The samples got shipped on Friday afternoon. I ended up only getting five catalogs printed. I wasn’t sitting right there watching the printer and the paper was not feeding consistently. So when I went to start collating the catalogs, there were missing pages, then the next page printed on the wrong page, which meant messed up page order – grrrr. Buggered pages or not, I do like the look of the new catalog. I’ve changed the look of it a bit – fonts and a different type of cover image. I usually do a nice staged product shot. This time I went for a nicely arranged ‘pile’ of jewelry. I’ve switched from Riverside as my main font, a nice handwriting font that I’ve used for years, to Copperplate Gothic light, a clean all caps serif. The text body is still Moderne, a nice clean sans-serif. Here’s my cover image – all new work …
I really love these three pieces … especially the folded planks. I also made a bunch of beads to resurrect an old classic style that I called ‘Le Monde’. I used to do everything highly textured – I called it ‘textural collage’ … pompous. I really enjoyed making these so very plain – the only ‘texture’ is my fingerprints and I smushed and pinched the beads a bit so sections end up looking like draped fabric frozen in silver. There’s also a cool thing that happens when the cork clay cores and the PMC are not completely dry – the precious metal clay surfaces get little bumps from the moisture trying to break through – sort of looks like irregular reticulation. I also encourage some cracks. Little wabi-sabi girl me.
So, the work looks great and I’m really pleased with the range of new work. Hopefully the reps and galleries will agree. That makes the $80 shipping a bit less annoying. I’ll be spending another chunk to get the rest of the catalogs and CD’s to Portland by Thursday.
Yesterday was the wake/luncheon/gathering for Dave’s Aunt Ruth and then a big family dinner last night. Today, we’ve got one more family lunch and then we’re back to normal. Although this will be the new normal. Turns out we’ve inherited a new car – an almost new Subaru Outback. Picture Dave and Kathy stunned and overwhelmed. It’s a gift outside of the will, which I guess makes for less technical stuff. I think it’s getting signed over to us on Tuesday – crazy.
We did manage to squeeze in a visit to the Biltmore Village Craft Fair … very disappointing … boring. I’m continually surprised by how little artists’ work has changed in the last six or seven years. Then there’s the head dude of the fair and owner of Asheville art world mainstays like New Morning Gallery, Blue Spiral 1 and Bellagio, John Cram. Mega powerful and exceedingly unpleasant. I had been thinking about making an appointment to show my work to Bellagio, very upscale art-to wear boutique, but after seeing Mr Cram ‘holding forth’ at the festival, his palpable disdain and basically rude behavior oozing around his little entourage … well, I don’t need any of that energy in my life. I’m beginning to wonder if my work fits in anywhere around here. Apparently, my work has a very urban, contemporary look to it – who knew? Oh well, I’ll figure it out eventually.
For now, here’s my three favorite necklaces from the new work:
Coin spiral on braided silk …
Folded Planks on nylon cord …
Le Monde …
I’ll be back up and running in a couple of days – new goodies for Etsy will be showing up later in the week.
until then ……..
blessings,
kvk
8 comments
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2 August 2009 at 12:15 pm
mansuetude
Everything looks beautiful.
The cover shot is Beautiful!
So love the crimped over metal. I loved it when i’d screw up in the dark room and get “reticulation” on my BW film; it gave a strange metaphor of the energy cells vibrating from within the whole unified object in the image. A great concept.
ahhh… the tasks are almost complete. (For now… :)
2 August 2009 at 6:19 pm
Catherine Witherell
Hey Kathy! I like doing ‘textural collage’ patterns on my beads but I’m just having fun! Just throwing in a kibbutz for you here and there. I like your beads and those folded over pieces too. I think your photos are good too. I want a catalog! I love looking at your work and feel like I am absorbing organic qualities by osmosis although I am clearly not as organic as you and may never be no matter how hard I would try. Those galleries should love your work too
2 August 2009 at 7:29 pm
lynne
oh, those planks – LOVE them…
your catalog cover looks great — everything looks great! and a new car! woo! ya just never know…
love, love…
me
2 August 2009 at 9:31 pm
Kathy Van Kleeck
M – the best part about clay of any sort is the unpredictability and so many things being out of my control – hence some excellent serendipity. I love the idea of that happening in photographs … layers and depth of meaning – lush!
C – Golly … don’t mean to say for one second that texture on PMC is pompous – it’s was my name for it that felt contrived. These days, my whole way of working is based on Occam’s razor and I’m paraphrasing here, “The simplest answer is probably the best answer”. My big artistic shift occurred about 3 years ago, that was after 8 years of working with PMC. It’s still very much a work in progress. I get lots of inspiration from Japanese gardens and pottery, Andy Goldsworthy, Maya Lin architecture.
The new catalog will be the basis for my updated website – down the road.
L – Yeah, I’m totally lovin’ the planks and the new ride ??? Well, it’s s’posed to be happenin’. The whole inheritance thing is weird on so many levels. Uncomfortable and weird. But we both know how the universe provides … it takes my breath away. sending such huge hugs! xoxoxoxo
3 August 2009 at 1:35 am
jeane
I really like your cover shot and of course the work is wonderful – a new car – my, oh, my! life is good! xxo
3 August 2009 at 6:05 am
Catherine Witherell
I understand, and I know what you mean by “the simplest answer”. The simplest is beautiful and we forget that sometimes.
I will be here – down the road, because I like yours too.
3 August 2009 at 9:08 am
nina
i have to laugh here……i do……
maybe you’ll know why. we’ll talk later. i love you!
3 August 2009 at 2:29 pm
Catherine Witherell
Is it because I am interested here that you are laughing? Good work is good work! And I am very interested because it is beautiful! You know that Nina.
Catherine