Of Snake Tails...

In Progress

I didn't set out trying to make a piece the looked like a snake's tail.  But that's what it looks like to me.  Snakes are not usually something I look to for inspiration, but I respect them like all other animals, and enjoy seeing them in nature when the opportunity arises. And if they are poisonous I like them at a safe distance!

Maybe I chose to make this piece that looks like a snake's tail because it says something about my life right now or how I am feeling.   Or perhaps it was the pretty little snake I found under a rock one day next to my hives.

Once in graduate school we had a seminar with Charon Kransen.  He spoke to us about ideas and inspiration.  And one of the things he said has always stuck with me.  It was something to the effect of:  True work never lies about the artist.

I'm not exactly sure what this piece is saying about me right now, but never the less I am pleased with its execution and the way it turned out!  I incorporated some found rubber I liked, recycled antique roofing copper that was die-formed, and sand casting to reproduce the bail I had first carved out of copper.

Finished Piece

Have a lovely Thursday everyone!

Jesse

A Portrait of an Artist

A year ago one of my students in a workshop Linda, said her and her husband were visiting from the Vancouver area. She mentioned that her husband is a photographer and loves to do portraiture of people in their natural work environments. She said he had already done quite a few in San Miguel but is always looking for more people. She gave me his information and when I had a look at his site I was really blown away. I got back to Linda and said I would love to be included in a shoot if it worked out.

Last year it did not, but this year when they were here visiting again we got it together. We set up a time a few weeks ago and I was really thrilled to be able to invite Linda and her husband Richard Paris to come for a visit and shoot here at my studio.

The whole experience was fun, and they were both such a pleasure to work with! This was really good because Richard took fotos for 4 full hours to get all the details he wanted just right. Have a look at the great shots Richard ended up with, giving an insiders glimpse of me and my studio! And if you have not seen his work before, it's really exceptional so go and check out his website when you have the chance!

www.richardparisphotography.ca

Happy April 1st everyone!

Jesse

The Old and the New

In pre-hispanic Mexico during the bronze age metalwork played an important role in all different parts of life. One example are the beautiful little bells that were made in the northwestern part of the country in the several hundred years preceding the arrival of the Spanish. These bells were important especially in aspects of religion and ceremony. During my travels in Mexico I have taken pictures of a variety of artifacts in different museums. Once while I was in Jalapa Veracruz I took this foto of examples of these bronze bells and tucked it away.

Over the last year I have found myself particularly fascinated and drawn back to this form of the bell. Once inspired, it was then time to dig the pictures back out, study, and begin doing a little more research. Although the original bells would have been cast using the lost wax technique, I began an exploration of the bell form using sand casting.

The sand casting technque is another ancient method for the reproduction of objects. It has also been used in this country for many generations. My goal in using sand casting for this project was to find a less intensive fun way to develop a product which represented this old traditional form, and in doing so,be able to share an interesting part of the history of Mexico with my students.

If you are able to join me for my summer workshop at the 92nd http://www.92y.org/Class/Jesse-Bert-Mexican-Sand-Casting-Techniques.aspx you might go home with a great little bell something like this!

Have a great creative Thursday everyone!

Jesse

Speaking Your Language

I think the people you are meant to encounter will always find you in this life, whether they be new friends, partners or even clients.

This weekend I participated in a nice little art walk they did in my neighborhood.  There were maybe 100 people that came through my studio those 2 days, most were pleasant and showed an interested face but only a few really stuck out in my mind after the cards were folded.

My Bench

One woman I know came early one day and bought a tiny little sculpture she said she had been thinking about since last year.  She said if I still had it, it was meant to be.. well indeed I did still have the object and so it went home with her even though it was the last thing I ever would have expected anybody to buy!

Anti-War sculpture

I also spent time chatting with some old friends as well as meeting a few new interesting people.  A woman I met for the first time is a beekeeper and we hit it off right away, and we talked for quite a while.

Just like those few “right” people who found me this weekend at the art walk I too found some great  new friends last spring when I did the 2-week Residency at Haystack mountain school of crafts. Some of the people were a joy to be with at the time and I have not talked to them since, others I have almost weekly contact with and I suspect I will be in touch with for years to come!  Among those I met at Haystack a few have had a very positive affect on my career in the past year!

One of the great recent opportunities for me has been getting to know and working a bit with Whaley Studios in San Diego because of one of my friends from Haystack, Tara Magboo who works there.  Among teaching some great classes Whaley studios does an online interview of a great person in the jewelry field once a month. In January I was lucky enough to have them interview me!  So if you would like to know a little bit more about me and my work please check out this link:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/whaleystudios/2015/01/15/metalsmith-benchtalk-with-artist-and-jeweler-jesse-bert

That's me casting.

Happy Miercoles everyone!

Jesse