d. marie henderson

Reno’s Urban Renaissance

dmarie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:06:08 +0000

I just submitted my application for the San Francisco Metal Arts Guild member exhibition, Urban Renaissance: New Visions of Jewelry and Sculpture. The ACCI Gallery (Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Inc.) located in Berkeley, CA will host the exhibition in November 2009.

Here is my artist proposal:

Reno, Nevada—the self-proclaimed “biggest little city in the world”—began as a gaming mecca but is now reinventing itself as an outdoor adventure destination and ‘green’ city. Local residents are slowly reclaiming downtown from the casinos and establishing a small network of upscale boutiques, art galleries, quirky cafés, hipster bars, nightclubs, theaters and museums.

I live downtown in an old, slightly dilapidated brick bungalow built in 1916. As someone who always sees the potential of things, I am encouraged and energized by the transformation of my neighborhood. Although the economic downturn has recently stalled this transformation (resulting in abandoned construction sites and empty shop windows), I remain confident that Reno will grow and thrive in time.

I intend to use debris collected from construction sites (concrete rubble, broken glass, scrap metal and bits of plastic) juxtaposed with architectural renderings of planned redevelopment projects (images of a vibrant community enjoying a bright future) to create jewelry works that explore concepts related to urban renewal, growth, decay, identity, community, and the evolution of cities over time. Precious metals will be used to connect and showcase the found objects and imagery.

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Ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome!

~d.

2009 ~ Ready, Set, Go!

dmarie — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:40:36 +0000

Weekend Wrap-UpdI spent last weekend in the Bay Area with a friend who was attending the Fancy Food Show (her family has created a wonderful authentic Hawaiian teriyaki sauce!). While in the city I picked up a few new tools from Otto Frei, one of my favorite suppliers.

On Sunday I drove over to Berkeley to attend the first 2009 Metal Arts Guild (MAG) meeting. Founded in 1951, MAG seeks to create a community of metal arts enthusiasts in and around the Bay Area. Members have access to a variety of resources, including an extensive library and steel display cases that can be rented for exhibitions. The organization sponsors workshops, social networking events, and scholarships for members.

After the business portion of the meeting ended, Italian master Davide Bigazzi shared some tips on chasing and repousse, an ancient technique for raising and embellishing metal. I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting and appreciated the opportunity to introduce myself to such a talented and friendly group of metalsmiths!

Up-and-Coming dRight now I am preparing to drive out to Tucson, Arizona for the gem shows. I am not planning to buy much this year, but I am really looking forward to getting out of town and visiting with my suppliers. I signed up for a pearl-stringing class at Rio Grande Catalog In Motion, which should also be fun. I promise to take photos and post when I return.

On each Tucson trip I usually take stock of my business and plan for the coming year. However, I have already come up with a few goals for 2009:

ONE ~ Practice, practice, practice! Spend time in the studio and make stuff!

TWO ~ Continue to build an online presence to introduce myself and my work, share ideas and experiences, and educate others interested in metalsmithing and sustainable business practices.

THREE ~ Become a more active MAG member. Attend meetings when feasible. Submit at least one article for the Guildletter. Help organize and hopefully display some of my work in the MAG exhibition this November.

(We shall see what else I come up with in the next few weeks…)

More to follow,

~d.

We are currently experiencing high call-volumes…

dmarie — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:43:34 +0000

A quick apology for letting my blog stagnate over the past couple of months. My real life sort of superseded my digital life (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!). I promise I will post some new and exciting jewelry-related stuff soon — in the meantime, check out some photos from my recent road-trip to Zion National Park and central Nevada.

Happy Holidays!

~d.

The Chemicals Between Us (Part One)

dmarie — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:22:52 +0000

Chemicals are a necessary part of the metals studio. iWhile setting up mine, I searched high and low for less toxic, more eco-friendly alternatives. In addition to being more environmentally responsible, minimizing hazardous chemicals creates a safer, healthier working environment for me — which is important because I intend to work in the studio for a long time!

The properties of chemical products are described in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which contain important information on safety hazards, health effects, environmental impacts, storage and disposal. You can search for a particular MSDS online or request it from the manufacturer.

References: The Complete Metalsmith (Professional Edition) by Tim McCreight was a useful reference during my research. I would also recommend The Jewelry Workshop Safety Report by Charles Lewton-Brain (you can purchase a paperback copy or save trees and download the entire book at Lulu.com). Another great online resource is a list of safer studio alternatives compiled and periodically updated by Jeffrey Herman, founder of the Society of American Silversmiths. You can also subscribe to the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts e-newsletter, which contains in each issue tips for greening your studio. Finally, Ganoksin offers a wealth of information on jewelry making — join the Orchid forums (it’s free!) to post questions and seek advice from fellow metalsmiths and jewelers.

Below is a photograph of various chemicals and supplies I recently purchased for the studio. This post covers items A through I; part two of this post will cover items J through R. Over time as I work in the studio and continue my research I will refine this list. Please feel free to comment and share any suggestions you might have for less toxic alternatives!

( A ) ~ Baking soda is an essential ingredient in chocolate chip cookies (arguably its most important use!), so it obviously can’t be toxic. iIt is also ideal for neutralizing acids in the studio. For example, adding baking soda to spent pickle will neutralize the solution and make it safe to pour down the drain.

( B ) ~ Instead of buying paper towels, I purchased a bunch of cotton rags to use in the studio. These cleaning rags can be washed and reused rather than thrown away.

( C ) ~ Boric acid powder is an active ingredient in roach killer. When mixed with denatured alcohol (see item D, below) it creates a paste that is used to prevent firescale on silver/copper alloys during soldering operations. Although boric acid is not particularly hazardous to humans, in large quantities it can be harmful to vegetation and aquatic life. Prolonged exposure to boric acid dust should be avoided. Download the MSDS for more information.

( D ) ~ Denatured alcohol is ethanol with poisonous chemicals (usually methanol and methyl isobutyl ketone) added to make it unfit for drinking. Denatured alcohol is mixed with boric acid powder to prevent firescale (see item C, above). As you might expect, it is super-flammable (!), so it’s wise to only keep a small amount at the bench. Make sure you have have good ventilation when soldering because the fumes from it are harmful. Find out more by reading the denatured alcohol MSDS. I wanted to use Everclear, a grain alcohol produced by Luxco, as a substitute for denatured alcohol, however the 190-proof variety (95% ethanol and 5% water) has been outlawed in Nevada because of its high alcohol content. Seems odd considering that both prostitution and gambling are legal here.

( E ) ~ I also purchased VM&P Naphtha in order to reconstitute my jar of Tool Magic (see item G, below). Like denatured alcohol, VM&P Naphtha is highly flammable and its vapors are harmful; chronic exposure may cause neurological damage and other physiological damage. Ventilation and proper storage (away from heat, sparks, and flame) are key. Read the MSDS to learn more.

( F ) ~ Stay Sharp lubricant from Otto Frei is used to lubricate burs, drill bits and saw blades to reduce friction and prolong the life of the cutting edge. According to Otto Frei, this wax-like lubricant is non-toxic and odorless. Similar synthetic products are available from other suppliers, including Rio Grande. I am wondering if beeswax could be used as a ‘natural’ alternative –?

( G ) ~ Tool Magic is a rubberized coating for your pliers that allows you to grip wire and delicate metal work without marring. It is very useful, but over time it tends to dry out. Unfortunately, you reconstitute it with a solvent, such as VM&P Naphtha (see item E, above).

( H ) ~ Norton Sharpening Stone Oil is one of many lubricants that can be used with a sharpening stone to refine the cutting edges of gravers and other studio tools. It is a food-grade (i.e., non-toxic) mineral oil that is often used to sharpen kitchen knives. I recently heard that you can use peppermint essential oil as a substitute — I will test that once I use up my supply of Norton sharpening stone oil.

( I ) ~ I bought a bottle of Biokleen all purpose cleaner for studio use (I also use Biokleen products for housecleaning). According to the manufacturer, it is made from grapefruit seed and orange peel extract, and is safe around pets and plants.

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This concludes part one of the post — stay tuned for part two!

~d.

Rivets and Screws, Tea and Taxicabs

dmarie — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:16:45 +0000

While attending the Rivets and Screws class at Revere Academy I discovered Samovar Tea Lounge, a wonderful restaurant located on a terrace overlooking Yerba Buena Gardens in downtown San Francisco. The lounge features artisan teas from around the world and offers exotic, flavorful small plates. Choose a cozy table inside or relax outside on the terrace. Highly recommended!

In my wanderings I also noticed a “green” Toyota Prius taxicab and a “green” charter bus — nice to know there are some new options for eco-friendly transportation (in addition to walking and riding a bike, of course!).

~d.

Upcoming post: Eco-friendly (and not-so-friendly) studio chemicals

Recent Travels and Happenings

dmarie — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:14:31 +0000

So much has happened since I wrote my first post—and now I finally have a chance to write about it:

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About a month ago I attended Green Jewelry, a new class offered by the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts. Instructors Christine Dhein and Jennifer Horning shared valuable information on sourcing ethical materials; promoting responsible mining practices; and creating a safe, ecofriendly studio for metalsmithing. A portion of the tuition for the class was donated to Ethical Metalsmiths, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting people with responsibly-sourced metals and gemstones. I highly recommend this class and hope that Revere will offer it on a more regular basis!

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On a recent work-related trip to San Diego I had the opportunity to visit Taboo Studio, a contemporary art jewelry gallery located in the hip, cozy Mission Hills district. Inside, large glass display cases highlight the jewelry in unusual dioramas of found objects. The carefully-curated jewelry collection featured established artists like Judith Hoyt as well as noteworthy new artists like Jon Ryan, who creates interesting works from anodized aluminum. I had a wonderful time browsing and chatting with co-owner Jane Groover. If you are in San Diego, Taboo Studio is a must-see!

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This past weekend I traveled to the Bay Area to help out with the Radical Jewelry Makeover, a recycling, art, and education project sponsored by Ethical Metalsmiths. The project works like this:

People “mine” their homes, donating unwanted, unworn jewelry to the project. Volunteers (like me) sort the donated items, which are then distributed to local metalsmiths and art school students to be transformed into new and innovative jewelry works. The “made-over” recycled jewelry will be displayed at Velvet da Vinci, a premier jewelry art jewelry and metal sculpture gallery in San Francisco.

I showed up at the Richmond Art Center on Friday along with a handful of other volunteers to sort through the donations. Within several hours, we cataloged the donations and sorted the items into various categories, separating gold and silver from pot-metal, and beads from buttons. As a long-time thrift store junkie I had a lot of fun digging through the old jewelry!

I volunteered simply as a way to network with other artists and to support Ethical Metalsmiths. However, to my surprise I was asked to select some materials to work with—to actually participate in the project as a metalsmith! I am extremely grateful for and excited by this opportunity, and hope to transform my items into well-made, interesting jewelry that will once again be worn and enjoyed by someone.

I will track my progress on the blog—so stay tuned for updates!

~d.

Nucleus

dmarie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:43:31 +0000

So what is this all about?

Simply put, this blog will chronicle my adventures in ore~ganic metalsmithing—using recycled precious metals, responsibly-sourced gemstones and found objects to create wearable artworks. You can follow along as I build a sustainable business and accidentally set things on fire.

My hope is that this blog will be a resource for clients, jewelry professionals, and others interested in art and environmental stewardship.

I welcome your comments and suggestions.

~d.