Today I got out some polymer clay so I could experiment with translucent clay and alcohol inks. I wanted to make some beads and earring components to combine with silver, but I didn’t have a definite plan in mind. I spent a good part of the afternoon just conditioning different colors of clay, and I kept getting interrupted by phone calls. (The kind of calls that involve follow up phone calls, like trying to find out the wheel chair accessible van schedule, so I could then call back and make an appointment for a follow up visit with one of Mom’s doctors. It all came together pretty well, as far as rearranging my own appointments and my mother’s appointments.)
Actually it was surprising how things worked out in a way I could not foresee, even though it wasn’t the afternoon I thought I would have.
Last year, in the spring, I went to the Museum of Arts and Design with my friend Susie when I visited her in New York. I had been wanting to see their jewelry collection, and the exhibit, A Bit of Clay on the Skin: New Ceramic Jewelry, sounded like it could be interesting. It was. Even though most of the pieces were things I would never wear, they were fun to look at and the execution was fascinating. They made sense to me, as art.
However, there were a few pieces that just made me think, “Are you serious?” In trying to find something positive, I will say that the pieces balance well.
Even with a lovely explanation of the artist’s intent, I thought to myself, “Really? Uncomfortable jewelry for the sake of it being uncomfortable so we can talk about it?” (I don’t want to even know what she means by “other mysterious waste materials…vaguely repellant…”)
Maybe it’s not so bad that I didn’t have a definite plan of what to make this afternoon.
Barbara S Fernald Jewelry 
I wonder too sometimes how these pieces make it into museum shows. it seems the more outrageous your work is, the better the chances of being accepted. Sigh…………….
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At least Tiina’s outrageous work helped me come up with a blog entry yesterday! ha ha. I hoe you are getting some rest.
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Let us know if you ever need our accessible van. We’d be happy to help out. xoS ps…didn’t groove on that strange jewelry!
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Thanks, Susan. That is really nice of you. There is a van at Birch Bay, and they will drive it three mornings a week. It all worked out for now. But I’ll keep your offer in mind.
Yeah, pretty strange jewelry, right?
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i will never make anything with human hair. ever.
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Promise?!
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actually, i just finished a necklace that FEELS LIKE it was made of human hair, or barbed wire….i’m going to try to get it up on the blog in the next day or 2……
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Can’t wait to see it! Was it a knit piece?
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Um, ok. That’s the nicest thing I can say about that….
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Yeah, hard to find something good about it.
Hey, I hope your neck gets better. That stinks that you’re having trouble.
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