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.
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.
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.
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.”
I worked with Leigh and Dan to build this trellis for their climbing roses. The landscape was just completed by Rachel’s Landscape Design. In it was a semi-circular bench which needed just the right trellis to create a cozy private space to partially block a view from the street. They requested a modern look with a golden ratio theme. This was accomplished by making the numerical pattern horizontal, in alternating sections. It’s Fibonacci’s sequence (1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8,13 and 21) on a half inch scale.The trellis sits 10′ W x 6.5′ H x 32″ D
Client Review: “Shelly created a beautiful trellis for our front yard that acts as a screen but is really an all season focal point. The trellis provides privacy from the street and support for my favorite climbing rose. Shelly spent time with us in the yard to really understand the site and our needs, and she collaborated with us through sketches and photos to come up with this fabulous modern work of art. She also helped us install the finished product. People walking on our street stop and comment frequently! Thank you, Shelly, for this wonderful addition to our landscape.
This Misty Tree came about through a discussion with Kelley about a way to display her collection of glass ornaments outside her window. She liked the Mist trellis but wanted it in the round. The orbs can be hung in one of the five large hoops or off one of the spirals that punctuate the piece. I made enough antiqued copper hooks that she won’t run out as her collections grows. 7’H x 2’W
This is the Bubble Trellis. It’s a combination of a laser cut remnant at the top, solid discs of various diameter and hoops of 3/4″ and 1/2″ strap. The base is made of solid 1/2″ steel rod for stable placement in the soil.
The Organic Grid. This trellis is a grid but has lots of movement and irregularity. The top rods extend out beyond the trellis and each piece will a have one circular element on the corner. Roughly 6′ H x 2′ W.
This is Mondrian Lithe. The elegant frame is 3/8ths rod with a variety of rod, strap and rebar as the internal grid structure. 2″ W x 6′ H.
Mondrian Heft. This trellis has a 1/2 ” steel rod frame with a variety of rod, strap, rebar and random bits up to 5/8ths as the grid structure. Pieces may vary in size. Roughly 6′ H x 2′ W.
Mondrian Scrappy. This trellis uses a grid structure that includes all the above yet adds sections of perforated and expanded steel, a laser drop or other industrial element. The end result is more of a screen or opaque quality. Sizes may vary due to found objects. Roughly 6′ H x 2′ W.
This sturdy steel trellis is inspired by Mondrain. There is a wide variety of steel bits used in the framework; flat bar, strap, various sized rod, threaded, spiraled, rebar, hex rod and laser cut.
This new piece is called the cresting wave trellis. It would be perfect at night holding a lantern for an outdoor garden party! Perhaps two of different heights? Covered in snap peas? I used pencil rod in a random quilt style pattern with a gradual shift from 3D at the bottom to flat at the top. Here by the deck, it creates a boarder without being too heavy.
This Misty Tree came about through a discussion with Kelley about a way to display her collection of glass ornaments outside her window. She liked the Mist trellis but wanted it in the round. The orbs can be hung in one of the five large hoops or off one of the spirals that punctuate the piece. I made enough antiqued copper hooks that she won’t run out as her collections grows. 7’H x 2’W
INDIO METAL ARTS 