2 Bubbles in the Seaweed trellises, reclaimed materials, 6’Hx2’W
Copper Whirling Orb, 29″Wx45″H
SMALL SCALE
Sprig Bundle with Red and Blue Flowers, 30″Lx10″W
Songbird on Willow Branch, 24″Hx5″W
Poppies with stainless steel, 3′-6’H
CLIENT PHOTOS & DELIVERIES
Lotus Orb, 4’Hx29″W
This Stainless Whirling Orb is set in a side yard rock garden.
Planetary set in a lush landscape by the front door.
A creative client tuned this Yarn Orb into a fire pit. What a great idea!
SQ Monolith, 5’Hx16″W
WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION OF LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS TOUR, June 21st. Seven Portland area private gardens were available for viewing on a self guided tour. I had the pleasure of placing work throughout the gorgeous landscape of one of the homes. Thank you to the Smith’s and Elida from All Oregon Landscaping!
Orb Tower, 3′-7’H Association Of Landscape Designers Tour 2019
Raised Beds, 12″x12″
Yarn Orbs, 10″-28″W Association Of Landscape Designers Tour 2019
PORTLAND MODERN HOME TOUR, June 1st. I built this piece for a client as their home was being remodeled by M.O. Daby Designs. It’s mounted in the cavity of a pocket door and is visible when the door is closed. This home was among the 8 included on the tour.
Bamboo Forest – laser cut design detail
Bamboo Forest – laser cut design set in recess of pocket door- 95″H x 32″W
FULL HOUSE FOR CAREER DAY. Thanks to the 8th graders from Bridger Elementary School who stopped by WatershedPDX to see the space. They had the chance to talk with several artists and other small business owners. It was a pleasure to meet them all and share my story with them.
ARTISTIC PORTLAND I’ve exhibited with this co-op for three years and am so proud to work with these 40+ fabulous artists. I’ll be doing a demonstration with several other artists 11-4PM as part of the day time festivities. Stop by for cake and celebrate with us. There is so much planned.
DANGER GARDEN I’m so grateful to have my work mentioned in Loree’s web blog. I had the pleasure of meeting her at Cracked Pots last year where she picked up one of my Condo Planters. What a delight. Thank you!
SHOW SCHEDULE 2019
MULTNOMAH ART CENTER GALLERY Pacific Northwest Sculptors present, “Unmatched Pairs”, which is a collaboration between its members. There are 10 pairs of artists. On exhibit will be one piece from each person and one of their collaborations. September 6th – October 1st. Opening reception Friday, Sept. 6th, 7-9PM.
LOCAL 14 at the World Forestry Center, October 4th – 6th.
PORTLAND OPEN STUDIOS at my studio, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, two weekends in a row, October 12th & 13th and 19th & 20th.
RAIN SPARK GALLERY seasonal gallery in Lake Oswego, 310 SE State Street, #108. I’ll be giving an artist talk December 26th during the 5-7PM reception. October 24th – December 29th.
SHOW SCHEDULE 2020
OSA MONOTYPE PARTY Honored to be included with 35th other artists to raise money for the non-profit, Oregon Society of Artists. All artists create prints on Saturday that will be hung that night for the reception. It’s going to be fun time. Hope to see you there!
Opening Reception February 1st, 6pm – 8pm.
First Thursday Reception February 6th, 6-8pm.
2185 SW Park Place
HOME AND GARDEN SHOW Invited to showcase 7 of my largest pieces in the landscape exhibit section of the show at the entrance, the Expo Center, February 20th- 23rd.
CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY First Look Gala includes live jazz and hors d’ oeuvres, $10.00. Free entry Friday- Sunday. Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, March 5th – 8th.
BONSAI AKIRA OPEN STUDIO Come and visit the display garden in its glorious springtime beauty. I’ll have my work among the plants and bonsai. April 25th, 11-5pm. On Ellis directly off Milwaukie Ave.
THE GATHERING OF THE GUILDS which includes my guild, the CREATIVE METAL ARTS GUILD will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, May 1st – 3rd. Six guilds will show their work: Wood, Glass, Bead, Weavers, Metal and ceramic. See me in Booth 1-M. cancelled, possible virtual show.
RAIN SPARK GALLERY seasonal gallery in Lake Oswego on State Street. New website for online sales in progress now, check back for updates.
Cascade- 6’Hx12″W. Scrap chain of various gauges, laser cut remnant, industrial drop base.
LARGE SCALE
CLIENT PHOTOS
Yarn Orb purchased at Charbonneau Art Festival-2.5’H
Planetary purchased and Home & Garden- 4’H
Custom Bubble Screen Wall Hanging- 6’Hx21″W
Moonscape purchased at gathering of the Guilds- 21″Hx16″W
Moonscape in custom cabnet.
WORKING ON A COMMISSION
BUBBLE SCREEN WALL HANGING
THE FURBALL: CATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was a blast! I donated this Bird in a Nest which raised $180.00 for the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. So many people gave generously to the all the silent and public auction items. Such a great cause and so much fun! If you need help with a feral cat population near you or you need to spay/neuter your own pets, call the FCCO.
The Furball, Caturday Night Fever
Red Bird in Nest on base- 3’H. Reclaimed chain, steel.
SHOW SCHEDULE
LAKE OSWEGO READSI’m honored to participate in the Lake Oswego Reads program this year, an annual event sponsored by the Lake Oswego Public Library. In it, 20 artists read a novel then create one piece inspired by it. It travels to 9 locations throughout the year, with month long viewing at each. All pieces are available for sale. Opening reception at the Lakewood Center for the Arts on February 4th.
THE GATHERING OF THE GUILDS which includes my guild, the CREATIVE METAL ARTS GUILD will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, April 26th – 28th. Six guilds will show their work: Wood, Glass, Bead, Weavers, Metal and ceramic. See me in Booth 1-M.
21ST ANNUAL FURBALL: CATURDAY NIGHT FEVER I’m excited to have donated a piece for this event. Help the Feral Cat Coalition raise money with silent and live auctions. Come to the Portland Art Museum and celebrate with food, drinks and disco dancing for a good cause, ticket available at the FCCO website, May 4th.
ASSOCIATION OF NW LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS TOURI’m honored to display my work in a beautiful home landscape located in Lake Oswego, June 22nd. This is a guided tour with presentations by each professional designer. Check website for tickets.
MULTNOMAH ART CENTER GALLERY Pacific Northwest Sculptors present, “Unmatched Pairs”, which is a collaboration between its members. There are 10 pairs of artists. On exhibit will be one piece from each person and one of their collaborations. September 6th – October 1st.
I really enjoy working with clients to bring joy to their lives through metal art. Sometimes people know exactly what they want while other times, through a consultation, a sculpture is arrived upon. Here are some recent pieces brought to life through this process.
Bamboo Forest – 95″H x 32″W.
The client wanted a piece that would be visible when the pocket door was closed. It had to be thin yet pop visually. Through a consultation I suggested this concept. It brought the outside landscape to the interior.
Reed Trellis- Steel rod of various diameter, 6.5’W x 6’H.
This was designed to be an elegant way to hide the neighbors garage. The evergreen clematis will be trained onto it.
Spiral Gate, 36″Wx42″H.
This homeowner has an affinity for the spiral design. I plasma cut this based on a pair of earrings. It was then custom fit to mount into the side yard gate.
Eiffal Tower – 8’H x 42″W
My client honeymooned in Paris with her sweetie. For their 1st anniversary she surprised her with this gift, an Eiffel Tower trellis for the garden.
Eternal Om – powder coated red with bell – 48″H.
During a tour through my studio the idea for this piece came to life. They found exactly what they were looking for.
CLIENT REVIEW: I met Shelly at The Home and Garden Show in 2016. I was attracted to her display of hearts that she had welded because I collected hearts for my husband after his stent surgery in 2013. Shelly had unusual and beautifully formatted hearts made of different metals, including barbed wired and I thought that was a serendipitous material to shape into a heart. I liked that Shelly used recovered and recycled material for her art and I also heard the passion she felt for her chosen art form. Even with our years apart in age and world experiences, I felt a camaraderie with Shelly and saw and felt her warmth and joy for the sculptures she created and for those with whom she worked. I knew I wanted a Shelly Durica-Laiche sculpture in our front yard.
She listened to my musings and almost intuitively understood my desires and made a beautiful gong that brings joy to me everyday as it reminds me of my upbringing in Japan.
Update to the Providence Festival of the Trees 2016
Providence Festival of the Trees was a successful charity event that I was proud to be a part of last year. The steel deco tree I built raised $7100.00 for Providence hospital’s cancer services and research. Thanks to Artemis for bringing me in on the project. This client photo is of its new home in Hood River. Doesn’t it look perfect in that setting?
This sign is for a home business in Camas, WA. Elida is a professional artist and painting teacher.
The 40H x 40W sign sits on a 2′ concrete wall at the base of the driveway and along the sidewalk. The 20″ red center piece is her laser cut initial, powder coated. The four corners hold 8″ x 8″ x 1″ slabs of Blenko glass. The box tube frame is filled with a variety of textures; perforated steel, expanded mesh and woven mesh. It’s bolted down with tabs along the base as well as a vertical T bracket.
CLIENT REVIEW: “I am a professional artist who owns my own art studio/gallery. I needed an Art Sign for my studio and gallery that wasn’t your typical sign, but rather an art installation. I loved Shelly’s work and knew that she would be the perfect person to create something specific and unique for my space. I had a special area on on retaining wall where the piece needed to go. She worked with me over the next several months, helping me to come up with the design, the right materials and even how to install the piece. In the end, we were able to put my initial in the middle, in a vibrant red square, stain glass along the sides, and a mix of metals throughout. It is so beautiful and is a show stopper for anyone who visits my studio. I’ve received countless compliments and I am extremely happy with the end result! Now I’m looking for more spaces to have her create other things! She is an amazing artist and person and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with her and have one of her pieces here with me now forever. Elida
This is Debbie and Ron’s new ‘Bubble Screen’ set into their landscape. The tube stock frame contains a variety of disc sizes. They run from 1/16″ thick to 1″ thick and 3/4″ wide – 13″ wide. The hand bent strap rings are 1/2″ – 1″ thick. This variety allows for lots of movement and depth as you move around the piece. 6’H x 3′ W -client photo
Olivia and Clint commissioned this pair of red sprites for a corner of their beautiful backyard garden.
I met Sue and Michael at a show in quaint downtown Camas, where the street was blocked off for the spring patio, plant & garden show. They’d been looking for a tall piece to go in front of the house and something clicked when they saw this monolith. At seven feet, it makes a statement there now. Thanks you two!
To give you some perspective these flowers are in a pot 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. They give the space some color while the pot holds back the soil in a planted bed. A high shelf inside holds a layer of stones. This was a fun project for Tom and Debbie! Thank you.
This red geometric piece is on top of a steep slope. Until the plants grow in, this playful bright pattern reminds one to watch their step. When the plants do come in, it will be a nice contrast to the green foliage. Thanks Bunny!
INDIO METAL ARTS 