Fragility and Strength
December 30, 2016
Inspirational Art
Although New Year’s Eve allows for all kinds of bling and shimmer to be pulled out and showed off, sometimes the most impressive statement is understatement. That’s what I think this strong but delicate piece from jewelry designer Kayo Saito is about.
I imagine this necklace it is quite large so it will show off size wise for certain, but I think the organic shapes in semi-translucent fabrics draw the eye for its juxtaposition in the fragile look of the forms within their strong directional orientation and dense composition. Both the fragility and strength are unwavering which makes it quite a sophisticated and intriguing piece.
I know … I just posted two items in a row this week that weren’t actually polymer. But in both cases, they could easily have been polymer with the same impact. It doesn’t matter what material a piece is made from, only that it is done well and that it inspires. Right? Art is inclusive, not exclusive. Just go take a look at Kayo’s website to see more inspiring, strong and sometimes frail looking work in fabrics and metal.
I also picked this piece because I think its characteristics represents how many of us feel as we head into 2017. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. We don’t know what our leaders are going to do and we don’t know how the conflicts across the world will play out in the coming months or what it will mean for us. This has left many people feeling frail and exposed. But the issues that have arisen have also given many, many people a new sense of direction as well as a swelling sense of responsibility and need to speak out and be heard. We may feel vulnerable, we may even appear frail, but I think a lot of people today are actually strong and resilient. We have already been through some seriously trying times this past decade and we have, for the most part, bounced back. I think recent experiences show that whatever comes this new year, we can meet it with strength, ingenuity, and compassion. A bit more creativity and beauty in the world won’t hurt either.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Happy New Year. This Year, Let’s Do It Now.
January 1, 2013
Inspirational Art, Ponderings
‘Tis New Year’s Day and I’m sure we all have, to some extent, thoughts of what we will do with ourselves in this coming year. What do we want to do differently, better, or even the same because it actually worked? What do we want to avoid doing or discard completely from our lives? And will we actually do these things?
It’s hard to say. The New Year reminds us to reflect and because the rest of the world is in the same contemplative mood, we find ourselves there, too. The hard part is not facing our failures and our need to improve but actually doing something about it. We all have such wonderful ideas and intentions, but we often stop there, with just the thoughts.
I have this work philosophy that is probably the one reason I can manage to do as much as I do and it is simply this … “Do it Now”. People are often surprised that they write me and often get an answer within a few minutes. Its because, for one, I’m here working most every hour of the day online and secondly, why should I wait to answer? If I do it now, it’s completed, I have moved forward and I will not waste time later rereading and revisiting the email.
When I’m in the studio, I do this with my art as well. If there is an idea I’ve wanted to try, why not try it now? This piece below by Karen Park was something she had been thinking about doing for years. It’s simple but quite elegant. A great piece. What if she had lost that idea? Doing it when it first came up would have guaranteed it’s existence, or something similar to it. I’m glad she did do it, even if it took some time.
Mind you, I am not saying that some ideas shouldn’t wait. Some designs should be left to “gestate,” as Karen called this process. But what you don’t want to do is keep saying “I should do that someday,” and keep revisiting the idea without anything coming of it.
So, just a suggestion for this New Year; If you have an idea, fully formed with all the materials you need in front of you, why not just start it? If you only have 5 mintues, sketch it. If you have 30 minutes while other things are in the oven, give it a go. Let’s make this the year of doing things, not just thinking about it. Let’s make it a year of creativity and success.
Although New Year’s Eve allows for all kinds of bling and shimmer to be pulled out and showed off, sometimes the most impressive statement is understatement. That’s what I think this strong but delicate piece from jewelry designer Kayo Saito is about.
I imagine this necklace it is quite large so it will show off size wise for certain, but I think the organic shapes in semi-translucent fabrics draw the eye for its juxtaposition in the fragile look of the forms within their strong directional orientation and dense composition. Both the fragility and strength are unwavering which makes it quite a sophisticated and intriguing piece.
I know … I just posted two items in a row this week that weren’t actually polymer. But in both cases, they could easily have been polymer with the same impact. It doesn’t matter what material a piece is made from, only that it is done well and that it inspires. Right? Art is inclusive, not exclusive. Just go take a look at Kayo’s website to see more inspiring, strong and sometimes frail looking work in fabrics and metal.
I also picked this piece because I think its characteristics represents how many of us feel as we head into 2017. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. We don’t know what our leaders are going to do and we don’t know how the conflicts across the world will play out in the coming months or what it will mean for us. This has left many people feeling frail and exposed. But the issues that have arisen have also given many, many people a new sense of direction as well as a swelling sense of responsibility and need to speak out and be heard. We may feel vulnerable, we may even appear frail, but I think a lot of people today are actually strong and resilient. We have already been through some seriously trying times this past decade and we have, for the most part, bounced back. I think recent experiences show that whatever comes this new year, we can meet it with strength, ingenuity, and compassion. A bit more creativity and beauty in the world won’t hurt either.
_________________________________________
Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners.
_________________________________________
Read More‘Tis New Year’s Day and I’m sure we all have, to some extent, thoughts of what we will do with ourselves in this coming year. What do we want to do differently, better, or even the same because it actually worked? What do we want to avoid doing or discard completely from our lives? And will we actually do these things?
It’s hard to say. The New Year reminds us to reflect and because the rest of the world is in the same contemplative mood, we find ourselves there, too. The hard part is not facing our failures and our need to improve but actually doing something about it. We all have such wonderful ideas and intentions, but we often stop there, with just the thoughts.
I have this work philosophy that is probably the one reason I can manage to do as much as I do and it is simply this … “Do it Now”. People are often surprised that they write me and often get an answer within a few minutes. Its because, for one, I’m here working most every hour of the day online and secondly, why should I wait to answer? If I do it now, it’s completed, I have moved forward and I will not waste time later rereading and revisiting the email.
When I’m in the studio, I do this with my art as well. If there is an idea I’ve wanted to try, why not try it now? This piece below by Karen Park was something she had been thinking about doing for years. It’s simple but quite elegant. A great piece. What if she had lost that idea? Doing it when it first came up would have guaranteed it’s existence, or something similar to it. I’m glad she did do it, even if it took some time.
Mind you, I am not saying that some ideas shouldn’t wait. Some designs should be left to “gestate,” as Karen called this process. But what you don’t want to do is keep saying “I should do that someday,” and keep revisiting the idea without anything coming of it.
So, just a suggestion for this New Year; If you have an idea, fully formed with all the materials you need in front of you, why not just start it? If you only have 5 mintues, sketch it. If you have 30 minutes while other things are in the oven, give it a go. Let’s make this the year of doing things, not just thinking about it. Let’s make it a year of creativity and success.
Read More
