Archive for September, 2009
silk lycra batik by Patricia Farley
Patricia Elmes Farley has been making art-to-wear clothing since 1987. Batik is her favorite technique used to achieve the pattern and color of her fabrics. The wax flows from a traditional tjanting tool, brush or stamp as if it were flowing directly through her fingers. She works quickly, the wax working as both a containment line for the painted dye and as a design element. She mixes her own colors of dye, four or five in each layer and applies them with a brush. Once she starts to paint the fabric the process must continue till it is complete. The batik process is repeated with another layer of wax and dye. The painting is done. After washing, dry cleaning and ironing, the fabric is ready to be cut and sewn into a finished garment. The colors are from dreams and visions about the beauty of everyday objects.
Handblown Glass Pumpkin Set by Corey Silverman and Horace Marlowe
C&H Glassworks is a partnership between Corey Silverman and Horace Marlowe, combining their experience and talents in the art of glass blowing. They combine techniques that are over a thousand years old with modern colors. They are able to create intelligent and classy art for everyone that appreciates blown glass.
The exquisite cluster of hand blown glass pumpkins are rich variegated colors with raised golden ribs, iridescent satin finish, and long, golden metallic curly glass stems. Every piece is individually hand blown.
The radiant light of Swarovski crystal is a mix of style and magnetism.
B.B. Simon Belt
A small collection of belts designed and handmade by prominent and promising artisans in the US using world renowned Swarovski crystals can be found at Gallery Five. The rhythm and intensity of color and illumination are showcased in Swarovski crystals.
In 1956, inspired by nature’s display of colors at the North Pole, the northern lights, the glamorous Aurora Borealis crystal effect was created in association with French designer Christian Dior. This special metallic chemical coatings. “AB,” is one of the most popular coatings, and gives the surface a rainbow oil slick appearance. Other coatings include Crystal Transmission, Volcano, Aurum, and Dorado.
Daniel Swarovski (October 24, 1862 – January 23, 1956) was born to a glass cutter in North Bohemia, today a part of the Czech Republic. In 1892 he patented an electric cutting machine that facilitated the production of crystal and revolutionized the process of crystal cutting. In 1895 he founded the company Swarovski and moved to Wattens, Austria. The company’s devotion to excellence of accuracy and detail has made Swarovski crystals the most prized possessions to use and own.
The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor and chandeliers.
King Charles Spaniel by Gisela von Eicken
Gisela von Eicken applies a lifetime of creating art to her flamboyant wire jewelry, weaving sterling, gold and brightly-colored wires. Armed with long, filed-to-a-point needle nose pliers, and an awl and cutters, she deftly maneuvers, wraps, and weaves 26-gauge wire into intricate jewelry and commissioned portraits that resemble much loved pets. Singer Joni Mitchell bought her von Eicken in 1974. Other celebrities, like John Cleese and Paul Simon, who own sculptures as well as woven lion and giraffe pins, helped broaden von Eicken’s jewelry business in the 1980s. More recently she designed and handcrafted jewelry for the ensemble dancers in the national tour production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
Wire art is created without heat, it can be done anywhere and it doesn’t hurt the planet. von Eicken explores the sculptural possibilities of wire, using the restrictions of the medium to challenge and fuel her creativity. This gives the work a life of its own, resultng in a reflection of the beauty she sees.
Birthstone Properties: Brings physical and emotional balance.
Sapphire is the birthstone for September and the gemstone given for anniversaries of the 5th and 45th years of marriage. Taken from the Greek word for blue, “sapphirus,” sapphires have a time-honored tradition with priests (who considered them symbolic of purity) and kings (who considered them symbolic of wisdom.)
To Your Health
So strong was the power of a sapphire, it was alleged that a venomous snake put in a vessel made of sapphire would quickly die. Sapphires, therefore, earned the reputation as an excellent all-purpose medicine and were ingested as an antidote to poison. Additionally, sapphires were ground into powders as a remedy for everything from colic to rheumatism and mental illness.
Sapphires were also believed to be able to stop bleeding and cure disorders of the eye.
The Eyes Have It
Egyptians associated the clear sapphire with the eye of Horas — the all-seeing, all-knowing “eye in the sky” — while the gemstone was used by the Greeks to tap into the subconscious mind by stimulating the opening of the “third eye.”
A Mirror of the Soul
Husbands and wives in ancient times frequently exchanged gifts of sapphires. Although the fact that sapphires represent sincerity and faithfulness was undoubtedly the primary reason it was a popular marriage gift, another motive may have been at work; it was believed that a sapphire would not shine if worn by someone who was wicked or impure.
Sapphires were considered to be so powerful they continued to protect the original owner even after being sold.
Say it With Sapphires
Clear sapphires, like diamonds, are the guardians of love. When exchanged with a loved one, sapphires enhance feelings for one another and attunes the two psyches. Sapphires have the power to banish envy and jealousy, and are said to promote chastity in virgins and fidelity in marriage.
Sapphire jewelry at Gallery Five, the one and only item, our Susan Green sapphire necklace.
Sapphires, like rubies, are a variety of corundum. The sapphire’s color spectrum includes pink and lavender varieties, a rare orange hue, and, of course, the velvety blue sapphire that earned the gemstone its name.
Because of the way in which corundum crystals are formed, large sapphires are rare…and valuable. The priceless 563-carat Star of India, on display at New York City’s Museum of Natural History, is the largest and most famous of “star sapphires” (sapphires that are cut to reflect light from inclusions within the stone to reveal a bright six-legged star pattern).
Kay Chapman felted wool crepe jacket
Felted fabric is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing together animal fibers, deliberately, to create a thick sheet of cloth. The fiber shrinks and wraps each other tightly. It is much dense, yet flexible at the same time. Felt can be created of any shape or it can be cut in any direction without unraveling at the edges and made into beautiful art to wear clothing, such as this Kay Chapman designed jacket.
Felted fabric is the oldest form of fabric known to mankind. Legend claims that the Chinese invented felted fabric accidentally by putting wool under a saddle for padding. The heat and sweat of the horse’s body and the friction under the saddle caused the wool to form felt. The Europeans believe that felt was first made by a saintly pilgrim who had put the wool inside his sandals and made soles. The Arabs believe that a camel driver did the same. However, felted fabric has been found in the frozen tombs of Siberia which dates back to 2000 BC.
Light-weight eco-friendly jewelry, copper or aluminum, by McKenna Hallet
McKenna Hallett designs and creates wearable art jewelry from stuff she finds, and she creates without burning fossil fuels. She has “preached” her mantra to all who would listen: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle only when you must. And RETHINK everything you buy. Her message resonates with more people today than ever before.
That’s right … NO fossil fuels! This work comes from her hands (and feet) and heart … For over ten years she has been re-inventing the wheel! She developed a (jewelry-making) “tool” by converting an old treadle-driven sewing machine. She also uses car bumpers, knitting needles, and rolling pins. She is dedicated to constructing each piece of jewelry in the most planet-friendly fashion. Oh, she uses plenty of brute force! But it is her own muscle power, ingenuity, and the occasional hand-made tool that replaces chemicals, soldering, torches and power tools.
Enjoy viewing Gallery Five’s limited edition McKenna Hallett collection.
Classic Tea by Judith Weber
As a studio potter, Judith Weber has focused on creating art for the table. Specializing in custom-designed accessories which exemplify elegance, purity of form, and a striking, ever-changing palette of color, her work has been featured in Tableware Today, House and Garden, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Oprah and New York Magazines.
Motivated by the relationship of Form to Function, her signature piece, the “Classic Tea” embodies the successful fusion of silhouette and serviceability. It continues to grace the shelves of high-end specialty and museum stores throughout the country including the Museum of Art and Design in New York and SFMOMA in California.
See a variety of colors of Judith Weber’s ceramic teapots at Gallery Five.