foldforming

i've had charles lewton-brain's book of fold forming for quite a while, but haven't had a chance until now to give one of the folds a try. i used rio grande's bench tube video as an accompaniment, and just a few tools besides a small piece of thin gauge copper sheet--a steel block, plastic mallet, the cross peen end of my goldsmithing hammer, part of a wood skewer, and a knife blade to open the form after hammering is finished. what a pretty little rueger fold i was able to make in a short amount of time!

what a great book!

my first rueger fold 

some of the tools i used to form this sensuous shape

automaton #2: threshold

immediately upon finishing my first automaton, thoughts began assembling for the construction of another one, and i started filling up my notebooks and doing research. i knew that metal clay today's next challenge had to do with hinges, which i had never made, so i thought i should try to include that in the piece. that's what a challenge is for, after all! the design and emotion of the piece changed quite a bit from what i originally started with and ended up being somewhat autobiographical. this really surprised me, and i didn't realize it until a day or two after i had finished it.

everybody creates differently; for me, these automatons start with a profound emotion, usually generated by words, and i go from there. i felt this way about these words by eugene smith, which are on the back of the piece in fine silver: 

 

Every horizon, upon being reached, reveals another beckoning in the distance.  Alway, I am on the threshold.

  

in the personal effects of my son's late father, i found some words that he had written down from the artist marcus pearson, and i included them on the bottom of the little drawer that hides behind a scallop-hinged, map-encrusted, pearl-clasped door:  

Still, had I lived then, I'd like to think that I too, would have sailed in that ship of fools.

the talismans in the drawer are a fine silver tarot card (the fool), a tiny vintage child's toy compass/mirror, and a wee luna moth travel journal that i made and bound.

the authentic porthole is dingy and darkened and it is difficult to view what is inside until you open it and swing the tiny porthole clasp-handle to the side. now you are viewing a silver boat upon enameled blue waves that toss up and down as you turn the tiny crank. to make the boat more realistic, i hinged one of the sails so that it moves. 

threshold
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, vitreous glass enamel, pearl, paper,  found object
kimberly nogueira 2011

threshold
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, vitreous glass enamel, pearl, paper,  found object
kimberly nogueira 2011

threshold
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, vitreous glass enamel, pearl, paper,  found object
kimberly nogueira 2011

threshold
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, vitreous glass enamel, pearl, paper,  found object
kimberly nogueira 2011

as a crazy 27 yr old, i came here from new england to this tropical island for a vacation with dreams in my eyes. seventeen years later i am still here. among other things, i put that journey into this automaton.

automaton #1

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

did I request thee Maker from my clay to mould me?
fine silver, bronze, sterling silver, copper, quartz, paper, wood
kimberly nogueira 2011

i am so grateful to metal clay today, the online magazine for metal clay education, inspiration and resources, for hosting their quarterly challenge competitions. because of the most recent one, metal clay in motion, i changed my artistic direction entirely. my family might not say for the better, since i become mia from the household duties when i am in the final stages of construction of one of these pieces! i've always been exquisitely delighted by anything tiny that is mechanical, and much of my past work has revolved around themes of childhood wonder--its vulnerability and its resiliency.  in doing research for this challenge, i scoured my collection of moveable vintage gum ball charms for ideas, and researched old folk toys, which i thought of doing in miniature. the final piece encompassed much of the emotion of the past several months from my son's father passing away. i am sure you can see this quite clearly in the piece! but as i was making it, i was unaware of this; it was only after i finished it that i could see the aura of profound sadness, tenderness, and wonder that surrounded this work. my thoughts at the time centered more on the idea of how did we get here? who gave us this gift of motion, of life? what responsibility do we have to the life that we create and to others? i wanted the wearer to be able to interact with the piece, but to have to do it gently, so that they would realize that their movements and actions have consequences. the quote is from john milton's paradise lost.

suncoast seabird sanctuary

i visited the suncoast seabird sanctuary in indian shores, fl after attending the wildlife symposium, and was able to volunteer there for a morning. what a fabulous facility! it is open to the public and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. the entire shoreline is built up with condos and hotels, and then there is the sanctuary...such a small section of trees, and they are filled with visiting birds and nesting birds! there are many permanent residents too, who would not survive in the wild, that are kept in large caged-in areas. volunteers clean and feed daily.

florida wildlife rehabilitation symposium 2011, haines city, FL

i'm displaying the avian biofacts that i just learned how to prepare in beth knapp tyner's class.  these are for educational purposes only and require a permit to possess, which i do not have, so they remained with her to use.

i returned home recently from the florida wildlife rehabilitation symposium in haines city florida-- three long and wonderful class-filled days focusing on rehabilitating wildlife with the avian rehabber that i volunteer for here on st john, phyllis benton. i am so grateful to the florida wildlife rehabilitation association for giving me a scholarship to attend this symposium! it was a scholarship in honor of harry kelton, who founded  the pelican harbor seabird station in miami, fl.  so amazing is the coincidence that i first learned to tube feed a bird at that very facility, under the tutelage of the late and extraordinary wendy fox, who directed the seabird station at that time.  i still remember fondly the way the permanent-resident pelicans would line up politely for their fish as i fed them! a special thanks to phyllis, who covered my airfare, and who i am trying to pay back by selling light switch covers. i call her the bird whisperer, she is just so good with diagnosing avian injury and illness with the minimal resources we have here on this tiny island.

the symposium classes in avian nutrition, broken wing splints and wraps, and avian opthomology were some of my favorites, and i loved connecting with so many bright, dedicated professionals in this field. have you ever heard of a "hospitality room"? this was a room that had chips, candy and drinks (thank goodness for the mountain dew, which i haven't had since college, but which helped keep me awake since the time to sleep was short)!

i've had only one bird come my way for rehabbing since returning home, and i am happy to say that it was successfully released within about a half an hour. it was a gorgeous juvenile mangrove cuckoo that a friend found sitting on her porch, perhaps stunned from a collision with the window. i hear these birds more often than i see them, they have very distinctive calls. what lovely birds, with their black and white tail markings!