I am so eternally grateful for my two years at Towson, and so amazingly glad I moved on.
7. I read my favorite books over and over and over again. I read my top favs at least once a year.
8. Some days I just really miss my dog.
9. I'm looking forward to the Watchman movie.
10. I never really understood Jackson Pollack's paintings until I saw one in person.
11. When I was a small child I had a big tractor tire full of sand for my sand box. My older bother had a big pile of sand which I wasn't allowed to play in unless he let me. I was always jealous of this. I made up for it later by playing in my younger cousin's kick ass sandbox.
12. My brother and I played "Art School" when we were little. Go figure.
13. My favorite color is constantly changing. Right now I'm a deep, indigo blue.
14. I was quite infatuated with one of my TAs in undergrad.
15. My favorite class ever was Petrology.
16. I have a pet spiny mouse. He's slightly bigger than a regular mouse and has stiffer, spiny fur on his rump and is incredibly cute.
17. I'm not throwing out my peanut butter Oreos because of salmonella because I've already eaten 1/3 of them and I feel fine.
18. I honestly believe that I'm the only person in the history of the field to start grad school in the spring TWICE.
19. I'm finally beginning to realize how much potential I have and it scares the shit out of me.
20. I can't spell.
21. I hate needles and shots and I tend to hyperventilate and pass out upon getting a shot. This is why I'll never get a tattoo.
22. If I ever did get a tattoo, it would probably be some kind of Zuda tattoo. Or a rock.
23. I'm ususally cold. Like right now.
24. Someday I want sheep. But just two. Nice ones.
25. I'm not going to tag anyone because I believe the people I would tag would get annoyed with me if I did that. If you'd like to be tagged, take this as your open invitation.

Urg. . . .

So I did it. I finally joined Facebook. I feel like I've lost a piece of my soul . . . .