Exhibition - Nicole Polentas Jewelry

Gallery Loupe will be exhibiting work by

Nicole Polentas from

November 17 through December 1. 
 

The exhibit is titled, Psychomanteum,

(a term referring to the ancient practice of
communicating with the

spiritual realm; in the psychomanteum,
the oracles would gaze into a

still pool of water to see the future.)
 

 This artist uses this notion of a psychomanteum

to display her work, create a mood,
and re-connect with her familial and cultural history:

. . . she draws on her Greek heritage for inspiration and for the unique manner in which she exhibits her current body of work - in a setting meant to depict the psychomanteum - the naturally occurring rockpools of myth where ancient Greeks would go to consult the oracles . . . The installation includes water in order to re-create the aquatic area where one could commune with the gods. The jewelry pieces themselves are fascinating and intricate constructions of metal wire and steel sheets, sterling silver, plastic and paint, ornamented with personal photographs . . . a bridge to her sense of belonging to a place she is rooted but no longer lives - her past and present become connected in her very personal jewelry. . .

 

It's interesting to see how the artist

 creates autobiographical

jewelry by using

metal sheets and wires along with plastic,

paint and personal photographs

to link directly back to her homeland

and personal history. 

 

 See more at Gallery Loupe.

 

 

Exhibition - Huesos: Kiff Slemmons

I've often wondered how it would feel

to immerse oneself in a project that is

all encompassing and completely focused.

Kiff Slemmons seems to live life this way.

Her work revolves around intense projects

that eventually surface as major exhibits.

For instance, the last jewelry exhibit of hers

that caught my attention was held in

San Francisco in 2009.  It was a

collaborative effort between Slemmons and

noted fiber artist, Kay Sekimachi, that

featured their beach combing finds along the

shoreline in Hawaii. 

Now she is having a new exhibition of her recent work.

Over the years she has spent time

 collaborating with the artisans of atelier

Arte Papel in Oaxaca, Mexico making

paper jewelry. Working with traditional

beadmaking techniques and indigenous plants

they have created intricate pieces that are

eye catching and highly sculptural.

The exhibit is called,

"Huesos: Kiff Slemmons."

It's currently running at Gallery Loupe

until March 6, 2012.

 

Once again she has captured my

imagination and created pieces

that are cutting edge.

For more information and images

visit the website for Gallery Loupe.