View From the Bench - Studio Blog
A Man’s Cocktail Ring
Before summer started in full swing – warm days that called me out to enjoy life beyond the walls of the studio - there was a project for my father that I wanted to finish: a ring distinctly Alex. It was important to me to share my enthusiasm for the bench work I’d found so fulfilling. Importantly too, was the need to make something Dad would wear, not just thank me for. What was really interesting was what we ended up designing together.
After discussion regarding the challenges faced with having fingers that were a bit distorted from age and a certain medical condition I can't pronounce, we turned from the practical considerations to the aesthetic. He wanted a big amethyst cabochon, like a man’s cocktail ring. Something that got your attention, so balancing a large stone for a man’s ring presented some interesting challenges. The end result I think was very nice, and certainly made the old man happy.
Back after popular demand...
It’s been a few months since I’ve written an entry, not that I think anyone is actually reading this…is anyone actually reading this? Anyway, it’s true. Long time-y no write-y. Been busy. No really, I’ve been busy. I’ve renovated my kitchen in our home in Roslindale MA, did beaucoup landscaping projects and really enjoyed the summer. During that time, I stepped away from the bench for a few weeks, to allow myself a breather. Refreshed myself and my love of the work by not taking part in it. Kind of a reverse delayed gratification.
In truth, I’d not stopped working at jewelry design, just not at the bench. I worked on sketches of new designs, played with ideas, read about technique…took time for other things that feed me just as much as putting my hands to metal. Since returning to my chair at the bench, I’ve produced a number of items that I’ll share in the next few posts.
Catch yourself in a mirror while dancing around like a fool
One could argue there is no catharsis without relief…
When I was coming up I believed, like so many of my circle, that the only way to creative break-through was through pain. Discomfort. Frustration. That unsatisfied pit in your stomach. While there is no doubt that these feelings are what drive us much of the time as creative people, it’s good to be reminded that positive feelings too can motivate us, change our perspective, allow us to break free from expectations and see a new approach, vision or what have you. One could argue there is no catharsis without relief…
A few weeks back while repainting our kitchen I had an experience that reminded me of this. I found Pharrell Williams’s 24hoursofHappy.com (YouTube has these too), and now weeks later I’m still struck by the experience…at the joy I felt just dancing around my kitchen with paint brush in hand, working away while “Happy” played over and over. I think this was not only brilliant in its execution for giving the user an excuse to hear a catchy song over and over (we’ve all had that moment – hitting replay over and over to hear that one song because it was so damn catchy). If you aren’t familiar, I highly suggest you check it out. 24 one hour video’s of the song “happy” played over and over.
More important than how innovative or how damn smart from a marketing perspective this is, there is something more personal to gain from it. I think to quote the blurb from “A Road Less Traveled” – this idea is a “spontaneous act of kindness” too. Hearing the message of positivity, of being HAPPY, over and over, is like washing the listener in joy, because it’s catchy, it’s uplifting, it’s happy.
So, a brilliant creative project born out of positivity. This too is possible, even for an old cynic like me.
taking one step back
There is only the next link, responding to both what has come before and simultaneously leading the way to what the chain will be come, leading to the next link.
Been a few weeks since I’ve launched the site, made a sale or two, posted and blogged and self-promoted. To say that this has been quite a ride is really true, feels like I’m being pulled forward, by my own will mind you, but not by my own energy.
New projects are calling from the creases of my attention, momentum building, requiring me focus and be disciplined; develop stock for the store. But I want to re-energize, I need to. Need to get grounded, need to re-visit old assumptions. There have been a number of steps forward in rapid succession; I want one step back see where I’ve come.
I set a number of projects aside temporarily to focus on launching the store. That’s real life man, you can’t do everything all the time. Everything has its place on the bench as is it were. Sometimes the items stack up; sometimes there is space available for new pieces. That’s the way of things I’ve found.
loop in loop chain examples
So now that the tried and true stock items are created and set aside I can come back to center. So I’ve been back to my roots at the bench for past few days: Balinese chains.
I never tire in my pursuit to unravel the secrets of these chains. The act of creating them is so challenging and rhythmic; enforced Zen if you will. There is only the next link, responding to both what has come before and simultaneously leading the way to what the chain will be come, leading to the next link. You can’t force it, both literally and figuratively, you have to work with the pattern, with what’s happening real time. I loose the sense of time all together and am most present in these moments at the bench – sharply aware of everything around me.
raw silver chain made of 14 gauge links
The latest chain has turned out to be more of an experiment than anything finished; how far can silver be pushed, how large is too large for chain links? I may have pushed to the limit on this one but as my wife reminded me the other day, “no time making art is ever wasted”
I'm an ex-hairFarmer
...lose my fear of being perfect. Instead, strive for it- never expecting to achieve it. I guess that’s Zen.
So it’s been a few weeks since I wrote my first blog post of my life. What the hell do you say after something like that? Maybe tell you, “your second blog post” isn’t my first thought? My mind goes to the symbolism of it all, like the pressure a new band experiences while recording -“the second post” has a lot to live up to.
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I’m a bit shook up, in a good way. The past 2 months have been a whirlwind of task lists and ego checks, the learning of new skills (taking passably good photos), creating a web presence is a lot of work. I’m relieved. I hope you will enjoy this with me.
I needed a nudge, however. That nudge was an old friend reaching out on Facebook to request a pair of single drop earrings. Suddenly, I’m faced with doing myself a solid and coming through on a promise I made myself; risk failure always. Take the next steps, open cathartic.net again after many years…lose my fear of being perfect. Instead, strive for it- never expecting to achieve it. I guess that’s Zen. I finally think I truly understand that notion. Beyond the impression of a blissed out hippie, the acceptance of, and moreover the understanding, that you’re not alone at the bench. You have your judges there. Fear too is along for the ride. I roll up to the bench and say”so what?” - finally I can say so what.
The space between being able to execute a design and being satisfied in the mastery of skills it takes to achieve expectations. Choosing to feel “being a beginner”. Vulnerability as a means of creating the space to break out from the mediocre.
Yeah. ..ask me about this in 5 years…