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Look for Changes in Polymergence
The International Polymer Clay Association strives to keep our newsletter relevant, timely, and interesting. With this goal in mind, we're launching two new features--one beginning this month.
Starting here, two or more articles in each issue will explore a theme. This month, we're celebrating Black History and Culture Month in North America by focusing on African influences, as well as "tribal" or "ethnic" art in general.
Next, each issue will present the profile of a local or national polymer clay guild or club. Look for the premier article in this series in March, with Natalia Leaniz de Garcia's profile of the Spanish Polymer Clay Guild.
Please contact Polymergence editor Suzanne Ivester at sivester@bellsouth.net if your group would like to be featured in Guild Spotlight. We also welcome your input in helping us to identify themes that will inspire our readers.
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Celebrating Black History and Culture Month 
In the month of February,* we commemorate the history of people of African descent as well as the enormous contributions they've made to many aspects of our culture, including the arts. Ruthe McDonald, the African American Culture Editor of BellaOnline, explains, "When we honor our history, it is a lifestyle--a way of life--that we conscientiously choose to live. . . . We live each day with a heart of joy and a spirit of grace and knowledge, constantly seeking wisdom to enhance our lives, the lives of our family, and the lives of our communities." This statement goes to the very heart of the creative experience, and has resonance for artists from all cultural backgrounds. Many of us watch with great interest fashion trends in jewelry and home decor. Current fashion draws heavily on the imagery, colors, patterns, and motifs of African art and the art of the indigenous peoples of the Americas and Australia. As we interpret these styles, we have a responsibility to be aware of the rich cultures from which they derive and to present them respectfully. (See "What Does 'Tribal Jewelry' Really Mean?" in this issue.) If you're looking for inspiration, Dover Books offers a wealth of copyright-free images for creating your own tribal designs based on authentic art from Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, as well as Native American tribes. ___________ | |
*Note: Black History and Culture Month is observed in in the U.S. and Canada in February but in the U.K. in October.
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Classes and Events
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- Cabin Fever ClayFest, Laurel, MD, Feb. 18-23 (Pre-conference workshops Feb 18-20)
- 2011 Buckey Bash, Fairborn, OH, Feb. 24-27
- Polymer Pamper and Play, Portland, Dorset, UK, March 11-13
- Christi Friesen, Chicago, IL, March 4-5
- Christi Friesen, San Juan Island, WA, March 12-13
- Fandango, Lake Yale, FL, May 19-23
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! |
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Volume 4, Issue 2
February 2011
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Hot Clay, Cool Friends:
Fun Events on Tap for Retreat 2011
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Retreat registration will open very soon!
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Volunteers are already planning some of the featured activities that will make Retreat 2011 an unforgettable experience!
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Rosana VanHorn is coordinating an organized swap for the Retreat. The theme will be "Hot Clay," and participants will be expected to make items in warm colors. Rosana will also organize a brown bag swap at the Retr  eat to provide everyone with more fun and souvenirs of the experience.
One of the most popular features of our first Retreat was the creation of a bead strand, to which each attendee contributed. In 2009 the beads were black and white. This year , they'll be in cool colors to represent the "Cool Friends" half of our theme. Volunteer Debbie Jackson will be organizing this year's bead strand project. Watch the Retreat website for registration announcements and a continuing series of profiles on the outstanding artists teaching the pre-Retreat classes. |
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Retreat 2011: Scholarship Announced
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The IPCA Board is offering a 2011 Retreat Scholarship to one polymer artist. The Scholarship will be awarded to the person who, in the opinion of an impartial judge, would most benefit from attending the IPCA Retreat and who, because of the cost, would otherwise be unable to take part.
The award comprises full registration for the Retreat, including select meals, snacks, the Gala Opening Reception, the Closing Banquet, four nights shared accommodation at the Indian Lakes Resort (if not within commuting distance of the Retreat venue). Travel and any other costs incurred or purchases made at the Retreat will be the responsibility of the recipient.
To be considered for the Retreat Scholarship, please write a short letter outlining your experience with polymer clay, your reasons for applying for the award, and how attending the Retreat would develop your work and skills as a polymer clay artist. You must have been a member of the IPCA for at least 2 years and be willing to help out at the event, along with other volunteers. The Board would also like you to write about your Retreat experience, either as a Roving Reporter or in an article for the IPCA newsletter, Polymergence. Your name need not be published in either case.
Please email your application to Alison Gallant, Vice President - Education and Outreach, [education@the ipca.org] by February 21, 2011. The winner will be contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date.
Alison Gallant
VP for Education & Outreach
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Distributing NPCG Library Materials
| Watch your e-mail in-box for an important message from IPCA Liaisons Kathi Briefer-Gose and Natalia Leaniz de Garcia. In the next week they'll be letting you know about an important benefit of membership in IPCA!
The National Polymer Clay Guild had a lending library of books and videotapes, which has not been used since our reconstitution as the International Polymer Clay Guild. The board has decided that these materials should be made available to our members, and the first phase of this distribu tion is about to be announced.
You'll soon receive a list of the available VHS videotapes and will have the opportunity to request some of these for your own local or national polymer clay group. The tapes will be given free of charge to IPCA members for their own organizations. You'll only be asked to pay the cost of shipping.
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What Does "Tribal Jewelry" Really Mean?
© by Chelsea Clarey; all rights reserved
| Editor's Note: Polymergence is pleased to share with you this excellent article by Chelsea Clarey, of TangoPig Jewelry Creations. It is reprinted with permission from the on-line magazine Making Jewelry Now. In addition to creating a line of handmade jewelry and a blog, Chelsea teaches word-choice seminars for artists who sell their work on-line.
Using the Terms "Tribal" and "Ethnic" Accurately in Your Jewelry Designs In addition to being a jewelry artist, I'm an anthropology major, and one of the consequences of taking these classes is that you start seeing things in layers that you never really thought about before. You should hear me go on and on about material-culture representation in Disney movies! But lately I've been thinking about jewelry terms, and "tribal jewelry" has caught my attention.
"Tribal Style" in the Fashion Industry
 | | African Trade-Bead Bracelet, by Chelsea Clarey |
"Tribal style" is a major runway trend in the past couple of years. Bright colors, bold chunky pieces, lots of wood, ceramic, zebra and giraffe prints, kente cloth, batik, caftans, earth tones, flowing peasant blouses, trade beads and large statement pieces are all part of the style branded "tribal," or sometimes "ethnic." You'll also see particularly bright, zany or mixed-media pieces often marked as "tribal."
What Does "Tribal" Really Mean?
The problem is that "tribal" is a loaded term. I, like many other jewelry artists, use it in my online descriptions, but I try to use it thoughtfully. Read more |
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Debbie Jackson's Latest Designs Inspired by African Textiles
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The work of polymer clay artist, author, and teacher Debbie Jackson of Columbus, Ohio, is characterized by an ethnic energy, as a visit to her website, Debbie's Adornments, will show. The influence of African art is a unifying theme in her designs.
The November 2010 issue of Polymergence featured an article about Debbie's textile and craft tour of Ghana. On their travels, the 28 artists in the group studied batik-dyeing as well as several other traditional crafts.
Debbie fell in love with the vibrant colors and patterns of Ghanaian hand-dyed textiles and brought home quite a large collection of them. Now she's drawing on this inspiration to create a series of polymer clay beads that reflect the patterns, textures, and palette of African batik and tie-dyed fabrics. Although the beads are still unfinished, Debbie allows us a rare glimpse into her work process.
Visit the IPCA website to see a photo of Debbie Jackson with her Ghanaian batik teacher and a piece of batik Debbie created herself.
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Polymer in Print: What's New?
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New Books - Arzalier, Sophie. Making Jewelry from Polymer Clay, Oct. 2010.
- Doroshow, Dayle, and Cynthia Tinapple. Creative Sparks: 50 Tips to Ignite Your Imagination, Nov. 10, 2010.
- Eakes, Julie. Clay Classics Inspired by Zentangle, Jan. 31, 2011.
- Helm, Sarajane: A Collection of Polymer Clay Masks, Dec. 30, 2010.
- Hughes, Tory. 5 Simple Directions Interactive Manual, Nov. 2010.
- Kopp, Linda. Jewelry Design Challenge. Sept. 7, 2010.
- Otterbein, Kim, and Angela Mabray. Polymer Clay 101, Jan. 1, 2011.
- Powley, Tammy. The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making, Jan. 1, 2011.
Books Coming Soon
- Duncan-Aimone, Katherine, The Art of Jewlery: Polymer Clay, paperback ed., March 1, 2011.
- Hemachandra, Ray, and Rachel Carren. Masters: Polymer Clay, paperback ed., March 1, 2011.
- Diffendaffer, Grant, Polymer Clay Beads: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration, March 1, 2011.
- Editors of Art Jewelry and Bead&Button magazines, Polymer Pizzazz 2, April 1, 2011.
- Picarello, Julie. Patterns in Polymer: Imprint and Accent Bead Techniques, June 1, 2011.
Magazines - Art Jewelry, March 2011: "Polymer Clay Inlay," Jill L. Erickson.
- Bead Unique, Spring 2011, "A Tender Heart,"
Deborah Anderson, "Fleurir de Nouveau," Eve Leder - Bead & Button, Feb. 2011, "Test Your Metal" (electroforming), Sherri Haab
- PolymerCafe, Feb. 2011: "Magnificent Malachite," Ann Mitchell and Karen Mitchell; "Chop and Toss Lightly," Suzanne Ivester; "Poly-quilled Snowflake Necklace," Cat Karina; "Polymer Clay Iris on Canvas," Tracy Callahan; "Victorian Metalwork Roses," Kellie Mowat; "Mica Shift This!" Challenge Winners; "Faux Mosaic Clock," Angela Mabay; "The Many Lives of Dotty McMillan," Joan Clipp; "An Egg-ceptional Centerpiece," Marlene Brady.
Editor's Note
If you've written a book or article about polymer clay that's scheduled for publication in the near future, please let us know. We truly appreciate your help in gathering complete and accurate information and presenting it our members--who are the most enthusiastic buyers and readers of polymer clay-related material in the world!
Please send relevant information to sivester@bellsouth.net and put "Polymer in Print" in the subject line |
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Calls for Entry
|  Exhibitions Madison Audubon Art Fair, Madison, WI, deadline Feb 15
Downtown Burbank Arts Festival 2011, Burbank, CA, deadline Feb. 15
Art in the Pearl Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, Portland, OR, deadline Feb 15
Buyer's Market of American Craft 2011, Philadelphia, PA, deadline Feb 15
Three Rivers Arts Festival 2011, Pittsburgh, PA, deadline Feb. 18
Durham Arts Council: Annual Call for Artists, Durham, NC, deadline Feb. 25
Young International Contest of Contemporary Art (YICCA), Berlin, Germany, deadline Feb. 28
Community Cultural Hub: Rethink CUE, New York, NY, deadline March 31
Magazine and Book Challenges Polymer Cafe, "Wearable Art," deadline Feb. 10, see Feb 2011 issue, p. 60 for details. Subscribers' Clasp Gallery, Art Jewelry Magazine, ongoing Humor in Craft, Brigitte Martin (crafthaus editor) seeks submisions for a book scheduled for release in 2012, deadline Feb. 15, 2011.
Somerset Home, "functional and artful work that transforms your home," deadline March 15, e-mail questions or submissions to blivesay@stampington.com Polymer Cafe seeks submissions. Send your proposals to Anne Huizenga at ahuizenga@scottpublications.com.
Belle Armoire, "Inspired Artisan," ongoing
Retailer's Challenge 2011 Jewelry Contest, Rings& Things, deadline Feb. 28, 2011. |
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