Three Weeks in the Metals Studio at Indiana University

In September, I spent three weeks as an artist in residence at Indiana University in Bloomington. It was a whirlwind of conversations, demonstrations, learning, and some much-needed time for personal work in a well-equipped metals studio.

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With my tools and materials unloaded and a bench to call my own, I settled in alongside the graduate students. They all made me feel right at home. I loved sharing the studio with them: seeing their work take shape, working through ideas, and getting to know them.

Part of the residency involved working directly with students, and I enjoyed demonstrating pin backs for Angela Caldwell's introductory class.

In a mini workshop for the graduate students, I shared Jayne Redman's Rotational WorkRing System to make pancake dies. They are especially useful to cut out repetitive shapes. For this demonstration, I created a simple pattern that could be formed into a cone. The die is the flat steel plate with the pink paper representing the metal to be cut. The next image shows the cone formed from the cut shape.

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Alongside teaching, I had time to work on an enamel necklace that will be shown at the "Gardens in Glass exhibition" for New York Jewelry Week coming up in November. The necklace is enamel on repurposed steel. Spending time in such a well-equipped space, I could stay with the piece, moving from drawings and components to a necklace beginning to take shape.

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I shared with Nicole Jacquard, who is Professor of Metalsmithing + Jewelry Design, and Angela Caldwell, Area Head of Metalsmithing + Jewelry Design, that this was one of the most "friction-free" studio experiences I've ever had. Whatever I needed was at my fingertips, from hand tools, to a great sandblaster to the perfect stakes for forming, Vcella kilns, jump shear, etc., followed by an excellent setup for photographing finished work. Nothing got in the way of making.

Many thanks to Nicole and Angela for inviting me to be in residence, and to the graduate students for welcoming me so warmly. Three weeks went by quickly, and I left grateful for the time, the company, and the opportunity to be part of the studio.