An Intricate Exchange: Susanna Starr and Arthur Hash

Going to setup the show. (before)

http://www.rmc.edu/Events.aspx?display=full&id={FAA92C67-2C32-422F-9CD2-AC5E2538200D}


Arthur Hash and Susanna Starr will exhibit works derivative of the traditional practices of sculpture and metalsmithing. Both artists examine these traditions through contemporary studio practices. Hash explores jewelry and other forms of body ornamentation using “new forms of fabrication technologies such as waterjet cutting, 3D scanning, CNC routing and rapid prototyping to make one-off art jewelry pieces, large archival ink-jet prints and vinyl sticker installations”. Starr investigates the possibilities of various materials to convey the complexities of color and dimension. Her materials include wood veneer, mylar, paint, and synthetic sponges. In contrast to Hash, Starr cuts her intricate works by hand.

Arthur Hash received a MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design from Indiana University, in Bloomington Indiana. He is currently the Technical Support Technician for the Metal Program and the State University of New York in New Paltz, NY. His work has been exhibited, extensively, in museums and galleries throughout the United States. Susanna Starr received a MFA from Yale School of Art. Starr has exhibited throughout the United States and abroad. More information about the artists is available at www.arthurhash.com and www.susannastarr.net.

FILES!! ....I mean rasps?

completed box!

One box down three more to go! These are really nice and I am glad I took the time to hand-finish them. The Bracelet inside this one was modeled in Zbrush and printed in ABS. The box is lined with black plexi. Let me know what you think.

Almost there

Putting the finishing touches on the boxes

Powder coating.

Black bracelet

putting things in boxes

getting it done!

I thought I would post some images of the pieces I am working on. These neck pieces will be part of the exhibition I was talking about in a previous post. I TIG welded them together and they are off to the powder coater. I got a tour of the facility and checked everything out. It is probably the cleanest powder coater I have ever seen. Here are some before shots and then sometime next week I will add some after shots. So many things to do. The bracelets are ready for their boxes. Now all I have to do is make them fit. Also just as an experiment I am going to powder coat a DMP print. Hopefully it will turn out otherwise it will be a an expensive test. Wish me luck.

cat shirt

Did I mention that I made a new shirt? Well I did. A long time ago a friend of mine explained that loading a jewelers saw was like petting a cat. Pet the cat from the head to the tail and is purrs. Pet it from tail to head and watch out! Get some here CRAF-TEES      
 

box crazy

More boxes frantically being made for an exhibition coming up. Still working out the hinges. Almost there. Notice the type A pen. Such a nice thing. I wish they would make a type A mechanical pencil. So many things going on. Trying to figure it all out. I wish that I was going to Munich with the metals department but someone has to stay and keep the home fires burning.      

         I did a CAD model of the gallery for the show proposal.

Boxes!!

making a box

   I have been slammed lately. Work is busy. The studio is busy. Home is busy. Craftees is busy. As a lot of you know I am very much a yes man. I am starting to become a "don't bother asking because I am busy with other stuff"-man. I am working on some pieces for an exhibition that is coming up soon. The exhibition is all about wire frames. Specifically, reducing shapes to facets and then lines. I hate to call them wearable 3D contour drawings but... that is sort of what they are. 

    In CAD software, I start with a torus or doughnut.....mmmmm doughnuts. Then reducing the polygon count, much like reducing the resolution of a jpeg, the surface becomes faceted. Then by pushing and pulling the surface moves and bends at the edges. These edges become lines, pipes or in the real world plastic and stainless steel. I have been using Zbrush for a while now. It took a lot of practice to get used to the interface. In the beginning, when I was learning the software, it was like painting with a six foot paintbrush or dialing a phone with a boxing glove. Now I feel like I am using a mechanical pencil and mittens. 

   Unfortunately, all of the pieces are out at the powder-coater or they have not yet been made. Photos to come. In the mean time I have been preparing display. Some of the bracelets in the exhibition will be in wood cubes or boxes. I LOVE BOXES. I was going to make the boxes the "arthur" way which involved using the CNC and some pain in the ass jigs. The wood tech at New Paltz (Ed Felton) showed me a trick that kind of blew my mind. It involved bevels, glue and TAPE! So nice.I took photos......you cut it open at the end.  Like a coconut....awesome.