“Frequent dancing apparently makes us smarter. A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one’s mind can ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit.  Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages.

The table of figures in the article listed these tested activities against a reduction in your mind’s acuity
“Bicycling and swimming – 0%
Playing golf – 0%
Reading – 35%
Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week – 47%
Dancing frequently – 76%.”

When I get involved in intricate stringing in a necklace, like this newest Treasure Necklace, “Peruvian Spring”, developing those intriguing and always-changing patterns of beads has always felt like puzzle-solving. I love crossword puzzles, especially those fiendish cryptic styles. And since I’m very kinesthetic, making these necklaces has always felt like I was dancing back and forth across the curves of the necklace, improvising patterns and establishing unexpected relationships between colors, textures and shapes. Balance, move, adjust, add, balance, turn, and on and on. Of course my feet are not so involved, but the rest of my body and mind is, and benefits as a result.

My dear artist-pal and dreamer Victoria Rabinowe got me dancing again- it’s brought great joy back into my life. Bead artist Babette Cox gave me her gorgeous silver-enhanced lampworked bead for this necklace.

So why are you sitting here reading this? Go dancing!

Afterwards, come to my jewelry trunk show this weekend, where this brand-new sweetie and others will be available for you.

I’ll have new and special things in my studio that will not be on my gallery shop, so remember, 12-5 Saturday and Sunday if you’re local.

Mambo-ing for good luck, healthy minds, and creative lives for all of us-
Tory

Hello all-
You’re invited to my jewelry trunk show this weekend!
Saturday and Sunday May 26+27, from noon to 5pm

Showing at my studio:
• Stunning, shimmering necklaces that arc and move.
• Luminous contemporary brooches.
• Evocative hinged pendants redolent of ancient cultures.
• Witty, engaging postage-stamp brooches.
• Colorful, playful beaded necklaces.
I’ll also be selling objects, vessels and artists’ books.

Summer’s Day Jewelry Show and Open Studios

Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27, from 12 noon to 5pm

1519 Upper Canyon Road, Santa Fe

Visit our leafy oasis and art complex,
and take time to chat with us and see what inspires us.
Shop for jewelry and objects
that express your personal style.

Bring your friends and have a day out.
There’ll be cool refreshments and bonbons; please carpool if you can.
Please join us under the cottonwoods for a magical summer day!

Tory

>  On March 17 and 18, I’ll be teaching two different one-day classes:
- ‘Image Me This’, phototransfers and polymer for book arts, Mar. 17
- ‘Antiqued Surfaces and Dimensional Elements’ in polymer and mixed media, for book arts. Mar.18
Both these classes are limited to 8 people, so there will be lots of space and attention for each participant.
Details on the presentation and on the workshops below:

Presentation ‘A Little Bookishness’:  Tory Hughes Artists’ Books
1pm Saturday Mar. 3   Free presentation at the BAG meeting.
Santa Fe Community College Board Room
Presentation and slide show with examples and objects
contact Helen Baldridge wsbaldridge@comcast.net

One-day Workshops in Polymer for Book Arts

“Image Me This”
phototransfer processes in polymer, for books, postcards and other flat surfaces
Saturday March 17, 10-4
Tory’s studio: 1519 Upper Canyon Road, 28, Santa Fe
$75, includes everything.
Please pre-register and pay me to confirm your spot in this workshop

here- Joss Postcard: phototransfers. below- turquoise RedBook

“Antiqued Surfaces and Dimensional Elements”
patinas, embossings, antiquing,
making and using molds, and more, in polymer
Sunday March 18, 10-4
Tory’s studio: 1519 Upper Canyon Road, 28, Santa Fe
$75, includes everything.
Please pre-register and pay me to confirm your spot in this workshop

Questions? Email me at victoria@toryhughes. com.
Call me at 505-301-9142.

To register for classes, you can sign up at my presentation on Saturday, or email me.
Looking forward to seeing you,  Tory

Hello from Santa Fe! How’s by you?
Been a productive time in the studio, blurred a bit by a computer crash in mid-January. Communications went awry, but should be sorted out by now. Working in my studio has been very fulfilling: here-

SeaCliff Brooch 20,  polymer, acrylic,    2012        2.5″ x 1.25″ x .25″mmmmmmmmmm

SeaCliff Brooch 15,   polymer, acrylic,   2011     2″ x 2″ x .25″mmmmmmmmmm

SeaCliff Brooch 22   SOLD   polymer, acrylic, 2012    2″ x 1.75″ x .25″ mmmmmmmmmmm

SeaCliff Brooch 17   SOLD   polymer, acrylic, 2012   2.25″ x 1.5″ x .25″ mmmmmmmmmmm

SeaCliff Brooch 21  SOLD   polymer, acrylic, 2012   2.25″ x 1.5″ x .25″ mmmmmmmmm

SeaCliff Brooch 17, polymer, acrylic, glass    2012    2.25″ x 1.25″ x .25″ mm

Go here to buy one of these for yourself, or to browse other brooches and necklaces in my gallery shop.
A collector recently commented ‘Your pictures are fine, but these brooches are even more beautiful in person than I’d expected’. Another added ‘They’re so lightweight and delicate- they look much heavier: what a surprise!’

SeaCliff Brooch 18, polymer, acrylic, gold, silver, 2012 2.5″ x 1.25″ x .25″ mmmmmmmmmm

NOT that I have favorites, but these last two, my most recent, are particularly inspiring me.
However, SeaCliff 21, above, and SeaCliff 8 have a persistent hold over me as well. However, they sold quickly – in fact a collector bought SeaCliff 21 as I was finishing it, during her first visit to my studio. Persons of impeccable taste are drawn together, that must be it.

SeaCliff Brooch 23,  polymer, acrylic, silver 2012    2.25″ x 1.5″ x .25″ mmmmmmmmmm

Questions about these, please email victoria@toryhughes.com or call 505-301-9142
To own these for yourself, please click here.

SeaCliff Brooch 24, polymer, acrylic, gold 2012    2.25″ x 1.5″ x .5″ mmmmmmmmmm

And come over!
Open Studios in early May, so get on my email list for news about that.
Also as always, you’re invited anytime:
1519 Upper Canyon- the New School / Red Sky Studios, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Call or email first, just in case: 505-301-9142

'Lemmings' Rachel Gourley©2011 digital print

Ready? Set?
Here we go, bravely heading into 2012!

You’ve been on my mind since last week.
Many thoughtful, appreciative comments came in on The Realm of You. What an intelligent and capable group of people you are.

Here’s part two:

How to Gloriously Rule your Realm in 2012.

Yes, this year will be turbulent.
That doesn’t necessarily mean destructive, although some concepts and systems will be destroyed, and others will be created.  That’s just life on Earth though.

LIGHTENING UP
‘Lemmings’, the image above, is from Vancouver artist Rachel Gourley.
She creates elements in polymer, then photographs them in selected sites. The images are her art form.
Artist and historian Rachel Carren calls Gourley’s work  ‘an Andy Goldsworthy approach with polymer’, and a playful, exploratory edge. She’s using secret knowledge in her work. Gourley is one of my mentoring clients: I’m excited to be working with her. When I opened this image, I burst out laughing, what a hoot! How delightful! She’ll have a website very soon, after Susan Lomuto’s Artist Online course, and I’ll send you all the link.

Back to you. Secret knowledge? Yep. LIghtening up.
You can actually have fun during the remaining 363 days of this year. How? Why?

Because of all you did last year.
Because you have your own secret knowledge.
Because you showed up yesterday, Jan. 1, ready to go, with hard-won and glorious willingness.

Transformations this year will come directly from your creative nature.

I’m not saying this to make you feel good, though that may happen.
I’m reminding you of WHO YOU ARE.

Look at yourself. What a great design!
Quirky holographic mind and big heart.
Clever hands and capable body.
Unique ideas. Curious and playful.
Sense of possibility and how things connect.
You’re designed for creative action.

Creating feels good to everyone. You LOVE having creative jobs.
Why?
Because when you approach things creatively,
you’ve FINALLY gotten the individual parts lined up right, and set them working together.
You’re supposed to do this, like a Ferrari should go fast or a virtuoso should play the right instrument.

You’re happiest and you work best when you see your life as creative opportunity.
Every event in your life is offering itself to you this way.
I guarantee it.

THE NEXT STEP
The next step is easy. Pull last year’s lessons into your creative approach

You have built-in SECRET KNOWLEDGE of how to do this.
Secret mostly from you, because you were probably told not to believe it about yourself.
That’s why we’re having this little chat.

Secret knowledge shows up at the crossroads of your conscious and subconscious minds.
Creative types spend a lot of time at this intersection: they put up market stalls, start gardens, invite friends, get married.
You know how it feels here.  Things are a bit easier, kind of exciting. Giggling in the background. Getting things done flows here, with less effort and more glee.

You  lined the parts up, and now light can shine all the way through.

Here are some examples of what I mean.
Tell us where you’ll act on these in a creative approach to your life.

• GET PLAYFUL

Everyone knows that playfulness and creativity are linked, and we crave a more creative life: yet we think adults should give their playfulness up. It is possible to be brilliant and playful and successful though. Practice a lot, if this is hard right now. Find a kid or a puppy, a book or movie. You’ll get better as you remind yourself how. You have a sense of humor: this is the year to relax into it.

• ENGAGE PARADOX

The universe is too complex to think we can sort out contradictions. The yinyang symbol is a circle first:  then is both black and white simultaneously. Seek out paradoxes. Gently hold both / all aspects, see what happens. No wrong answers. Hint: it’s not what you think. The yinyang makes sense to you because you can see it from a bigger perspective. 2012 will be full of paradox. It’s the universe winking at you. Wink back.

• DO THE UNEXPECTED

Practice this one too. At least once a day, notice a habit and deliberately be unexpected instead. Write with your left hand. Lie on the floor and put your feet on the chair. Walk backwards around your yard. Juxtapose elements out of context. Make yourself laugh. Get radically simple. Neuroscience can now show you pretty pictures of your brain making new connections and increasing your ability to think more widely when you do this.

• RISK CONFIDENTLY

You’ve got vast extra smartness below your conscious mind, like an iceberg but warmer. Confident risk means even if your analytical mind can’t say why, your smart holographic mind knows exactly what to do, because you have lots of extra information. Scientists have shown this over and over. So trust yourself.
An example: The island nation of Samoa and neighboring Tokelau this year voted to skip December 30, 2011, and be the first countries in the world to celebrate the new year, rather than the last. Nothing bad happened, other than more tourist money. This leads right into-

• IGNORE UNREAL LIMITATIONS

Know the difference. Limiting your self-identity to what was given to your country centuries ago may not be effective.
Limiting your spending on materials when you don’t have much money for them is effective. Deciding that therefore you aren’t an artist because you can’t make anything because you have no materials is not effective. Ditto for tools. Ditto for processes. If Gourley accepted polymer as only a jewelry medium, we wouldn’t be looking at her image of an art installation in the Canadian Rockies.

• TRUST THE BIGGER PICTURE

Which you can’t get your conscious mind around, and that is as it should be. As a marvelous illustration, a woman in Sweden lost her wedding ring 16 years ago in her kitchen. They found the ring this year, tightly fastened around a carrot in her vegetable garden. Apparently it fell into the compost, was dug into the garden and a carrot seed grew up through it. You really just never know, so don’t invest too much energy in a small picture when you can inhabit a bigger one.

• ACTIVATE YOUR COMMUNITY
• GET PERSONAL WITH PRAYER

You know what these mean to you. In giving you receive, in receiving you give.

CREATIVITY

Creativity is to art as transcontinental flight is to a nice airport.
The power and the magic are in the flying.
Not in which airport you’ve landed.
Do not confuse the two.

To put it another way:
Creativity is your ability to move, not the footprints you leave.
Love your footprints, but don’t confuse them with loving to dance.
As you master your dance, your footprints become more purposeful and personal. You are mastering your dance itself, not the making of intricate footprints.

GLORIOUSLY RULING means accepting your natural creative design and using your own secret knowledge.
Everything flows from these: the most practical, pragmatic actions to the most sublimely mystical.
I have total faith in you.

In my own news: I’m no longer teaching polymer classes in the US.
I continue to offer retreats and master classes in creative development, like the 2012 Milagro Hacienda, and Creative Sanctuary Masterclasses – in fact, Rachel Gourley will be working here with me in a few weeks.
I am gloriously heading back to my studio, after fifteen years of turbulence…
These things I tell you? They come from decades of intense personal experience, and there’s more.

Also I’m expanding my mentoring programs.
At this time, I have room for three new clients. We do phone  or Skype sessions, so you can be anywhere. 90 minutes long, usually weekly. They’re $150 each, and  you get a discount for five paid together. People have found them effective. You might too.
When you are interested in truly honing your creative approach to your art, career, and life, and making 2012 your most fruitful year so far, contact me.
505-301-9142, or victoria@toryhughes.com
Work with me individually if you want effective help getting your natural creativity gloriously active again.

Aaaaaaaand we’re off!
Stay in touch.

Tory

Two: a golden coupon, renewable on demand and good for two weeks of surprisingly pleasant conversations with relatives, old friends, and long acquaintances.

Three: an open and inviting doorway into next year. Leave December 31st. Enter January 1st, 2012. Notice that the new abilities you’ve developed as you traversed the rigors of 2011 are now showing up in how you approach things.

All seven billion of us are linked together in a way we’ve never embodied before.

We collectively caretake one big beautiful blue-green ball.
And like it or not, we’re moving forward into a charged year. Ideally we’re bringing greater skills and wider perspectives.

In the image of my brooch above, the cat looks at the queen. The Queen looks at the cat.
Observing, thoughtful, each one bringing her own perspective to this moment.
Both are royal, understanding that their world revolves around them. Wherever they go, there they are. Without question.
Each one knows herself, comfortable with her abilities and identity. She’s totally the cat, completely the Queen.

This is how to go through the door into 2012.
The single biggest challenge people have is an unwillingness to let go of self-limitation.
Many people are addicted to self-criticism. Please stop it.
2012 will ask you for your best. You’ve got an idea now of what that can be, after your courage and hard work in 2011. Now’s your time to be fully where you are.

Four ways to do this:

1. Quit acting on your assumptions. Please. Find out what is true, and then choose an action. As Byron Katie says, there’s no point in arguing with what is. Or change what Leonard Block wrote “I swear, if leaping weren’t allowed, you’d never get to a conclusion.”
2. Take more risks. You are so much more capable, secure and powerful than you let yourself be. I promise! You will never know what you can accomplish until you just do it. So stop waiting and just do it. This is the year.
3. Don’t bother taking things personally. It costs energy you’ll want to use elsewhere this year. Realize if you do get caught up in this that virtually no one actually sees you: they see their projections, assumptions, insecurities and memories. There’s no use for bits of their movie in your movie. I don’t want to see parts of “Frat Party” in the middle of “Star Trek”
4. Take pride in your realm. You’re on a mission, as ruler of your domain. Like a good queen or king, know your realm: what makes you special, where you have always been excellent. If your country makes fabulous wines, don’t convert the vineyards to telephone service centers. Have respect and pride in what you enjoy and do well. Support it. Export your best.

Your best is damn good.
The bottom line:  all of us here have so much more to be than who we’ve been until now.
2012. Time to be entirely you. The ruler of your domain.
Time now to make this transformation real and lasting.

My biggest wish and prayer for you this year:

Accept who you. Serenely wield your power and grace.

Power is gentle.
Grace is individuality expressed.

Allrightee. Enjoy the increasing light of this season and your own self.
Let 2011′s  transformations settle in and expand in your soul.
Let 2012 be the year you become the wise ruler of your realm.

Tory

It’s been a satisfying week

If you are anywhere near Santa Fe, come to our ongoing Holiday Open Studios, this Saturday and Sunday. I’ll be open 10 am to 5 pm!
1519 Upper Canyon- the New School / Red Sky Studios, in my space with the prayer flags.
ps: don’t forget that if you’re on the mailing list, at the right, you’ll get a discount in my gallery shop and the bookstore until Dec.20.

Celestial Navigation Brooch polymer, paper, metal, 2011 2″ x 2.25″ x .5″m $210.00    Click here or on the image to purchase this now

These postage stamp brooches have always had a special place in my heart and mind. I’ve been making them on and off since 1982. Getting back to them now is such a joy.

Winjeel 1955 Brooch polymer, paper, metal  2011 $210.00     Click here or on the image to purchase this now 1.75″ x 2.25″ x .5″mmmmmmmmmmm

Quite durable and wearable: I add protective lacquer to the surfaces. One collector sheepishly admitted she ran hers through the washer and dryer, and it was fine. Not advisable, but good to know.

Festive Angel Brooch, polymer, paper, metal, glass 2011 2″ x 2″ x .25″ $150.00       Click here or on the image to purchase nowmmmmmmmmmm

An early collection of related brooches is on display in “Terra Nova”
at the Racine Art Museum with other pieces of mine.
The Terra Nova exhibition will run through February 2012.
If you haven’t been yet, this show is making history. Get the book, visit the Museum.

Blenheim Lake Brooch polymer, paper, metal 2011 $190.    Click here or on the image to purchase 1.75″ x 1.25″ x .5″mmmmmmmmmmm

To purchase any of these brooches, please click on the image,
or go here to my Gallery Shop.
Let my pleasant and efficient store maidens take care of you.

Holiday Greetings Brooch Polymer, paper  2011 $210.00   Click here or on the image to purchase 2″ x 1.75″ x .25″mmmmmmmmm

•  Remember to use the discount code
- you received it recently if you signed up for my newsletter.
Good through December 20, so I have time to ship your gifts to you!

Lascaux Caves Brooch polymer, paper, metal 2011 $190.00 Click here or on the image to purchse 2.25″ x 1.75″ x .25″

I do commissions. In fact, I love to do commissions. Let’s talk.
Email me at victoria@toryhughes.com or call 505-301-9142

Vermillion Angel Brooch Polymer, paper 2011 $190.00 Click here or on the image to purchase 1.75″ x 1.75″ x .25″mmmmmdfaf

Biddulph Topiary Brooch Polymer, paper    2011 $190.  Click here or on the image to purchase 1.75″ x 1.5″ x .5″

I make some of these in series, each one a little different.
Topiary has always fascinated me. It’s wierd, mystical, fantastical. Every time I make a version of this brooch, I’m mesmerized by the image on the stamp, drawn into this world.
Reminds me of the line ‘The further in you go, the bigger it gets‘, from John Crowley’s novel “Little, Big“.

Meanwhile:
I’m quite happy to announce that my Armillary necklace, which in the permanent collection at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, will be on display.
From January till the end of May, this piece will be featured in MAD’s upcoming show “Hanging Around”.

Go visit and say hello.
Let’s meet for espresso. There’s an idea.

Best to you and all your dreams- Tory

“Terra Nova: Polymer Art at the Crossroads” the stunning catalogue for this watershed museum event, is only available at RAM itself.
It will not be at Amazon.
Very briefly, they have a run of copies that all of us signed while there.
You could own one.
Click here. Or call them, 262.638.8200.
Signed by Elise Winters, Jeff Dever, Kathleen Dustin, David Forlano, Steven Ford, Cynthia Toops, Pier Voulkos, Bonnie Bishoff, JM Syron me, Rachel Carren, Bruce Pepich, RAM’s director, Lena Vigna, RAM’s curator… at a book-signing round robin of the artists and writers this weekend. Below, a view of the fun.

The Terra Nova opening itself, and the Polymer Symposium over the weekend was intense and inspiring. I’m humbled and honored to be part of it. Lots of posts to come.
Right now though, if you want to grab one of the few signed copies, here’s your chance. There aren’t many left and it won’t happen again.

Best to you all, Tory – and seated below from right, Pier, Elise, Bonnie, JM, Jeff, Kathleen, Steven….

Racine is definitely The Place to Be this week.

People are coming from around the US and abroad to participate, ogle, shop at the excellent RAM store, and connect around a love of what is possible in this medium.
This pivotal event marks polymer’s recognition as a valid and valuable art medium, and establishes RAM as a museum to be watched. The catalogue is stunning by the way, bring yours for signing if you are coming to RAM.
The RAM staff is outstanding to work with. They sparkle with the genius of a small museum with a clear vision and unified goals. You’ll definitely be hearing more about them and this unique museum!
I fly out tomorrow, to present an evening program for RAM staff and docents. Then I teach a two-day immersive overview class ‘Holy Polymer, Batman!‘ – their brilliant title,  before the big Opening Gala Friday night. Saturday and Sunday we’ll be at the Polymer Symposium, held at the Frank Lloyd Wright “Wingspread” home.

I’ve been deliciously immersed in my studio for the last week, working on this new series.
SeaCliff is a reference to an area of San Francisco,
my personal candidate for ‘Most Beautiful City in the World’.
This series is meant to be light, colorful, sparkling, rich, and full of exuberant energy. Here’s an image of that neckpiece. Photo courtesy Penina Meisels who also did the photos for the catalogue.
This recent work finally lets me carry forward approaches
that I began 20 years ago: and unite them with all I’ve learned and developed in the last couple of decades working in polymer and mixed media.
I’m happy with the result, and thrilled to feel that creative momentum moving in me again.

Presaging the late-night conversations sure to take place in the next few days, a number of us have already gotten involved in fascinating, substantive discussions about Beauty, Content, the nature of Craft, Technicians and Artists, the role of polymer in contemporary art and fine craft, and the differing agendas of people working in this medium.
I feel like I am in college, full of anticipation and excitement about what is ahead. Hope you can pick up the buzz through your inbox!

How rich, how exciting!

I hope to post while there, although our schedules are very full of wonderful, provocative events and dialogues.
Please come, and stay tuned.

Watershed events mean things are different in a big way from here on out.
Buckle up!

Talk to you in a few days- Tory