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Archive for the ‘re-purposed’ Category

monique peanAs you scroll through the work of Monique Pean, you may be struck by a simple yet powerful design aesthetic. “MONIQUE PÉAN uses environmentally responsible procedures to source its materials, and uses 18 carat recycled gold and platinum, conflict and devastation free precious stones, diamonds and fossils, which are gathered with no mining involved. MONIQUE PÉAN is a member of the No Dirty Gold campaign and a supporter of the Too Precious to Wear campaign.”

The stone in this dramatic ring is Kyanite. Some believe kyanite is a calming stone, helping to quiet the mind and dissolve feelings of anger and frustration.

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Today’s post includes artists who are kindred spirits, who elevate the flotsam of our daily living to a new level and a new life. 

brenda guyton2Brenda Guyton’s work reflects her interest in artificial intelligence and biological adaptations. “In the body of work I am currently building, my intent is to shift the viewer’s perspective.  The figurative elements combine with the electronic parts to evoke images of the “future is now” melding of biological creature with machine “life”.  Perhaps one day our very thoughts will be software, riding on an electric network of consciousness.”

michelle stitzleinIn addition to creating artwork from recycled materials, Michelle Stitzlein has created a series of workshops, demonstrations and lectures for children, adults and teachers focusing on the use of bottle caps and other recycled materials. She “has been creating sculpture with recycled materials as a full-time artist since 2000 in her Baltimore, OH, studio. Her work has been shown in art and craft museums nationally. She has visited over 50 elementary schools and organizations as an artist-in-residence and continues to share her passion for creating with humble materials in her books, workshops, presentations and exhibitions.”

 

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Julia-Turner-Blue-Field-RingOver the course of a 20 year career as a metalsmith, Julia Turner became frustrated with the sheer weight of metal and moved to other materials, seeking more warmth, color and volume.  “Among the dozens of objects arranged on an 8-foot table in her sun-washed jewelry studio are bowls of beads, chunks of wood – some natural, some stained colors ranging from canary yellow to cerulean blue – a roll of safety-orange duct tape, postcards, a shard of shiny black record vinyl, several books, and a carefully trimmed and shaped lump of charcoal salvaged from a backyard barbecue. Vignettes, color stories, and contrasting geometries play out across the 32 square feet, which, viewed from above is like the love child of Wassily Kandinsky and Josef Albers.”

You can read more about Julia’s work in the February/March issue of American Craft.

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I am ashamed to say that I have NEVER successfully mastered riding a skateboard. But, after visiting MapleXO’s site, I may try my hand at recycling one. “Recycling skateboards wasn’t a new idea. People have been doing it since the 70’s and my first personal attempt wasn’t to make jewelry, it was to make a clock for my wall at home. Next I made a chalkboard, some magnets and eventually my friend Amanda and I just put the scraps from all these skateboard crafts on some earring hooks and wore them around. Didn’t think much of it until all my friends and people from work started asking me to make them some skateboard earrings. Looking back on it now is funny, because the earrings were literally raw pieces of broken skateboards dangling on ear wires. To be honest, the first pair may just have been random wire that we bent into makeshift earrings hooks!”

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I ‘bumped’ into Roxy Lentz and her re-purposed jewerly on Pinterst. “My jewelry is fabricated from recycled metals I find at thrift shops, I occasionally will use purchased metal, but prefer the patina of metal that has a history. Silver plate trays once given as wedding gifts, stored and then abandoned are crafted into one of a kind pieces that will bring attention to the wearer every time they are worn.”

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