When I first met Connie Zhou @studio___888 I was impressed with her vision to create a zine highlighting six local artists in Portland. In this digital era it’s refreshing to return to an analog format, to shoot with film and produce a paper publication. She interviewed, styled and photographed the artists herself while Linda Wong created makeup looks that were inspired by each artist’s work. It’s an honor to be included in this project with these talented ladies! Join us to celebrate the release of this first issue!
This weekend is the Earth and Ocean Festival in Cannon Beach. Check the link for activities at participating art galleries and the location of the labyrinth on the beach.
I’m looking forward to presenting a wreath making demo and giving an artist talk at Dragonfire Gallery on Sunday, September 22nd, 11-2pm. The gallery is celebrating the festival from the 20th-22nd with raffles benefiting environmental causes, a 3D sculpture show, artist talks and more.
Dragonfire Gallery, 123 S. Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach, Oregon, 503-436-1533.
Crescent Moon with Cherry Blossoms. Steel.Oak Leaf and Holly Berry. Copper and steel.Evergreen Clematis with Steel Flowers. Beads, copper and steel.Willow with Wild Iris. Steel.Willow with Aluminum Flowers. Steel and aluminum.
Knowing Descendant and the artist Shelly Durica-Laiche of Indio Metal Arts.
The wonderful installation crew, sponsor and facilitator!
Please join me today Saturday 21st 12:30-3:30pm at Lake Oswego City Hall parking lot and Artspace. The city is celebrating the new sculptures in their rotating downtown sculpture collection, Gallery Without Walls. These are all on a two year loan while also for sale. I’m honored to have Knowing Descendant included. The free docent led tour begins at 2:45pm where me and others artists will on hand to speak about their work.
12:30-2pm – free art and activities, community booths, Lakeridge Jazz Combo
2-2:30pm – People’s Choice Awards ( for last year’s sculptures)
2:45-3:30pm – free docent led tour of this year’s sculptures
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.
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.
I think these videos do a great job of showing what went into building this latest sculpture. It’s a 6’H steel figure based on a piece from a Kwakuitl village known as Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.
I was approached to build a wrought iron trellis that was inspired by a trip to Paris. Keith had a productive yet gangly raspberry patch along the driveway that’s visible from the kitchen window. The goal was to build something functional as well as creating an attractive focal point in the art nouveau style.
Using his sketch of Parisian metalwork I built this custom trellis. Each wave section was forced through a jig, hand shaped in a vice, then a forged cuff was wrapped around each connection point. There are two 20″ L brackets that secure it to the fence posts with stainless steel hardware. The trellis sits upon two vertical rebar stakes.
6′ H x 9′ W x 20″ D
Customer Review: “I met Shelly at a garden event in spring 2015. She was interested in my project idea, a trellis to support my raspberry plants. My wife and I wanted something practical and aesthetic that would be interesting to view from the windows during the winter months. Working together, we came up with a beautiful solution to several challenges that arose as we discussed design and material options. Her artistic and practical knowledge combined to fulfill the dream of a useful and aesthetic result. Also, I liked the added touches that, though subtle, really finished the project.”
INDIO METAL ARTS 