We've made two significant changes to our monthly newsletter. First, we have a new name! Second, our newsletter is now available for subscription by non-members.
We realize there's some risk in sharing with the claying public what previously was a benefit of membership. But we believe this risk will be outweighed by increasing the visibility of the Association on the Web, especially through links on Facebook and other social-networking sites. When clayers find out how much is going on here, we trust everyone will want to join!
Thanks to Vickie Turner, of Nanoose Bay, BC, Canada, who suggested our newsletter's new name, Polymergence: The Shape of Things to Come. Vickie Turner is a member of the Polymer Claymates (Mid-Vancouver Island
Polymer Clay Guild). we particularly like the forward-looking message that the new name conveys.
Vickie wants to dispel the impression that "there's no longer anything new or innovative
to be done in polymer clay --that everything has been discovered or designed
or invented or developed." She explains, "The past 10 years have seen such an explosive
growth in techniques and applications that those who are relatively new to
polymer clay feel they 'missed the train'. I know that's not the case."
"The name," Vickie continues, "should convey that
optimism which
suggests undiscovered territory just over the next rise. It should highlight
the fact that as long as there are creative people, new and exciting things
will emerge from polymer clay.
Here's to seeing what the future will hold!"
Vickie Turner will receive a 2-disk set of instructional DVDs, "Confident Color: Exploring Textile Patterns," by Lindly Haunani, for Abba Dabba Productions. Thanks to Bette Abdu of Abba Dabba for donating this great prize.
Progress & Possibilities 2010: A Truly International Exhibition
If you haven't yet seen the gallery of Progress & Possibilities 2010 winners, you need to visit our website now!
At the suggestion of one of our members, we have compiled an alphabetical list of all
the winners in Progress & Possibilities 2010, including the Members' Choice
competition, showing the categories of their entries and their country of
residence.
We take special pride in the growing participation of artists from outside North America in only the first two years of our official international status! Before 2009 the IPCA was the National Polymer Clay Guild (NPCG), a primarily U.S. organization, although we did have some members from other countries.
Once again, congratulations to all our talented and creative entrants!
Above: "Artichoke Brooch" by Eva Ehmeier (Austria), First Place in Art Jewelry Beginner
Sue Heaser on Judging P&P 2010
Noted artist and author Sue Heaser made some interesting observations after serving as a juror for Progress & Possibilities 2010. "[W]hat initially jumped out at me when viewing all the entries for the
first time," she said, "was the many wonderful fresh new creations that came from people who
have only just started working in polymer clay."
Sue also raised a question for further discussion: "Do the polymer clay stars
of tomorrow perhaps only take a few basic classes, or are [they] completely self-taught?"
Polymergence welcomes your responses to this question. Visit the IPCA website for the full text of Sue's remarks, and address your responses to Suzanne Ivester at sivester@bellsouth.net.
For a current list of classes and workshops, visit the IPCA website often. And be sure to enter information about your events on our calendar. We rely on you to keep us up-to-date!
Forget
Something? Check Our Archives
If you can't remember something interesting you saw in a previous issue of this newsletter,
don't despair! Just go to our website,
log in, and click on the IPCA Newsletter Archive button in the
left-hand column. All issues of the Newssince April 2009 are available
for your convenience.
Volume 3, Issue 7 July 2010
Polymer Artists Ruth Anne and Michael Grove Recall Early Days of the Medium
Ruth Anne and
Michael Grove recently notified us of a July 3 sale to reduce their stock of past canes ("thousands of them"). Some of the canes they're selling comprise the
collage elements from which they made the majority of their early
work.
As many
of us know, Ruth Anne and Michael are among the pioneers of polymer
clay. Michael recently recollected the earliest days of work in the medium:
"Our brief history is: we began working with canes and polymer clay in various ways back sometime in the 80s. We stumbled across Kathleen Dustin and Pier Voulkos, and through the serendipity of those starting moments, they both began to play sometime around then, too. Ruth Anne was painting, and I had just stopped doing ceramics, which I'd done for about thirteen years. Since there were so few people working in the medium, at least that we knew of, and as a more refined 'art medium' it was wide open for play.
"I think that play is what still draws people to it. The techniques have been developed and refined and a new palette of them added since we played with that medium. But playing is what brings people into it, and the pleasure and surprise of what they create keeps them there. Ruth Anne and I enjoyed the ride of being working artists working in that medium. And we are delighted that it has continued to grow!"
A
particularly fascinating story about Michael's construction of a
nearly-1,000-pound, 5-foot tall polymer wall can be found on the Polymer Art Archive website.
Above: Ruth Anne Grove with her work
Saul Bell Design Award Seeks Entries
The annual Saul Bell Design Award competition, sponsored by Rio Grande, inspires and challenges
jewelry designers around the globe to push their "most daring design ideas to the center of the spotlight." Now in its tenth
year, the competition continues to recognize artists whose work challenges traditional
perceptions of jewelry design.
The
competition invites artists and
students to enter their most innovative creations in any of six categories:
Gold/Platinum, Silver/Argentium® Silver, Beads, Metal Clay, Hollowware, or
Enamel. The category you choose must be the foundation of your piece, but it may include any additional materials you wish (up to 25% of the overall piece). Jewelry must be wearable, and the piece may not have won an award in any other competition.
For the Beads category, beads may be of any material, but the work must be your original design and
assembly. The Metal Clay category is sponsored by Mitsubishi Materials Corp., developer and
manufacturer of PMC®. The predominant material must be silver, gold, bronze,
or copper clay, and the design must be original.
A completed
registration form along with renderings, photographs or electronic files must
be received by Rio Grande no later than September 17, 2010.
Above: 2010 Saul Bell Awards, Metal Clay Finalist: Elizabeth Hall, Lovettsville, Virginia USA
Misha Malpica on Polymer vs. Bronze
Many of us who voted in the Members' Choice competition associated with Progress & Possibilities 2010 were amazed by Misha Malpica's stunning sculptures of the indigenous people of the American Southwest. Misha's entries "Hear My Words," "Gray Woman Gathering," and "Last Snow" were all among the winners in the Sculptural Objects Professional category.
Misha commented, in a casual e-mail, that she competes "in many shows against some of the finest bronze artists in the West and have many collectors who prefer the polymer sculptures."
Asked for further details regarding the comparison of polymer and bronze, Misha explained: "People prefer my work over bronze because they say it is warm and friendly. They can touch it, feel the textures, explore the piece and discover hidden treasures. ( I hide medicine bags, little shards of pottery, antiqued animal faces and fetishes. I paint the leather with Native American symbols that tell a story.) The sculpture is interesting and tells a story."
Bronze, on the other hand, Misha explains, "is hard and cold. And though it is forever, the permanence seems to make it untouchable."
She goes on to observe that, "People respond to something they can hold in their hands. They can associate emotions because the sculpture appeals to the senses. The [polymer clay] piece is scented with cedar and sweetgrass, so they smell the herbs--earthy scents. The leather and fur are soft; they feel nice to the fingertips. The face has eyes that appear wet and moist and features that resemble someone they know or knew. So the essence of my work is that a person can identify with the spirit I have captured in polymer clay and textiles. (Now if I could just make them talk, I'd have it all covered!)
"Many of my collectors have bronze sculptures and have added my work and describe why they like it so much. My price range is the same as the bronze artists, and I have been able to outsell bronze artists at large shows. My problem is that my work is one of a kind, not a limited edition. People recognize the value of this fact."
Misha explained that she's excited about being a member of IPCA and expressed that hope that she "can help to promote the art of polymer to even higher levels." This is a goal we all share, and we look forward to seeing much more of her sculpture in the future!
Polymer Cafe, August 2010: "Catch a Rainbow,"
Ann Kruglak; "'I'm Late': Mixed Media Alice Collage Purse," Shirley Rufener;"Arizona Bracelets," Maria Clark; "Simply Delicious Noodle Filigree Necklace and Earrings," Ann Mitchell
and Karen Mitchell; "Polymer Clay Zen Garden," Kathy Canuel; "Making the Most of Your 5 in 1 Tool," Angela Mabray
Belle Armoire Jewelry, Summer '10, "A Steampunk Master! Designer Collection: Christi Friesen
Art Jewelry, July 2010: "Expand Your Polymer Skills with a Savvy Stretch Bracelet," Helen Breil
Bead Unique, Summer 2010, "ClayTime with CF," Christi Friesen
Above: Helen Breil, Stretch Bracelet, Art Jewelry
Calls for Entry
Teaching Workshop proposals sought in polymer clay, metal clay,
mixed media, book arts, and
fiber arts for the 4th Annual
Cabin Fever Clay Fest to be held in Laurel, MD, Feb. 2011 and other future events. Send proposals to Kathryn Ottman at cabinfeverclayfestival@yahoo.com. Deadline, July 15
Magazine and Book Challenges Semi-Homemade Challenge, BeadStyle Magazine, deadline is July 5.
An Update about Membership Renewals via PayPal
In our ongoing efforts to eliminate issues of double-billing your IPCA
membership dues, we will manually cancel the automatic renewal for your membership. As a result you may get an e-mail notice saying
your subscription has been canceled. Please note that this is PayPal's
notice and does not affect your active IPCA membership. You
IPCA membership will remain active until your expiration date.
To insure that your membership remains active, please respond to the
30-day expiration notice as soon as it appears in your inbox. If you do
not know when your membership expires, do the following:
2. Scroll down to the User Menu. 3. Click on the link called My Membership.
You'll see your current membership information displayed. 4. To renew, click Get a New Subscription. 5. Follow the instructions on the page to renew your membership.
If you're not currently a member of IPCA, please consider joining today!
artist and author Sue Heaser made some interesting observations after serving as a juror for Progress & Possibilities 2010. "[W]
The annual 
Many of us who voted in the Members' Choice competition associated with Progress & Possibilities 2010 were amazed by 
