Hunter, Lissa Bad Things Will Happen Fiber 24 x 16 x 3" Jane Sauer Thirteen Moons Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

The Soft Side of Sculpture 1

Fiber artists Lissa Hunter (Jane Sauer Thirteen Moons), Judy James (Snyderman-Works Galleries), Laura Foster Nicholson (Katie Gingrass), Lindsay Rais (Jane Sauer Thirteen Moons), and Donna Rhae Marder (Mobilia Gallery) express and explain the soft side. Presented by Friends of Fiber Art International.

Belinker, Melanie Soak, 2005 Gold, sterling, ivory, resin, hair 45 x 34 x 7 mm Sienna Gallery, Lenox, MA

Emerging Talent 2005

Three of jewelry’s rising stars, Anya Pinchuck (Charon Kransen Fine Arts), Sergey Jivetin (Ornamentum Gallery) and Melanie Belinker (Sienna Gallery) speak about the development of their brilliantly obsessive jewelry. Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Hunter, William Ancient Flutes Cocobolo 6 x 13.5 In the Collection of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL

Turning Point: The Inspiration of the Edward Jacobson Collection of Turned Wood Bowls

Edward Jacobson assembled the first comprehensive collection of turned-wood by contemporary American artists, generously donated to the Arizona State University Art Museum in 1989. This talk will explore the collection and its inspiration, and subsequent exhibitions and acquisitions of contemporary art in wood at the ASU Art Museum that continue the Jacobson legacy. Heather S. Lineberry, Senior Curator, Arizona State University Art Museum. Presented by Collectors of Wood Art.

Carrizzi, Phil Verge "Flatware: Function + Fantasy" SpecialExhibit at SOFA CHICAGO 2005

Flatware: Function + Fantasy

An exploration of the past, present and future of flatware with a panel of makers from Metalsmith’s Exhibition in Print 2005, on display at SOFA. Artists Phil Carrizzi, Fred Fenster and Michel Royston, moderated by co-curator Rosanne Raab. Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Hess, Mary Merkel Plover, 2004 Reed, paper Photo: © Tom Grotta browngrotta arts, Wilton, CT

The Soft Side of Sculpture 2

More about the soft side, by fiber artists Mary Merkel-Hess (browngrotta arts), Leah Danberg (del Mano Gallery), Pamela Becker (Snyderman-Works Galleries), Linda Behar (Mobilia Gallery), and Karen Halt (Portals Ltd.). Presented by Friends of Fiber Art International.

Onofrio, Judy Look and You Shall See (detail), 2005 Mixed media 80 x 33” x 33" Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO

Come One, Come All

Judy Onofrio (Sherry Leedy Fine Arts), recipient of 2005 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award, focuses on her current traveling museum exhibition, Come One, Come All, illustrating the transformation of her sculpture over the last ten years.

Karnes, Karen Trio of Tall Forms, 2004 Woodfired Stoneware 15" H Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA

Artists & Emergencies: The Journey Back

Artists Michael Bauermeister (del Mano Gallery), Laura Donefer (R. Duane Reed Gallery) , Karen Karnes (Ferrin Gallery), Tom Mann (Ferrin Gallery), and Richard Royal (Marx Saunders Gallery, Ltd.) join moderator Bruce Pepich, executive director of the Racine Art Museum, WI, to discuss the career-threatening emergencies each experienced in their lives. They will describe what it took to sustain their careers during challenging times and how their experiences affected their work. Presented by the Craft Emergency Relief Fund.

Wren on Driftwood Attributed to Dexter Dockery, woodcarver Brasstown, NC Articulated Mountain Dolls Attributed to Pauline Page, c. 1950 Pleasant Hill, TN Steatite Smoking Pipe Maker Unknown Western North Carolina

Studying a Passion: Views on Collecting

This panel will consider interpretations of collecting from the fields of psychology, art history, and cultural studies, and offer comments from the speaker’s discipline of folklore, presented by Stacy Tidmore, Ph.D. Followed by a discussion with collectors Arthur Mason, Anna Mendel and Dudley Anderson, moderator.

Peters, Ruudt Brooches Polyester & silver Photo: Rob Versluys © Ruudt Peters Ornamentum, Hudson, NY

Philosopher’s Stone

How does the jewelry maker relate to this world? Dutch conceptual artist Ruudt Peters (Ornamentum) discusses the direct relationship of our daily environment to art jewelry in general, and specifically, the influence of the modern environment on his work. Peters is professor of jewelry and metals, University of Arts and Crafts, Stockholm, Sweden. Presented by Art Jewelry Forum.

Mares, Ivan On Edge, 2005 Cast glass 20.5 x 43.75 x 8.75” Heller Gallery, New York, NY

Taking Flight: the Making of the "Wing"

Czech artist Ivan Mares (Heller Gallery) documents the creative and physical process involved in the casting of his massive glass sculpture, "Wing."

Wood Turning in North America Since 1930 2002 Exhibit at Yale University Art Gallery

The Growing Role of Museums in the Crafts

The panel will focus on wood art and the growth of interest in the high crafts by fine art museums. Patricia Kane, Curator of Decorative Arts, Yale University Art Gallery; Jack Larsen, President, Longhouse Reserve; moderated by Kevin Wallace, writer and curator. Presented by Collectors of Wood Art.

Lundberg, Tom Barbara’s Steps, 2005 Mixed fibers 8.25 x 8.25” Photo: Tom Lundberg Hibberd McGrath Gallery, Breckenridge, CO

Organic Ornament

Like gardens, textiles heighten our awareness of time, place, and detail. In discussing his stitched textiles, artist Tom Lundberg (Hibberd McGrath Gallery) looks at the language of ornament and its conversation between indoors and outdoors.

Hot shop at Philchuck School of Glass.

Pilchuck Glass School and Its Colleagues: An Educational Theme with Variations

Artist, teacher and Pilchuck Glass School trustee Fritz Dreisbach takes a look at the school’s history and the way that art education in glass has blossomed world-wide since Pilchuck’s beginnings in 1971. Presented by Pilchuck Glass School.

Fenster, Fred Tetrahedron Teapot, 2004 Pewter 11"

An Artist and Educator Reflects on His Work

2005 American Craft Council Gold Medalist Fred Fenster, metalsmith and recently retired University of Wisconsin, Madison, professor will discuss his work and the ideals that have driven his career as an artist and educator. Presented by American Craft Council.

Bess, Nancy Moore KUROI ARCH (black arch) Waxed cotton and linen twined over industrial foam, acrylic 9 .5 x 20 x 6" Photo: Tom Grotta browngrotta arts, Wilton, CT

International Contemporary Basketry/Sculpture: Looking East, Looking West for Influences

Innovation, complexity of form and weave structure are some of the sculptural qualities that will be discussed by Nancy Moore Bess (browngrotta arts), artist and author of "Bamboo in Japan." Presented by the National Basketry Organization.

Bennett, David High Kick Dancer, 2005 Hand-blown glass, bronze 32 x 12 x 10" Habatat Galleries - Florida

Expanding an Ancient Art Form

Artist David Bennett (Habatat Galleries - Florida) traces the history of reticulated metal and blown glass from early Roman times, explaining how he has expanded the technology to meet his evolving art.

Powell, Stephen Rolfe Nudging Manic Scooter, 2005 Blown glass Marx-Saunders Gallery, Ltd., Chicago, IL

Stephen Powell: Symmetry to Asymmetry

Powell (Marx-Saunders Gallery, Ltd.) traces the evolution of his work, from traditional symmetrical vessel forms to his most recent asymmetrical forms.

Loeser, Tom Ladderbackcabreddal, 2005 Maple, cherry, paint 87 x 14 x 41" Photo: Bill Lemke Leo Kaplan Modern, New York, NY “Convergence: Crossing the Divide” Special Exhibit at SOFA CHICAGO 2005, presented by the Furniture Society

Convergence: Crossing the Divide--The Studio Furniture of Tasmania and America

A panel discussion by studio furniture artists in this special exhibit, on view at SOFA, in which two groups of studio furniture makers from opposite sides of the world illustrate how common factors of craftsmanship and design can transcend time and space. Panelists: Wendy Maruyama, exhibit co-curator and head of woodworking and furniture design, San Diego State University; Tom Loeser, artist, professor and head of furniture program, University of Wisconsin, Madison; John Smith, exhibit co-curator and head of furniture design studio, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania; Patrick Hall (Despard Gallery), designer/maker, Mount Nelson, Tasmania. Presented by the Furniture Society.

Perkins, Flo Pinfrontation, 2005 15 x 24 x 10" Hawk Galleries, Columbus, OH

Flo Perkins: New Work / New Mexico

Nature informs us, the man-made world tells on us. Perkins (Hawk Galleries) talks about her new work.

Slee, Richard Bananas, 2005 Clay 11.5 x 16 x 16.5" Photo: Philip Sayer Barrett Marsden Gallery, London, UK

Richard Slee: A Retrospective View

A recent retrospective of the artist’s ceramic work identified eight clear phases in his thirty-year output. Slee (Barrett Marsden Gallery), from the UK, will explore and illustrate these chapters.

Boldon, Brian Toward Self-Concealment, 2005 Laser-printed decals, acid-etched and glazed earthenware 10 x 60 x 6” Photo: Brian Boldon Dubhe Carreño Gallery, Chicago, IL

Material Presence/Body Absence

The work of artist Brian Boldon (Dubhe Carreño) explores body philosophy. He is particularly interested in Cartesian-Dualism’s mind-body separation and the impact this has on our ability to truly connect with our personal perceptual experience of the world in the moment. Boldon creates a synthesized language of electronic image and ceramic form to question the sustainability of the absent body; his synthesis of seemingly contradictory media serves as a means for exploring the nature of perception and action of the body in the world.

Ebendorf, Bob Bird in the Box, 2005 Mixed media 8.75 x 6.75 x 1.5” Snyderman-Works Galleries, Philadelphia, PA

Bob Ebendorf: A Continuing Journey

Ebendorf (Snyderman-Works Galleries), the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor at East Carolina University’s School of Art, presents an overview of 40 years of work, sharing his journey as a studio jeweler, designer for a major company, traveler and distinguished educator.

Mark Thomson Author, Curator

Rare Trades: Making Things by Hand in the Digital Age

In the west, technology has transformed work, often changing traditional skilled trades beyond recognition overnight. Who and what trades remain? What can we learn from the remaining makers? Mark Thomson, author and curator, Australia.

Smith, Barbara Lee Gathering of Light 21 x 12 x 12" Snyderman-Works Galleries Philadelphia, PA

Topic: Surface and Structure

Artist Barbara Lee Smith (Snyderman-Works Galleries) searches beneath surface design to reveal the structure of idea, intention, methods, and materials that coalesce to make today’s textile art compelling. Presented by Surface Design Journal.

Levenson, Silvia It's Raining Knives Cast glass, artificial grass, nylon line 47.2 x 47.2” The Corning Museum of Glass (2004)

Contemporary Latin American Art in Glass: Silvia Levenson and Einar and Jamex de la Torre

The work of Silvia Levenson and the de la Torre brothers is presented and discussed in the context of topics in contemporary Latin American art. Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass, The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY.

Nahabetian, Dennis Vessel # 73, 2005 Bronze, Copper, Patina, Polychrome 3 1/4" H x 6 1/2" Dia del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Dennis Nahabetian: Merging Metal, Fiber and More

Nahabetian (del Mano Gallery), who utilizes a wide range of techniques to create his unique wire vessels and jewelry, describes the invention of process and exploration of form that define his work. Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths.

Adams, Hank Gossipbater, 2005 Cast glass, patinated copper 30 x 17 x 17" Photo: Hank Adams Elliot Brown Gallery, Seattle, WA

Village People

Hank Adams, artist and creative director at Wheaton Village, will discuss his work, the nature of a communal creative sanctuary, and the unique interface of the individual artist within a public institution. Wheaton Village is the recipient of Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass’ annual award to a program or institution that has significantly furthered the studio-glass movement.

Lee, Jennifer Olive, dark haloed trace, amber pot and Pale, speckled granite and olivetrace pot, 2004 Hand-built colored stoneware 5 x 4.25” & 8.5 x 6.25” Photo: Alan Tabor Gallery Besson, London, UK

Jennifer Lee: Ceramic Artist

Lee (Galerie Besson), born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, studied ceramics at Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland, and the Royal College of Art in London. She will present an overview of her work from the last twenty-five years, focusing on her one-off handbuilt ceramic vessels and her travels in Egypt, India and North America.

Walker, Audrey Temptation (the Collectors) The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire, Wales, UK

Visions in Stitch

Artists Rozanne Hawksley and Audrey Walker (Ruthin Craft Centre), two of the UK’s great embroidery innovators, share the vision, inspiration and techniques they have acquired in their combined experiences of more than a century in the world of fiber art.

Mueller, Louis ULTRAIST Sconce, 2005 Constructed bronze, enamel paint, light bulb 18 x 5 x 6” Photo: Ira Garber Elliott Brown Gallery, Seattle, WA

The Pleasure of Light

Louis Mueller (Elliott Brown Gallery) looks at the 25 year evolution of his work with sculptural lighting.