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Convergence Entry!

johoff — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:26:23 +0000

Finally, here it is, my Convergence entry along with the story Chris wrote.

The whole piece.

During the Middle Kingdom period of ancient Egypt (around 2000 BC), a popular member of their pantheon of gods was the crocodile headed deity Sobek. He personified military strength and power as well as the fertility of the Nile and was, not very surprisingly, the patron god of crocodiles. In some temples the priests of Sobek would keep crocodiles in pools, feeding them prime cuts of meat befitting Sobek’s earthly form. I imagine the feeding and care of the temple crocodiles was a position of great honor, or so the elder priests probably told the initiates assigned to the duty. One can at least dream that as a benefit to that office (in addition to being hissed at regularly by your wards) was this ceremonial necklace. It is made with copper chains (a metal valued by the ancient Egyptians for its spiritual connections) and set with semi-precious green stones the color of the fertile Nile delta, the clasp perhaps suggesting the form of the sacred pools containing the crocodilian form of Sobek himself. Admittedly a small consolation for having your god occasionally try and eat you, but I suppose any faith inevitably requires some level of forbearance.

The lampwork clasp.

I used copper chain, copper seed beads, epidot, lemon jade, and swarovski crystals.

Are you entering?

johoff — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:25:12 +0000

I am! The ISGB Convergence II competition that is. Here is the scoop, straight from ISGB:

THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF GLASS BEADMAKERS ANNOUNCES

CONVERGENCE II: ADORNING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND PRETEND

JEWELRY DESIGN WITH ART GLASS BEADS INSPIRED BY PERSONAS OF FACT AND FICTION

The International Society of Glass Beadmakers invites you to participate in our 2010 exhibition!

Due to the incredible response we received for our 2009 project, Convergence, andwith the depth of work that was submitted, we have decided to revisit the concept for a second year with a few updates.

Convergence II is a juried show that will feature functional, wearable jewelry showcasing the use of handmade glass beads designed for an imaginary or historic figure (i.e., What jewelry might Amelia Earhart have worn – a compass necklace or a pendant of a bird in flight? What type of cufflinks would the Phantom of the Opera wear? If Madeleine Albright was speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations, what brooch would she wear? What considerations would you make when designing a necklace for Marie Antoinette- would you make a heavily fortified choker? Would you make an Art Nouveau style hair comb for Rapunzel?) The possibilities and interpretations are endless and the stories of inspiration, we think, will be amazing to share!

Here is your chance, either as a solo artist or with a partner or partners of your choice, to participate in this one-of-a-kind exhibition. Jewelry can include, but is not limited to, components such as seed beads, fine metal, PMC, fibers, etc. We encourage you to use multiple mediums for your work. The main focus of the piece, of course, must be the glass bead(s).

Our mission is to once again showcase how handmade glass beads are incorporated into exhibition-quality jewelry, to develop a purchase-on-demand ISGB catalog of the exhibition pieces, and to publish selected jewelry with tutorials in various glass-related publications. We will also produce and make available a wonderful art card of the exhibition!

The exhibition will open in Rochester, NY at the 18th Annual Gathering. From there, Convergence II will travel to several different locations over the next twelve (12) months. In June 2011, Convergence II will be on display at the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee and it will close in Ohio in July 2011.

My piece is done, Chris wrote the story, and now all I have to do is submit it. When will you see it? Well, the submission deadline is Feb 24, so I plan to post it on that day exactly. Until then you will just have to wait.

More Gathering

johoff — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:42:24 +0000

Our class

Well, tomorrow turned into Sunday. But only because I’ve been so darn busy! I ended up working on the silent auction fundraiser, then there was the bead bazzar yesterday. Today I get to watch demos! The picture is from the class I took here earlier this week. You can see I had to put up my hair to keep it out of my face. The guy in the back is Rashan Jones, aka “Jonesy”. He was a great teacher, and if you ever have a chance to take a class from him you should. I’ll have picture of my class beads when I get back next week.

Leaving tomorrow!

johoff — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:42:49 +0000

Hime and Emmy, 2 weeks ago.

I’m so excited! I leave tomorrow morning for the Gathering! A whole week of glass beads, lessons, and friends to visit. It will be a 12 hour drive (whew!) and I’m going to take a camera so I can bring you along for the fun. I’m not promising good pictures by the way, just pictures. I’m still packing, and this afternoon is the monthly local bead meeting. Busy busy busy! Oh, and here is a doggie picture for you to enjoy this lovely Sunday.

I’m back with beads!

johoff — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:26:30 +0000

Experiment beads

It has been a whole week since I’ve been able to be online. Ack! I’m just glad to have this loaner laptop. I’ll be without again for a couple of days when mine gets fixed so things can be swapped around. In the meantime, I have beads to show. I’ve been getting ready for the ISGB Gathering… trying new bead styles out, trying to decide what people in Miami would like, that sort of thing. These beads are some of my experiments. I’m partial to the ones with the raised stringer designs at the ends. Particularly the one on the right side. I’m still trying to decide if it needs some of the white speckles like the one at the top center has.