Monday, September 01, 2008

Zen... Woven in Metal




The Pendant... born of texture... heat... and the solidity of metals... of Copper and Sterling Silver




Detail of Pendant and an Earring on a lovely Herring Gull feather...
conjuring soaring and floating...




The Zen Earrings... over and under...
reticulation and patination...




Reverse detail of Pendant... a bit primitive ... that's the way I like it...





A Tumble of Jewelry


Thoughts of Zen.... and the slow and steady repetition of Hand-Weaving were the inspiration behind these pieces that I made back in July..
They have found a caring home with the artist Bill Evertson as a gift to his wife... who is a weaver... Please check out his blog...
His work is inspiring... intelligent... and original.





approx. sizes... Pendant... 1" x 1" with extending Sterling bars....... Earrings... 1" x ½" with extending bars on Sterling earwires...
Displayed on a woven runner I made long ago, on a Millville 4-harness floor loom in a Swedish Lace pattern in natural 2/8 cotton that had been washed repeatedly over a number of years..
I love the durability of this basic simple material.. long-lasting... satisfying... and a pleasure...

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29 comments:

sandy said...

Gwen, these are gorgeous. I love the pattern. Simply ..wonderful.

I like Bill's site...I've been there often. How nice these are a gift to his wife.

I always look forward to your updates and yeah I'm the first one here tonight.

Blogroll reader is helpful...ha!

sandy said...

addendum:

You're an alchemist..that's it...!

I knew there was a word and it escaped me until I published the first comment and was enlarging the photos...yes..that's what you are...

In your case, taking metals and transforming them into zen jewelry.

Sharon said...

These turned out great Gwen. Bill must have been thrilled!

Ruth said...

I like what Sandy called you, perfect. Funny you would mention Bill getting these for his wife! Don and I were telling Peter about you, John and Max yesterday as we explored his cruise route online. He'll be in St. John, so Don wants me to pick something out from your shop and have Peter go visit you! I hope it works out. I know his visit will be short. How exciting!! Now I will browse. I think he'll arrive sometime next week, I'll find out more in a bit. And he does that same run for a few weeks, so he'll have more visits to come.

I love the zen behind this art.

Anet said...

These are prefect for a weaver, I know Bill's wife will love them!

So wonderful about Peter stopping in! I'm off to peek in at Bill's.

kate said...

Gwen...when I clicked on your blog just now my first response was ooooohhh. These zen pieces are just wonderful. I love everything about them. The rough textured surface, the over and under weave of the metal, the imperfections of the metal, the way you have made the metal "drape". And when I enlarged the pendant, my heart skipped a beat! Lovely. I am inspired to start exploring metal again.

jo horswill said...

Gwen, these are superb pieces.
I love the way the silver bars lay so naturally on and under each other...very serene looking.
There is a beautiful strength about these pieces too. Thank you for Bills link. Will look forward to reading his blog.

denise said...

Those are beautiful. Zen, indeed.

ArtPropelled said...

Hand woven metal, so perfect for a weaver. The photographs are like haikus. I would frame them!

mansuetude said...

these are so handsome and I think I responded to them on a magical level--like you invented a new language with the line and the gesture.

Is there a way to peek into your shop--to see more of your offering? Like a virtual store.

mansuetude said...

perhaps o perhaps i will send a hummingbird with a high speed virtual camera to scope it all out! :)

Sweet blessed day to you all--and the sea!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi everybody, I wrote up several replies last night but somehow the blogger ate them or.... I was so tired I forgot one important feature.. like publishing them!!!... I'm going to try again....

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hey thanks, Sandy you are such an entertainer...

When you sell your house why don't you move out here.. I could use a smile a day...
Boy I wish I did have the magic of the Alchemist.. Max has a big lump of "Fools Gold" I wouldn't mind turning into the real thing!!

...

Hey Sharon, I was really happy to hear that they were pleased with them.

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Hi Anet, Max made it off to school yesterday. seemed much better at handling it than he did last year for a month or so.. I think he'll be ok with it this year.. seems more determined this year.

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Thanks so much Denise! wish I could do these kinds of jewelry all the time...

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Gwen Buchanan said...

Ruth, I hope Peter finds his trip enjoyable.. I have never gone on a cruise, but my brother, Randy loves them. I have lost track of how many he has gone on... He is the singer in his band and they would love to do what your son is doing...

An interesting thing about Saint John is all the old architechure... one of the oldest cities in Canada... there was a great fire back in 1877 but there is still plenty of old structures to see... best of luck to him.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh thank you, Kate I can't wait to see what you conjure up with your magic touch... it is always fun to have the time to explore an idea to see where it takes us.. like a lovely journey!!!

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Thank you Jo, I have been catching up on your very prolific blog... you are such a busy girl.. I am really enjoying your studio!!!

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Robyn, you are so generous with your comments. I had great fun doing these...

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Very kind of you, Mansuetude, You always spur my imagination and make me feel good!

I was looking for my little hummingbirds... I haven't seen them in the last couple days... I am wondering if they have gone south... maybe they caught a ride in some goose feathers...

I have not yet created a virtual store ... for now, slow but sure I hope to post more of my work though.. Thank you for asking...

William Evertson said...

Hi Gwen- I've been a little out of touch with blogging recently so it was such a nice surprise to see this post. And yes everyone Karen loves this set and has received many great comments on them. Also loved the sunrise photos; great compositions.

Ruth said...

So can you tell me a shop in St. John that carries your jewelry for Peter to find?

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks for asking Ruth, In Saint John most people find us at the Old City Market... downtown at "Beckwith and CO.".... Please Don't feel obligated to buy mine though... she carries lots of cool work from many artists...

hey maybe you can slip on board as one of his groupies!!!

Seth said...

Exceptional pieces Gwen. And I really do love the reverse.

Arija said...

Hi Gwen, you were off line for a bit. Got me a little worried. Glad to see you back again.
The combination of copper and silver is like the sun and the moon, or Yin and Yang. What a wonderful idea! To warm and cool at the same time.

I've never tried anything like the Swedish lace pattern. It looks pretty complex. I mainly used to do traditional Latvian pattern in the days that were. Now the days of my life grow short and other joys take precedence.

We sre about to share a holiday house with our son and family on an istmus on the outskirts of Sydney. It's a 4 day drive back home for our eldest granddaughter's 21st. birthday.
All pretty tiring for me but well woth it.
Hope to be on line agin by the end of next week.
Stay well, love Arija

Gwen Buchanan said...

Arija, I wish you a pleasant journey and much enjoyment when you get there.. Hope you can rest on the drive back.. that is a long one. I am not a traveller so I know it would tire me out.. But it will be good for you to be with your family!! All the best!!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Bill, I've had other things taking my time too, besides blogging lately.. that time of year I guess... only so much time in the day... We have to get our 6-8 cords of firewood stacked soon too...
The last couple mornings have been a bit gray at daybreak, but the sun is bursting forth now... I always feel more inspired when the sun is out!!

....

Thank you Seth, What would we all do without art!!!

Ruth said...

Thanks for the name of the shop, Gwen. And thanks for the encouragement to look at other people's items, but I'm interested in having something of yours.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Ruth, If Peter ever makes his way out to St. Martins while on any of his stops to Saint John Port, we would love to meet him.

Ruth said...

Oh thank you, Gwen, that's wonderful. I'll let him know.

herhimnbryn said...

Hallo there,
Thankyou for leaving some lovely comments at my place.

Love this set you have made, want to pick it up and feel.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh you're welcome.. I really enjoyed your mosaics!

india flint said...

Gwen, these treasures are delicious...

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks India, When I find time to explore it feels like a true luxury.