INDIO METAL ARTS

artful objects for inside and out

First newsletter of the year!

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Greetings friends!

Spring is here! As the days are getting longer, are you feeling more active like I am? 

April brings two large events for which I have been creating a new body of work. 

If you are preparing to get in the garden, come out to Hortlandia April 5th-6th. This event, sponsored by the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, combines art and garden supply makers together with 39 specialty plant vendors. I will be bringing all new trellises, plant stands, free standing sculptures and other landscape elements. 

Join me at the Gathering of the Guilds, April 19th-21st. See the incredible work from the other members of the Creative Metal Arts Guild as well as the other five guilds.

Below I share my involvement with a university and an elementary school. I juried the student open call art show at Linfield University. I was also in the curriculum of the TTSD Art Literacy Program to inspire metal sculpture for K-5 at Byron Elementary.

Check out my latest commissions in the newsletter below. I’m always grateful for the opportunity to create custom metal work for clients. Please contact me if you would like help bringing your vision to life!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

See March 2024 Newsletter here!
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Artist Talk and potluck with Pacific Northwest Sculpture group

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The monthly PNWS studio tour and potluck is with Shelly Durica-Laiche of Indio Metal Arts on Sunday March 24th at 3 p.m. It is open to the public. This Oregon native has been working in metal for over 20 years and running her own business since 2012. Shelly will share how she began her journey as an artist, her process of creating and how a recent experience at Frogwood Collab was a transformative experience.

Shelly received a double major from Portland State University in Sculpture and Graphic Design. “I fell in love with steel when I took my first welding class at PSU. The properties of metal really resonated with me.” In her SE Portland studio she designs and builds both functional and decorative metal sculpture.  

“By taking inspiration from the outside world and turning inwards, I synthesize my experiences into three dimensions. I focus on the elegance of form, using a linear and bold graphic aesthetic, to say the most with the least amount of material.”

Salvaged steel is her preferred material for creating her diverse body of work. She also includes non-ferrous metals such as brass, aluminum and copper. She collects it from steelyards, the side of the road, by donation or through her travels.

“I’m inspired by the unique shapes of these found treasures. Scrap metal has an embedded history and character that folds into each design. Sometimes I know right away what I want to build while other times it takes years of contemplation. I’m driven by the design challenge of transforming these recognizable objects into an assemblage with a new voice. I seek for the viewer to be surprised by how a material is used in an unconventional way, far removed from its past life. The process is magic to me.” 

You may have seen her work during Portland Open Studios, Modern Home Tour or Association of Landscape Designers Tour. Her work has exhibited publicly at Milwaukie City Hall Sculpture Garden, Oregon Society of Artists and Happy Valley Sculpture Garden. She has a piece in the permanent collection of the Wonder Garden at the Hoffman Center for the Arts. Some of her gallery exhibitions include the Sherwood Center for the Arts and the Alberta Street Gallery. She is currently showing at Dragonfire Gallery, Side Street Arts and the Attic Gallery. She is a current member of the Pacific Northwest Sculptors Group as well as the Creative Metal Arts Guild.

Shelly also teaches art welding and accepts commissions for custom projects.

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Indio Metal Arts Studio Tour: Sunday, March 24th at 3 p.m.

Bring a dish to share, drinks or a desert. Please bring your own plate, cup and silverware.

5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR 97202


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ART FESTIVALS & GALLERY EVENTS 2023

schedule

THE GATHERING OF THE GUILDS which includes my guild, the CREATIVE METAL ARTS GUILD will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, April 28th-30th. Six guilds will show their work: Wood, Glass, Bead, Weavers, Metal and Ceramic.

FROGWOOD ARTIST COLLAB 60 artists collaborate for a week at Camp Colton resulting in sculptures for a live auction, May. See website for online auction.

INTO THE DEPTHS, PNWS member group exhibition on theme, at the Newport Visual Arts Center June 2nd – July 29th.

SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL located in beautiful Bush’s Pasture Park just outside downtown Salem, July 21th -23rd.

CHEHELEM MOUNTAIN ART AFFAIR an intimate art show featuring juried artisans in the beautiful Chehalem community SW of Portland in Hillsboro, July 29th – 30th.   

ALBERTA STREET GALLERY Steel and Fiber, group show with fabric and metal sculpture artists, July 27th – August 28th.

HOFFMAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS plant and sculpture sale in the Hoffman Wonder Garden, 594 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130, September 30th, 10 – 1PM.

WILD ARTS FESTIVAL celebrate art, literature and nature inspired art with support going to the Portland Audubon, Portland State University Viking Pavilion, November 18th-19th.

RAIN SPARK GALLERY pop up holiday gallery with over 30 local artists, Location TBD in downtown Lake Oswego. This show usually runs November 1st – December 24th. Check the website for special events throughout the run.

ARTIST TALK FOR ANOTHER REALM

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Please join me, Sunday the 23rd of October, for an artists talk at Sidestreet Arts gallery, 3-4PM. I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with and learning more about these talented artists. If you missed the opening of Another Realm, this is the perfect time to experience the exhibition before it closes on the 30th.

Artists include: Erica Gibson, Kendall Clay, Melody Bush, Anna Magruder, Jeanne Steffan, Sharon Jonquil and me.

Sidestreet Arts 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland, OR
Open Wednesday – Sunday 12-5PM
Shop the show online.

Updates: show opening this Friday the 7th, location announced for the Rain Spark seasonal gallery!

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Hi all! Thank you to everyone who came out to my Open Studio event. What a special weekend I’ll never forget. I also appreciate all the folks who came out to the summer shows. I’m still catching up and am looking forward to sharing more about those incredible experiences in my spring newsletter.

For now, I have some special events to share with you as we head toward the holiday season.

Artistic Portland Gallery has returned to our regular celebration of First Thursdays! Join us this Thursday the 6th, 4-6pm. See some of my new work there. Featured member artists Ann Mackiernan (glass) and Mark Clifford (photography) will be speaking about their work on display in the main window. Guest artist and abstract painter Andrea Lopez is exhibiting this month in the Annex. There is so much to see by all 24 local artists in our collective. 4110 NE Fremont, Portland.

This Friday I’ll be at Sidestreet Arts to celebrate the opening of, Another Realm, which includes a new collection of my primarily sculptural works. Join me for the First Friday Art Walk, 5-7pm. I’ve been looking forward to this show all year as the theme was so inspiring. Each mixed metal assemblage is over 90% reclaimed materials, including brass, stainless, copper and steel. Many of these sculptures have never been exhibited before. If you were at my Open Studio event, you probably saw some of these works in progress. This group exhibition includes artist: Melody Bush, Erica Gibson, Sharon Jonquil, Anna Magruder, Jeanne Steffan and me. It runs October 5th-30th, Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm. 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland. 

Lake Oswego’s Rain Spark Gallery is back and has found a new pop-up location for the holiday season! We were fortunate to secure another storefront on State Street downtown. The address is, 180 “A” Street, next to Salt & Straw. It runs November 1st through December 24th with the hours of operation being Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Check Rain Spark’s Facebook page and my Instagram for the list of scheduled events such as artist talks, demonstrations and the return of the Lake Oswego Community Treasure Hunt. This fun tradition places handmade porcelain ornaments in 45 locations throughout Lake Oswego. This year’s theme is a butterfly. Read the daily clues to find the location of each ornament. Rain Spark Gallery is always a cozy, warm and friendly place for holiday shopping. See you there!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule a studio visit. Enjoy the holidays if I don’t see you.

Thank you all for supporting me in the 10th year of Indio Metal Arts!

Open Studio 2022

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Hi all!

I hope your summers have been going well. Overall the season feels cooler which is enjoyable.

I’m excited to be hosting my second annual Open Studio on August 26th – 28th. This event is very significant for me as I’ve reached a couple of major milestones. This summer is the 10th anniversary of Indio Metal Arts! I’m so grateful for all the love and support I’ve received over the years. It’s allowed me to continue being creative with and for this community which is what I love to do. It’s also my 50th year of my life on the 27th. There’s a lot of reflection, celebration and momentum! What a year to celebrate with you next weekend.

During the Open Studio, I will give demonstrations, be available for consultations and have work for sale. There will also be good deals on close out designs. Joining me is blacksmith Alex de Bont who builds finely crafted hand tools and garden implements. Watch his process and mad skills while he demonstrates in the main shop. We look forward to seeing you at Indio Metal Arts, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, 97202.

In other news, I’m honored to have received a scholarship from the Creative Metal Arts Guild to attend Frogwood. It’s a week long immersive experience with invited artists from the PNW and around the world that come together to share skills and create sculpture collaboratively. I’m so curious how this artistic event will broaden my practice. This is something I’ve wanted to do for many years and am so grateful for the opportunity!

With artistic collaboration in mind, I have several new connections and projects coming up.  I’ll be working with glass artist James Scott Stephenson on a large glass and steel private memorial sculpture. Mosaic glass and ceramic artist Karen Rycheck and I have our sights on large public art. I also just began a second collaboration with artist Chayo Wilson on a large scale ceramic and steel
figure. Keep an eye out for these and more on my Instagram page.

In September, I’m excited to visit the coast at Manzanita! The Hoffman Center for the Artsis having a plant sale where I’ll be selling trellises. Its being held in the Wonder Garden, the botanical grounds adjoining the center, September 10th, 10-1PM.

October 6th – 30th, I’ll be showing in “Another Realm”, a group show with Erica Gibson, Jeanne Steffan, Anna Magruder and Sharon Jonquil at Sidestreet Arts.

The Rain Spark Gallery is always a gorgeous holiday shopping experience in Lake Oswego. This pop-up gallery runs from late October through December. Venue TBD. Follow their website for updates.

If you need anything metal fabricated, feel free to contact me. If you aren’t sure exactly what you want, I’m a great designer and we can find a solution you’ll love. 

Thank you for all your support through the year! 

Latest Newsletter


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Remaining In Person Shows 2022

Come say hi if you’re in the area. These are the fine shows and open studio event, that I’ll be exhibiting my new work at!

SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL located in beautiful Bush’s Pasture Park just outside downtown Salem, July 15th -17th.

CHEHELEM MOUNTAIN ART AFFAIR an intimate art show featuring juried artisans in the beautiful Chehalem community SW of Portland in Scholls, July 30th – 31st.      

INDIO METAL ARTS 1ST OPEN STUDIO & SALE Please join me in my studio for live demonstrations. I’ll be available for consultations and the sale of fine and functional art. I’ll also be having a sale on discontinued styles. August 26th-28th, 10-6PM, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, 97202.

HOFFMAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS plant and sculpture sale in the Hoffman Wonder Garden, 594 Laneda Ave, Manzanita, OR 97130, September 10th

SIDESTREET ARTS Another Realm, group show with artists: Melody Bush, Shelly Durica-Laiche, Erica Gibson, Sharon Jonquil, Anna Magruder and Jeanne Steffan runs October 5th – 30th, Wednesday – Sunday 12-5pm. Join me on the 7th for the First Friday Art Walk, 5-7pm. 140 SE 28th Ave, Portland.

RAIN SPARK GALLERY pop up holiday gallery with over 30 local artists, 180 “A” St. next to Salt & Straw, Monday through Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm. This show runs November 1st – December 24th, Lake Oswego. Check the website for special events throughout the run.


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Newsletters

November 2023 Newsletter

July 2023 Newsletter

April 2023 Newsletter

October 2022 Newsletter

August 2022 Newsletter

March 2022 Newsletter

November 2021 Newsletter

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So happy with this stained glass frame and centerpiece I designed and installed. Thank you Carrie and David for the opportunity to create this intoxicating addition to your veranda! More on this project in the upcoming spring newsletter.