Monday, October 26, 2015

Coming Nov. 14th & 15th: NSAA Holiday Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Artisan Crafts

"Vasija del Buhiti"
Sandra Golbert
Sandra creates sculptures, collages, quilts, watercolors and artists' books. She makes her own handmade paper and paints silk with cold water dyes, using these materials to construct her artwork.
"My work is in Fiber, mostly hand-made paper, wood, and hand-dyed silk with surface design. I began working in fibers 50 years ago, as a child, when I designed and made dolls' clothes! Then I went on to design costumes and clothing for "real people", and in 1959, my designs appeared in Vogue Magazine. When I no longer lived in the US, I could not work as a "seamstress/designer" since I was considered an alien, I began to put my fibers on the wall instead of the body, making intricately embroidered wall hangings and sculptures.
Urged by my friends, I entered juried exhibits and to my surprise, was accepted in a great many of them. Since then, I have worked steadily on my art, "supporting my habit" by working as a free-lance costumer, designer, office clerk, theatre producer, puppet-dresser, photo stylist, baby-sitter and anything else available to me.
"Barnacles"
Through the years, I have received many grants, two residencies and much help from my children so that I might continue my work.Two of my pieces were chosen to be in an exhibit called "9x3x3" at the American Craft Museum in New York City and I have a piece in the Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Jersey which houses the permanent collection of the National Association of Women Artists. This collection contains eminent artists such as Mary Cassatt, Louise Nevelson and Judy Chicago. A few years ago, I was elected to be on the board of this entity, as well. My work can be found in many countries, but mostly in residences, corporate offices and hotels in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I was born." See more of Sandra's artwork at www.fiberarte.com


Friedl Brosch in his workshop
A.F.Brosch Woodworking

Alfred Friedrich Brosch, or as most know him, "Friedl" is a master cabinet maker, a museum quality restorer and an accomplished sculptor. He is a talented craftsman, residing on the North Shore, with a passion for creating, beautiful, unique and quality custom woodwork.
Friedl was born in Australia and raised in Austria. Aside from 143 Main Street in Essex, he considers Austria "home". There he earned both his cabinetmaker and his museum-quality restoration credentials through the exacting, old world guild system.
Friedl designs both contemporary and classical furniture by commission, or duplicates classical furniture, right down to its finish. He works closely with his clients, working up multiple sketched until he coaxes their ideas into a reality. A small sampling of his areas of expertise include: inlay work, gold leafing and hand carving.
Friedl builds furniture of all types, dining table, coffee tables, chairs, secretaries, servers, etc. He also custom designs and builds kitchens, bars, vanities, fireplace mantels, built in cabinetry, and anything else his clients request. See more of  Friedl's artistry at www.afbroshwoodworking.com


Karen Harris
"I am an artist/designer with a limited production studio in upstate NY, where much of my work is concentrated in the decorative arts. The Shangri-La Collection, a series of decorative bowls, is especially appealing to collectors of art seeking a signature style of understated opulence.
Enthralled with the art of papier mache and its chameleon qualities, and challenged by its textural characteristics, my experimentation evolved into this unusual combination of texture and color filled with unique permutations unattainable in any other medium. The sphere shaped bowls are made entirely from a pulped method of papier mache, a process that requires six weeks to accomplish. Although delicate in appearance, the bowls are surprisingly sturdy.
The exterior surface work consists of heavy metallic textures and uneven edges that dramatically contrast with lustrous shell interiors. Various touches of leaf, patination and multilayered techniques embellish the bowls. They are primitive, sophisticated, and suggestive of precious artifacts.


"Piazza San Martini"
John Bassett
"Flat, not round, my work might be called glass relief. I'm happy in the rich, associative world of recycled glass and other found objects. I find myself focused on that most conventional quality of glass-its transparency. I like to make things that amuse me and may entertain others. I like things that are funny. If my glass makes someone laugh, that's good. I use recycled materials, including bottles, plates, wood windows, and construction scrap to make residential sized panels and commissions.|
I'm self taught and worked most of my life as a carpenter. My uncle, Richard Bassett, was an artist and encouraged me to paint and draw when I was young. A clever and generous man, Joseph LeBeau worked for my grandmother and made wonderful toy machines from scrap wood, popsicle sticks, recycled nails, and left over house paint. He gave these toy machines to any kid who wanted them. I think I learned from Joseph LeBeau the joy of making things, the possibility of using recycled, discarded materials, the possibility of making something from nothing and the fun of sharing.
 "Hannah Jumper Series: The 7th Wave"
I've made panels and sculptures from scrap glass since 1979. I've used glass in many ways and combined it often with discarded windows and construction lumber. I don't know of other people now doing most of this with glass. I'm interested in the many ways scrap can be used and am always interested in meeting other recyclers. If there is consistency in what I make it is in the reuse of old stuff. I'm interested in the richness of shape and texture of glass produced by slumping and fusing. I'm doing glass that can be shown on interior walls and doesn't need strong backlighting. This wall mounted glass is supported by armatures of wood or brass. I'm interested in light, structure, line, texture, balance, and color in that order. I also do panels for windows and commissions."
http://www.basglas.com


Chris Williams in his studio
Chris Williams
"I want the figures I create to look like they've just been caught in a moment of stillness. When you turn your head, they lumber off to the woods or fly away. Working in metal, there is always a dynamic tension between the stiffness of the material and my own force. I have a sense of where it should go, and I use my strength and tools to shape it, and the metal fights back. It is that tension captured in the bent and twisted metal that gives each piece a pulse. These sculptures steal time. In our fast-paced world, people walk around with eyes glazed over. Coming upon these
"Bear Cub"
pieces at airports or stadiums or even on suburban lawns they are pulled out of their hurried lives; they are literally stopped in their tracks by their encounter with a moose, a rhino or a playful greyhound. What started out as a fascination with welding has become a journey of creativity for me. As I explore new directions working in this medium, I hope my work will continue to create moments of heightened appreciation for life's wonders and surprises for others as well." www.chriswilliamssculpture.com


"Anemone-oranges"
Beth Williams
Combining glass, gold, and silver, Beth creates contemporary, elegant jewelry highlighted by the rainbow of colors and textures inherent in her glass rods. Having been a studio metalsmith for many years prior to focusing on glass, Beth's designs balance all the elements in her materials, resulting in pieces that the owner can wear with comfort and pleasure. Pure gold granules and silver threads accent the surface of Beth's lampworked beads reflecting her signature style that has been recognized in publications and juried exhibitions across the country.
"Exploring the qualities of glass and color are what drive my work; using light and transparency in surprising ways along with layering color on color helps me to create unusual contemporary beads and jewelry.
"The Dream Pod Group"
Inspiration comes from my gardens, the ever-changing light on the ocean, the seascapes that surround me...anywhere colors collide in nature. Pure silver and gold accents add a final tactile quality, allowing my pieces to be as interesting to touch and view as they are to wear."
www.bethwilliams.com