Archive for December, 2007
Jenna P asked:
I am involved in planning a 1920s/art deco/jazz themed award ceremony and I need some good ideas for decorations and center pieces. Some basic ideas I already have invovle calla lillies, cut-outs of jazz musicians, and lots of lights. We are spending most of our budget on lights so we were thinking incorprating mirrors into the centerpiece to reflect the light. The centerpieces also have to be pretty large because we will not hav place settings on the table. Any ideas?
I am involved in planning a 1920s/art deco/jazz themed award ceremony and I need some good ideas for decorations and center pieces. Some basic ideas I already have invovle calla lillies, cut-outs of jazz musicians, and lots of lights. We are spending most of our budget on lights so we were thinking incorprating mirrors into the centerpiece to reflect the light. The centerpieces also have to be pretty large because we will not hav place settings on the table. Any ideas?
Steven Zhao asked:
As art jewelry comes into its own in America, galleries are clasping onto the trend and finding success with the art/jewelry mix.
Throughout the world, body ornamentation is an ancient and time-honored art form. Yet in the United States, jewelry as art has only recently come into its own.
Such art is not the series of gold tennis bracelets lined up in a glass case at the mall. Nor is it the design of a single artist whose staff puts it into mass production. These are handcrafted, one-of-a-kind works conceived and executed by the artist with all the technical elements and aesthetics that carry it across the line into the realm of fine art.
“The distinction between mass-produced jewelry and art jewelry is not just in the quantity but the design,” said jewelry artist Gretchen Kubacky of Los Angeles. “I’ve seen some stunningly high-quality designs in a department store that wouldn’t be considered fine art, and I’ve seen $5,000 diamond earrings that have no design quality to them. Art is in the eye of the beholder.” All kinds of jewelry such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry,body jewelry
Kubacky identifies her own work as “ethnicized contemporary” jewelry drawn from historical images, as well as craft and folk art. She uses sterling silver, high-quality stones and pearls, but she likes to mix them up, putting hand-made stones from India with cultured pearls–the fine and the not-so-fine–to create a more hand-made appearance.
“Jewelry-as-art depends on function and intimacy,” wrote Carolyn Morris Bach, who exhibits her bone-and-precious metal jewelry at high-end expositions and in select fine art galleries across the country. “Every piece of jewelry that leaves the studio is entirely hand-fabricated by me. While I strive for perfection in my design and craftsmanship, I am not overly concerned that every form requires perfectly rounded edges or that every element be an exact replication of its counterpart. If this is art, it should be individual and unique and preserve for the viewer deliberate traces of the decisions for fabrication; the passage of the hands through materials.”
Herein lies the realm of distinction between commercial jewelry and jewelry as fine art. Part of the departure lies in the purpose or intention behind the piece, whether it was made to be sold in quantity at a profit and ultimately worn, or if it was created for the sake of art–art that was hand crafted, using unconventional materials or traditional materials in unconventional ways. The closer the artist remains to the creative process, the closer the jewelry is to fine art.
“The difference is the same for jewelry as it is for the other decorative arts, such as glass and ceramics,” said jewelry artist and photographer Douglas Steakley, who exhibits jewelry and other fine crafts at his Concepts Gallery in Carmel, Calif. “You can tell when they change into fine art because they cease being functional, or they become sculptural objects themselves,” Steakley said. “Still, there remains a huge gray area of pieces that are semi-functional or are artistic but identifiable, wearable jewelry.”
Steakley and his wife Jacqueline founded Concepts 15 years ago as a gallery featuring the work of jewelry artists like Carolyn Morris Bach, Sydney Lynch and more. Their criteria were that each piece had to be unique, well-developed and identifiable–the artist had to create a signature.
“Concepts hasn’t changed much,” he said, “except to introduce glass and photography that follow the same artistic criteria. It’s a good mix. Glass, in particular, provides a nice contrast to the jewelry. It’s larger, visually interesting and colorful. It’s also more accessible than jewelry.”
Jewelry continues to make inroads into fine art venues such as galleries, high-end shows and expos, and it is creating quite a presence in the marketplace.
Patina Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., dedicates half of its expansive space to art jewelry and the balance to other fine crafts. Owned by Allison Barnett and directed by her husband, jewelry artist Ivan Barnett, the nearly two-year-old gallery is renowned for representing some of the finest art jewelry in the world.
“We make a huge commitment to European jewelry artists,” said Ivan. “At lot of what I would call the cutting-edge of art jewelry is coming out of Europe. Theirs is a different, cleaner aesthetic. American jewelry artists are more decadent–not in a bad way–but there is a pared-down quality about the European designs. Americans are still tied a little more to the precious materials, largely because America is so market driven. Not to misrepresent the quality and aesthetic of many fine American artists, but Europeans are more closely aligned with our philosophy; creating surprises for people who have great sensibilities and want something way off the track.”
For the past 23 years, the William Zimmer Gallery in Mendocino, Calif., has presented an “eclectic, expansive and imaginative collection of contemporary arts” in both traditional and craft media. Along with sculpture, painting and furniture, it specializes in fine art jewelry with work from Morris Bach, Lynch, Abrasha and others.
As art jewelry comes into its own in America, galleries are clasping onto the trend and finding success with the art/jewelry mix.
Throughout the world, body ornamentation is an ancient and time-honored art form. Yet in the United States, jewelry as art has only recently come into its own.
Such art is not the series of gold tennis bracelets lined up in a glass case at the mall. Nor is it the design of a single artist whose staff puts it into mass production. These are handcrafted, one-of-a-kind works conceived and executed by the artist with all the technical elements and aesthetics that carry it across the line into the realm of fine art.
“The distinction between mass-produced jewelry and art jewelry is not just in the quantity but the design,” said jewelry artist Gretchen Kubacky of Los Angeles. “I’ve seen some stunningly high-quality designs in a department store that wouldn’t be considered fine art, and I’ve seen $5,000 diamond earrings that have no design quality to them. Art is in the eye of the beholder.” All kinds of jewelry such as wholesale costume jewelry,fashion jewelry wholesale,wholesale jewelry,jewelry supply,pearl jewelry,body jewelry
Kubacky identifies her own work as “ethnicized contemporary” jewelry drawn from historical images, as well as craft and folk art. She uses sterling silver, high-quality stones and pearls, but she likes to mix them up, putting hand-made stones from India with cultured pearls–the fine and the not-so-fine–to create a more hand-made appearance.
“Jewelry-as-art depends on function and intimacy,” wrote Carolyn Morris Bach, who exhibits her bone-and-precious metal jewelry at high-end expositions and in select fine art galleries across the country. “Every piece of jewelry that leaves the studio is entirely hand-fabricated by me. While I strive for perfection in my design and craftsmanship, I am not overly concerned that every form requires perfectly rounded edges or that every element be an exact replication of its counterpart. If this is art, it should be individual and unique and preserve for the viewer deliberate traces of the decisions for fabrication; the passage of the hands through materials.”
Herein lies the realm of distinction between commercial jewelry and jewelry as fine art. Part of the departure lies in the purpose or intention behind the piece, whether it was made to be sold in quantity at a profit and ultimately worn, or if it was created for the sake of art–art that was hand crafted, using unconventional materials or traditional materials in unconventional ways. The closer the artist remains to the creative process, the closer the jewelry is to fine art.
“The difference is the same for jewelry as it is for the other decorative arts, such as glass and ceramics,” said jewelry artist and photographer Douglas Steakley, who exhibits jewelry and other fine crafts at his Concepts Gallery in Carmel, Calif. “You can tell when they change into fine art because they cease being functional, or they become sculptural objects themselves,” Steakley said. “Still, there remains a huge gray area of pieces that are semi-functional or are artistic but identifiable, wearable jewelry.”
Steakley and his wife Jacqueline founded Concepts 15 years ago as a gallery featuring the work of jewelry artists like Carolyn Morris Bach, Sydney Lynch and more. Their criteria were that each piece had to be unique, well-developed and identifiable–the artist had to create a signature.
“Concepts hasn’t changed much,” he said, “except to introduce glass and photography that follow the same artistic criteria. It’s a good mix. Glass, in particular, provides a nice contrast to the jewelry. It’s larger, visually interesting and colorful. It’s also more accessible than jewelry.”
Jewelry continues to make inroads into fine art venues such as galleries, high-end shows and expos, and it is creating quite a presence in the marketplace.
Patina Gallery in Santa Fe, N.M., dedicates half of its expansive space to art jewelry and the balance to other fine crafts. Owned by Allison Barnett and directed by her husband, jewelry artist Ivan Barnett, the nearly two-year-old gallery is renowned for representing some of the finest art jewelry in the world.
“We make a huge commitment to European jewelry artists,” said Ivan. “At lot of what I would call the cutting-edge of art jewelry is coming out of Europe. Theirs is a different, cleaner aesthetic. American jewelry artists are more decadent–not in a bad way–but there is a pared-down quality about the European designs. Americans are still tied a little more to the precious materials, largely because America is so market driven. Not to misrepresent the quality and aesthetic of many fine American artists, but Europeans are more closely aligned with our philosophy; creating surprises for people who have great sensibilities and want something way off the track.”
For the past 23 years, the William Zimmer Gallery in Mendocino, Calif., has presented an “eclectic, expansive and imaginative collection of contemporary arts” in both traditional and craft media. Along with sculpture, painting and furniture, it specializes in fine art jewelry with work from Morris Bach, Lynch, Abrasha and others.
Hockey Mom asked:
We are trying to decorate our great home like a hunting/ski lodge. We have a moose head on our fireplace and are now looking for wall art/prints of moose, elk, etc. I have found some web sites; but boy are they expensive!!! Also in need of a good ski/vintage/accessories web site as well.
We are trying to decorate our great home like a hunting/ski lodge. We have a moose head on our fireplace and are now looking for wall art/prints of moose, elk, etc. I have found some web sites; but boy are they expensive!!! Also in need of a good ski/vintage/accessories web site as well.
Maigida Africanarts asked:
African art is showing up in more home decorating plans than ever before – partly because of a renewal of internet in African American culture, and partly because of an internet in something more vibrant than traditional modern art. African art comes alive when you place it in your home, adding an image that is both bold and luminous. If you need more reasons to decorate with African art, here are four that seem to stand out.
For one, you can make a statement with African art. It’s still considered to be a fresh artistic style that doesn’t become dated or old after a few years of displaying. Because this art is unlike any other, it tends to stand out in a room and can make an excellent piece of a lounge or a living room. When you display this piece in a larger room, it creates a focal point that can use as a conversation piece. With the colors and the softened edges, these pieces of art create a bold statement in any room you desire.
Another reason to decorate with African art would be to support the artist that created the work. While this is certainly the case with any artist’s work, African pieces are especially well-known for being created by emerging artists more than established artists. When you purchase one of these pieces, you help to support the African American community’s ability to continue to create art. All artists need to eat and to eat they need the money to do so. While you may argue that African American artists are no more special than others, their art community is much smaller and more focused, so taking the time to contribute to their artistic productions is something that helps all artistic endeavors.
If you are wondering how to decorate your home, you may want to purchase African art in order to add to a theme you were considering. For example, if you like the idea of creating a savannah type room, you might want to include a painting that depicts this setting. Or you can choose various African artifact pieces that can be displayed to add to your decoration style. Pictures of lovers can be a great addition to your bedroom theme or can increase the romance in your living room area. You can also increase the style in your dining room by choosing pieces that depict the family setting.
And yet another reason to add African art to your home is to bring color into your living space. Because most African pieces tend to use brighter colors, you can easily incorporate this vibrancy into your living area with the simple hanging of a piece. Try choosing several pieces that have similar colors in order to add to the color effect or focus on just one piece and then build a colorful focal point in an otherwise monochromatic room.
There are as many reasons to decorate with African art as there are reasons to enjoy African art. So if you’re looking at add some life to your home, maybe you need to look at what African has created.
African art is showing up in more home decorating plans than ever before – partly because of a renewal of internet in African American culture, and partly because of an internet in something more vibrant than traditional modern art. African art comes alive when you place it in your home, adding an image that is both bold and luminous. If you need more reasons to decorate with African art, here are four that seem to stand out.
For one, you can make a statement with African art. It’s still considered to be a fresh artistic style that doesn’t become dated or old after a few years of displaying. Because this art is unlike any other, it tends to stand out in a room and can make an excellent piece of a lounge or a living room. When you display this piece in a larger room, it creates a focal point that can use as a conversation piece. With the colors and the softened edges, these pieces of art create a bold statement in any room you desire.
Another reason to decorate with African art would be to support the artist that created the work. While this is certainly the case with any artist’s work, African pieces are especially well-known for being created by emerging artists more than established artists. When you purchase one of these pieces, you help to support the African American community’s ability to continue to create art. All artists need to eat and to eat they need the money to do so. While you may argue that African American artists are no more special than others, their art community is much smaller and more focused, so taking the time to contribute to their artistic productions is something that helps all artistic endeavors.
If you are wondering how to decorate your home, you may want to purchase African art in order to add to a theme you were considering. For example, if you like the idea of creating a savannah type room, you might want to include a painting that depicts this setting. Or you can choose various African artifact pieces that can be displayed to add to your decoration style. Pictures of lovers can be a great addition to your bedroom theme or can increase the romance in your living room area. You can also increase the style in your dining room by choosing pieces that depict the family setting.
And yet another reason to add African art to your home is to bring color into your living space. Because most African pieces tend to use brighter colors, you can easily incorporate this vibrancy into your living area with the simple hanging of a piece. Try choosing several pieces that have similar colors in order to add to the color effect or focus on just one piece and then build a colorful focal point in an otherwise monochromatic room.
There are as many reasons to decorate with African art as there are reasons to enjoy African art. So if you’re looking at add some life to your home, maybe you need to look at what African has created.
Saatchi Gallery asked:
Art museum is the collections of much variety of exhibitions and paintings. There are old art, new art, pretty art, art that makes us think or is even shocking. Anything that people experience turns up in art: love, war, eating, sports, nature, and faith, anything at all. Most museums are either free or have free days when you can go and enjoy the art. Commercial galleries are also free. Many places offer free lectures, either by an artist whose work is on display, or by individuals who are very knowledgeable in a particular collection on display.
At Saatchi Gallery you can see the List of Main Art Museums around the World as follows.
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art is the leading advocate of 20th- and 21st-century American art. Founded in 1930, the Museum is regarded as the preeminent collection of American art and includes major works and materials from the estate of Edward Hopper, the largest public collection of works by Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, and Lucas Samaras, as well as significant works by Jasper Johns, Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Bruce Nauman, Georgia O’Keeffe, Claes Oldenburg, Kiki Smith, and Andy Warhol, among other artists.
The State Hermitage Museum
The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg is Russia’s premier art museum. It began life as the private art collection of the imperial family and was nationalised and greatly expanded after the Revolution. The Museum is housed in the buildings of the former imperial palace in the centre of St Petersburg.
Art Institute of Chicago
A world of art is on display––European and American paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings, photographs, textiles, decorative arts, and architectural fragments and drawings, plus the arts of Asia, Africa and the ancient Americas.
British Museum
The British Museum holds in trust for the nation and the world a collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. Housed in one of Britain’s architectural landmarks, the collection is one of the finest in existence, spanning two million years of human history. Access to the collections is free.
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was founded in February 4, 1870 and on July 3, 1876 opened its doors of its building in Copley Square, a John H. Sturgis and Charles Brigham-designed gothic structure of red brick and terra-cotta.
Art museum is the collections of much variety of exhibitions and paintings. There are old art, new art, pretty art, art that makes us think or is even shocking. Anything that people experience turns up in art: love, war, eating, sports, nature, and faith, anything at all. Most museums are either free or have free days when you can go and enjoy the art. Commercial galleries are also free. Many places offer free lectures, either by an artist whose work is on display, or by individuals who are very knowledgeable in a particular collection on display.
At Saatchi Gallery you can see the List of Main Art Museums around the World as follows.
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art is the leading advocate of 20th- and 21st-century American art. Founded in 1930, the Museum is regarded as the preeminent collection of American art and includes major works and materials from the estate of Edward Hopper, the largest public collection of works by Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, and Lucas Samaras, as well as significant works by Jasper Johns, Donald Judd, Agnes Martin, Bruce Nauman, Georgia O’Keeffe, Claes Oldenburg, Kiki Smith, and Andy Warhol, among other artists.
The State Hermitage Museum
The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg is Russia’s premier art museum. It began life as the private art collection of the imperial family and was nationalised and greatly expanded after the Revolution. The Museum is housed in the buildings of the former imperial palace in the centre of St Petersburg.
Art Institute of Chicago
A world of art is on display––European and American paintings, sculpture, prints and drawings, photographs, textiles, decorative arts, and architectural fragments and drawings, plus the arts of Asia, Africa and the ancient Americas.
British Museum
The British Museum holds in trust for the nation and the world a collection of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures. Housed in one of Britain’s architectural landmarks, the collection is one of the finest in existence, spanning two million years of human history. Access to the collections is free.
Boston Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was founded in February 4, 1870 and on July 3, 1876 opened its doors of its building in Copley Square, a John H. Sturgis and Charles Brigham-designed gothic structure of red brick and terra-cotta.