'Metal: It’s Only Natural’ A Collaborative Exhibition: MAG, NCEG, & ACCI

A Collaborative Exhibition: MAG, NCEG, &

ACCI Gallery Berkeley, CA , October 1st - 21st, 2016

Opening Reception October 8th

'Stages: Agapanthus' by Holly J Carter,
Photography by G. Post

'Metal: It’s Only Natural’

Metals are intense.

Typically hard and shiny, they are strong but malleable.

They can be stretched, fused, and drawn into fine wire.

They can be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking. They readily carry electricity and heat. Their atoms are in a virtual “sea” of outer electrons that jump from atom to atom. They are stable but possess the ability to change.

We depend on their unique natural qualities for industry,

commerce… and for art.

An exhibition of jewelry and sculptural artwork from members of the Metal Arts Guild, the Northern California Enamel Guild, and the ACCI Gallery that explore the boundaries, integration /

collision, and diversity of the natural qualities of metal as well as its relation to the natural world.

The Metal Arts Guild (MAG) is an organization of people who are skilled, interested, or share in the production and exhibition of metals.

The Northern California Enamel Guild (NCEG) is made up of enamelists working to create community through sharing the enamel arts, glass fused to metal.  

Guild members include professional and emerging artists, from the beginner to the master craftsperson. They are comprised of educators, students, collectors, hobbyists, production artists, writers, and supporters.

Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Inc. (ACCI), located in the heart of North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, is a

member-based community of artisans, artists, and art patrons.

Dates of Exhibition: October 1 - October 21

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 8, 5 - 9 pm

ACCI Gallery

1652 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

(510) 843-2527

Mon-Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 12pm-5pm

info@accigallery.com

www.metalartsguildsf.org

www.enamelguild.org 

www.accigallery.com

Studio 1509 host The Northern California Enamel Guild - Pro Arts East Bay Open Studios

Maker Faire 2013 - San Mateo County Event Center May 18th-19th

May 18^th - 19^th 2013

San Mateo County Events Center, CA

Saturday 10am - 8pm

Sunday 10am - 6pm

Join me at the Maker Faire this weekend!

I will be doing a demo at The Metal Arts Guild booth on Saturday from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. There will be many great, fun things to create all weekend long!

Summer 2013 Classes at The Richmond Art Center

Jewelry 1
Explore the basics of jewelry and small metals fabrication. Learn the use of tools, how to saw, file, sand, and high temp silver solder with silver, copper, and brass. Create pierced sawing samples, band rings, and a bezel set stone
pendant.  Explore various finishing techniques and surface treatments including polishing, rolling mill texture, patinas, and more. 8 weeks
Class # SU19J • Jun 24 – Aug 12, 2013, 6:30 – 9 pm
RAC Member $189 • Nonmember $210

Jewelry Sampler
An introduction to special techniques. Jewelry I or equivalent experience
recommended, but not required. Learn the basic skills for jewelry and small
metals in Acid Etching, Lost Wax Casting, and Vitreous Glass Enameling. This class is fast paced and designed to demonstrate techniques, it will not necessarily result in completely finished projects. Each student will finish a sampling of each technique. 8 weeks
Class # SU20J • Wed, Jun 26 – Aug 14, 2013 6:30 – 9 pm
RAC Member $189 • Nonmember $210

Beginning Enameling
An introductory class. Learn the techniques  of Vitreous Glass Enameling, fusing glass to metal. Emphasis will be placed on mastering the basics: sifting and wet packing, kiln and torch firing, mark-making, and knowledge of color interactions. $15 materials fee paid to instructor. 8 weeks (No Class 7/5,7/12)
Class # SU5J • Fri, Jun 21 – Aug 16, 2013 10 am – 12:30 pm
RAC Member $168 • Nonmember $185

‘Summer Bling’ Teen Metals/Jewelry Sampler
Ages 12-17, Whether you like Shiny Metal Jewelry or Funky Metal Sculpture you can create your art using techniques such as forming, stamping, soldering, enameling, cuttlefish casting, and stained glass inlay. Make bracelets, pins, rings, earrings, mini-sculptures, or wall pieces, the inspiration is endless. 6 weeks
$20 Class supply fee.
Class # SU22J • Mon, Jun 24 – Jul 30, 2013 1 pm – 4 pm
RAC Member $162 • Nonmember $180

Classes are held at The Richmond Art Center 

2540 Barrett Ave. Richmond, CA 94804

www.therac.org • (510) 620-6772

A Story of Two Rings - Congratulations to Kristi and Ike

So begins a tale of two rings, I was asked by Kristi, a previous Arizona student to custom design and make her wedding bands. After a little research she decided she wanted their rings to look like twigs. Kristi emailed me some examples she found on the web, they were twigs carved out of wax with a leaf holding in the stone. As I don't like to copy other people's designs exactly, I said I could do something similar, but I would cast mine from Natural Twigs rather than carved from wax. I believe this makes them unique and more special. She wanted them made out of a white metal and hers with a stone setting. After much back and forth about types of stones, the decision was for Palladium with a round Alexandrite. Since I can't cast Palladium I decided I would have to cast the originals in bronze, make a mold of the ones they liked, and inject them with wax to be sent off to the Palladium caster. I used a few different types of twigs for the samples, including some from a cherry tree of which they liked the best.

These were the options I offered. I sent the two grooms rings for Ike to try and decide on what felt the best, and the one brides ring that Kristi liked for them to try for size and comfort.

Final Choices on style.
One Decision down!

After some difficulty in finding the right size of Alexandrite in an affordable price, I threw out a couple other options. I supplied photo's with different size and shapes of stones. As an example I used some random stones I had so she could get a better idea of how it might look.

Stone choice was an oval Iolite. (Photo shows an Amethyst)







During the trial period Kristi and Ike decided the Palladium was out of their price range for the moment, as Kristi was just accepted into a college program and so the purse strings tightened a bit. They decided to stick with Sterling Silver after all and that I could cast myself. After making some changes based on Kristi and Ike's preferences, here are the final wedding bands.

And, my little treat to them, I made a cute little custom box with a surprise note and ring pillow inside!

I used a cool box pattern from this website, and modified it a bit.

Wedding Photo's yet to come, stay tuned!

Custom Commission: Final Steps

I am a little behind on my posting! In November of 2011 I began working on this commission piece and here are some of the final photos of it before it left my hands. The client was planning to have it gold plated, but I haven't heard if she has done that yet.
If you would like to see the post on my previous progress click on the links below:
Custom Commission
Custom Commission Continued

I was unable to permanently attach the last bits. Due to the plating process the pearls could not be attached yet, so I took a photo of what it might look like when done.

With some creative assembling and photography, here is an accurate depiction of what the finished piece will look like except plated in gold. It was a great learning experience and I gained a new friend in the process.

Solo Showcase at Eden Gardenhouse

 ‘Organic Inspirations’

 Eden GardenHouse

 Features Artist

Holly Carter

June 1st - 30th, 2012

Art Showcase Featuring the Metalwork of Local Artist Holly Carter. 

A Focus on natural organic inspired wall art and jewelry.

Holly Carter is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Metals. She is an internationally known artist and her work is currently shown in galleries across the Southwestern United States. Holly is an instructor for the Tempe Edna Vihel Center for the Arts and the Mesa Art Center. Is a member of The Arizona Designer Craftsmen and The Society of North American Goldsmiths.

 Opening Reception

June 1st, 2012

6 p.m.- 9p.m.

Closing Reception
June 30th, 2012
4 p.m.- 8p.m.

Light Refreshments will be served at Opening and Closing Receptions

 Eden GardenHouse

Home and Garden Inspired Boutique

2928 N. 7^th Avenue  Phoenix, Arizona 85013

602- 274-2470

~ www.edengardenhouse.com ~ info@edengardenhouse.com ~

Night Gallery Exhibition

ASU Metals Alumni Exhibition
NIGHT GALLERY

May 4 - 27, 2012, Tues.-Sun. 6- 9 p.m.

Campus: Off-campus            

Opening reception: Friday, May 4, 2012, 6-9p.m. 

Cost: Free and open to the public, donations welcome 

ASU Alumni artists include recent and not-so recent graduate students and undergraduates in a program that has produced talented, award winning metalsmiths and jewelers.  From one of the best Metals programs in the country, this exhibit showcases the many talents and detailed workmanship of a variety of artists with diverse approaches to working with metal.

 

Along with the traditional materials and techniques such as blacksmithing, forging and forming, these artists include contemporary practices in enamel, found objects and mixed media.

Some of the artists included in this exhibit are Becky & Tedd McDonah, Deb Lozier, Jessica Calderwood, Lauren McAdams Selden, Eric Burris, Nissa Kubly, Lynette Andreasen, Jill Baker-Gower, Victoria Altepeter, Polly Smith, Holly Carter, and Dale Wedig.

The Night Gallery at the Tempe Marketplace is an exhibition space for ASU School of Art faculty, graduate students and alumni in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. The gallery is a result of a partnership between the Herberger Institute and Vestar Development Company.

 

The Night Gallery is located at Tempe Marketplace (intersection of McClintock Rd. and the 202 at 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway) in the District (west end, south side) between Barnes & Noble bookstore and Aeropostale.

Click here for more info

Here is a sneak peek of my piece for the show:

'Facets'
Pewter, Acrylic, Aluminum

Wall Pieces

I am finally getting my wall pieces listed for Sale!
Here are the first I have listed.
You can view them on My personal website:
http://www.hollycarterart.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=13
On my Etsy Site:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96419008/ginkgo-leaves-glass-enameled-wall-pieces
And, they are actually currently on Display at Eden Gardenhouse in Phoenix, Az:
http://edengardenhouse.com/

‘Ginkgo Leaves’ 

Framed Wall Pieces/Set of 2 

Sea foam Green Vitreous Glass Enamel on Copper set in Recycled Wood Frames. Hand pierced Ginkgo Leaves, slightly domed and set from behind in wood frames made of recycled wood from a broken outdoor umbrella and a weather worn pine pallet.

Size: 7 1/2 " Sq.

*May be available in custom colors and sizes, contact for info.

My First Completed Pewter Scultpure

This past weekend I finally finished to satisfaction my first pewter sculpture. After a few years and a few mended holes, I found success! Pewter is not an easy metal to fabricate a hollow form from if you are used to high temp fabrication. I melted a hole into it three times and I have a scar on my leg to show for one of them. Now I have to finish the stand for it, but for now here is a quick pic of the pewter.

Mesa Art Center Festival of Creativity Jewelry and Lapidary Student Exhibition

The Student Exhibition for the Jewelry and Lapidary programs was a great success!

The show, curated by myself and Julie Campbell, was a beautiful example of student work and the best showing of the festival, if I must say so myself.

 

The Following pieces are from the Talented Students that so kindly brought in their work for display.

 Malai Suriyasataporn proudly posing next to a pedestal of her cast organic pieces and Kimberly Cothern's Hollow Form Ring.

Cast Pieces by Beth Benowich

Copper Ring by Mary Chang, Sterling Cast Rings by Keith Imes, Bracelet by Sheila Carpenter

 Cheryl Fuller

Ale Corrion

Geri Colgrove

Ford Doran & Loretta Meador

Fabricated and Riveted Pendant by Brad Corrion

Etched and Fabricated Ring by Julie Campbell