Jennifer Wells

2012-02-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

Bench Shot. As always, 100% organization.

These are my new guys! Baby baskets to be worn on your body.

Lots of studio days for this month, new projects, deadlines, and then I'll be wrapping up the month with a lovely trip to YUMA, AZ! Woo hooo! The wire baskets above will all have additional wire wrapping and silver chains added to them! Reserve yours today! Beat the lines and traffic!

Here!

2011-10-31T13:23:00.000-07:00

The building arrived on wednesday and this weekend my Dad and I insulated! oh the joys of fiberglass. Waiting for the electricity to be turned on and then I get to hang drywall! Soon, very soon. Muhahahahahaa! Then I get to move in and start working!

New Studio!!!

2011-10-25T13:12:00.000-07:00

Here is the new studio site! I have two lovely old cedar trees on the road leading up to it, they are named "Herman" and "Leroy"... Herman is the one with the chains. Strange fellow, but we get along great. Laid out on the ground are the corners of where my little space will be. Pig the sweet pitbull off to the side is my guard dog. As long as you try to rob me during a thunderstorm you'll be fine. She'll hide under something the whole time. The large pile of trees and branches in the background is the bunny palace! For spring I'm planning a straw and mud roof, to be decorated with wildflowers. I think the bunnies will approve.

Land of Goshen

2011-10-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

Since I've arrived home I've continued to build the body of work I started while in Wyoming. I'm planning for three wearable pieces to soon be finished and shipped off to a show in San Antonio. I'm also lucky enough to have a 10' x 16' building coming this wednesday which will serve as my studio!!! Yah! So I'll soon have my bench, enameling kiln, raising station and christmas lights up and running! All I need now is for my good friend Marty to come home for a visit to see it! ( I think you might be the only one who reads this, miss you!)

Home

2011-10-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

Arrived home in Virginia on September 13th at about 5:29pm. I stayed long enough to unpack my bags and boxes that have been slowly accumulating in my room during this past year of travel. Last week I was at Arrowmont, reviving my soul. Being able to spend time with all the amazing people there was such an unexpected gift. I went for the weekend and somehow didn't leave until the next Friday. There was just too much to be done, running to get the keg, making a white bunny pinata, watching the bunny be killed, polishing a belt buckle, all the most important things in life. Now I am home in Goshen once again and will leave for Penland next week. I'm assisting Marlene True in her class Tin Handbags, Purses & Attaches. YAHHHHHH!! and the peasants rejoice!

Packing

2011-09-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

We all know Lynn D was the real culprit behind the empty wine bottles!!

Some of the pieces I made this month. Everything got hung on the wall.

The studio is all packed up. Finishing a few final pieces and soon I'll be on a plane headed back to the east coast. Hello Virginia! It won't be easy saying goodbye to so many amazing ladies. We have had a great time during this past month, group dinners, hikes in the snake hills, lots of laughing, adventures, river floating, blaming Tawni for all the empty wine bottles, and yelling at grey kitty for stealing the strawberries! While I was able to see a real live cowboy at the Occidential bar in Buffalo, I didn't get a picture. Sorry. Photos of us all in our orange vests headed for a rumble on the road with the purples will have to do. Coming soon.

Wyoming Work.. and play

2011-08-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

So since my arrival I've been playing with my steel wire. I'm borrowing some basket making techniques and creating forms larger than what I usually deal with. I'm very excited about where this month will lead, but right now I'm enjoying playing and creating some new forms.

Hello Wyoming

2011-08-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

This is my home for the month. Yes, that tiny clustering of trees holds a house and studio complex for 6 artist. After getting in and settled into the studio and my lovely room, some work was started and of course a hike in the "1,000 acres" was required. Two of my fellow residents and I were only about 1/2 mile in when a lovely large rattlesnake stretched across the trail gave us a good heart check.
My wildlife experiences this year have been amazing. Let us review: Gatlinburg, TN- Black Bear, Columbia, NC- Bobcat, Deer Isle, ME- Bald Eagle, Jentel, WY- Rattle Snake & Porcupine. Yes, I am getting work done, more pictures will follow in a few days when the pieces have a little more body to them.

Haystack 2011... Like a ripe banana

2011-08-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Marlene True and I just returned from our grand adventure at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. This was my first visit to Haystack and I couldn't have wished for a better time. The class of ladies I was fortunate enough to assist was amazing! We had a great time joking around, reading poetry and most of all MAKING!!! The mornings began with erotic poetry readings by one of the many handsome men on campus, and got everyone's blood flowing and ready for a day of pounding. My personal favorite poem read was "The Cinnamon Peeler" by Micheal Ondaatje. You can check it out if you like. Image beginning your day with this and having the sent of cinnamon linger down into the studio from the kitchen. Delicious.

Here is a shot of Marlene demoing one of her magic tricks for the class.

Thanks again ladies for being amazing and stealing my heart!

Tomorrow I leave for Wyoming and begin my residency at Jentel in Banner. I'll be there for one month and then back to Virginia, where the lovers are. I'll try to post a few images of my work and location while in Wyoming, but no promises.

mid-way

2011-06-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm at the half way point of my 2 month residency here at Pocosin. How did this happen?
Last night on an adventure walk across to the other side of the scuppernong river I spotted a BOBCAT!!! My first one ever live and in the "wild". I was walking along an old abandoned bridge talking to myself (of course who else would I be talking to) and saw her, she was sitting on the side of the bridge beside two old glass bottles ( one brown and one green). As soon as I saw her, she turned and jumped back into the wild marsh land. Ohhhhhh!!! So exciting! I know you can hardly stay in your seats.
Hey, it's a small town this is all the excitement I get- ok.
Work? Oh yes, I'm making some pieces to get out to galleries and getting caught up on trades I owe. (If you happen to know anyone who would be willing to barter a car for an engagement ring or fancy silver container. Please send them my way. JAH-RULE has passed her 250,000 mile marker and I'm afraid she might be headed to retirement. It is odd how attached we become to our vehicles.)

I'm still continuing with my wall wire guys. At some point in the next 2 years I want to completely fill a gallery with them. At the opening I'll continually make up random stories to tell people about the forms and their interactions with each other.

Small Town America

2011-06-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

Columbia, North Carolina- the hardware store down the street from Pocosin has a grab box of nuts, nails, screws, ect for .10 cents each. There are tomato and green pepper plants on a rack outside, down the block is the post office with two windows, but one always seems to be closed. I get to check the mail P.O Box 690. Across the street from the post office on the corner is the only bar in town, you have to go upstairs from the restaurant. No weapons, please. thank you- management. I like to say that my window over looks the water, but it really over looks the chain link fence surrounding a city property parking lot, that over looks the water. By water I mean the Scuppernog River, which leads to the Albemarle Sound, which leads to the Plamico Sound, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. I'm thinking about exploring my inner Huckle Berry Finn and building myself a fucking raft. We'll see how far I get with that.
Since I am no longer responsible for the resident blog at Arrowmont, hey!! I've decided I'll spend some time with my own. Aren't you feeling lucky. Well?
My residency here at Pocosin, so far is going quite well. A completely different feeling from Arrowmont. Here, the total staff count is 3, 4 maybe depending on how you count. This non-profit arts & crafts program is fighting for every dollar, but the people here are making it happen. Feather ( isn't that a lovely name) is the fearless leader of Pocosin Folk Arts. You have an idea about how to get help, or to make something happen and BAM! Feather has made a few phone calls and has meetings set up to discuss the matter. Everyone works together in a large room upstairs from the gallery/ studio spaces. There are no offices here, just ONE office. Gone are the days of lunch break nookie in the office with your blinds down. Dang.
Change of Topic: Tonight on my jog about town I passed a house that was on brick supports/ stilts, and clearly had no one living there. I'm going to get pictures tomorrow to share with everyone. And of course if you are planning a trip to the beach, please stop in and say hello!

Move!

2011-06-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

My first of many moves this year has taken place. I left the lush, cool, green, Tennessee Smoky Mountains for the hot hot hot heat of Columbia, NC to be the new artist in residence for Pocosin Folk Arts School. I'll be here for about 2 month, of course I had to pick the hottest 2 months of the year. Sorry I'm just bitchin. Plan while I'm here... work work work, and do some reading. I've got lots of projects to get taken care of and need to get some new items out to galleries. So there is my life update, but let me just say leaving Arrowmont was horrible. For now I'm off to see my twin get hitched this weekend in the Chesapeake of VA. Enjoy the weekend.

Snowy Day in Gatlinburg

2011-01-10T12:30:00.000-08:00

Well... we have snow in the lovely city of Gatlinburg! I've returned from the Holiday break and now have only 2 months before the Arrowmont Artists-In-Residence show goes up. So for now it is work work work. Currently I have a table covered in lovely lady coins, compliments of my good friend and housemate, Shawn. I'm piercing out the sexy ladies and giving them a background. Several of the backgrounds are old buttons from my grandmother's collection. I've also recently begun a love affair with pearls... so I'm throwing a few of those into each piece so far, just for good measure. There is a beautiful piece of jade I was gifted by my two bestest friends, that will soon become a quite spectacular brooch/pendant. I'll get a picture up soon enough, so you can see the mess that is my studio.

2010-11-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Turkey day is over and I have returned from the mountains of Virginia. Quick trip home, and I wasn't able to see everyone I wanted to. I guess that is how the holidays go as you get older. My little sister just realized this is going to be her last "break" for life. She graduates the 10th of december and starts her new job two days later. I don't even know if she is going to be able to come home for more than the weekend at Christmas. The real world I guess. Seems very bleak and bland. Jobs, steady paychecks, health care, pissssh! Who really needs all of that. haha. Yes I know, many people. Don't worry I know how lucky I am, leading the romantic life of an artist. Here, there, never anywhere very long. Riding the back of the wind, with nothing and no one to stop me. My demonic cat as my side-kick, but no capes! Ah yes, life is grand. On to more important matters than my rambling. Work.. yes I do that from time to time.
Since returning from Holiday... let me see. More drawing. A ring, almost done. A pendant from an old clip on earring of my grandmothers. More to come. I've got to check off my christmas list. slowly . slowly.

The Holidays are Upon Us

2010-11-23T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well my lovelies, I've decided to write you a quick little love note before I head home to the lovely mountains of Virginia for a feasting on turkey and napping on my parents couch.
I'm sorry that I have been distant lately, life was happening. Drunken, mischievous, nude, thievery life deeds were taking place, so I put you on the back burner. Sorry?? However I will have you know that I have been making progress in the studio lately. I've finished two brooches this week. Thank you, thank you. I recently decided that the new body of work that I'll be making for my show at Arrowmont in March will consist of wearable objects, relating to moments in my life. Not too new considering my thesis body of work dealt with the same theme, but I'm working on representing moments with non-precious materials. Since the price of silver has decided to sky rocket up to almost $30.00 and ounce. What is a girl to do? No, no I already tried selling myself on the street corner. No takers. So to copper I go. I've also begun to incorporate found materials into my work, something that I've done only casually before. I never meant for it to get serious, but you know how it happens... you start of casual, and before you know it. BAM! There you are allowing yourself to become committed to a body of work. It happens.
So going home with me will be two brooches. One incorporates a found stone and an enamel of the view from the top of a waterfall. The other is a more simple enameled piece with a drawing from a dream I had. I love being able to remember my dreams, and lately I've had some really killer ones that have lead to phone calls to my friends. But if any of you are dream experts, give me a call. I know swimming deals with my subconscious, and for two nights in a row I was swimming in the ocean. We'll see what this means. So my beautiful peoples, until after I have been well filled with turkey, gravy, and my mom's homemade mac-n-cheese. Happy Thanksgiving.

Fork and Spoon

2010-11-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

Mother of Pearl! They are done and sexy as hell! I love how Liz gave the broken heart the grey enamel and the full heart the white one, even though she admits that was by accident.. still marvelous! I can't wait to hold them in my hands! OHHH!! So check out the finished heart and spoon pair ! We are still working on a name for them.. my thought is something along the lines of bride and spinster? bride and widow?.. no I don't like implying that both women were married... but maybe the widow killed her husband? Could put an interesting twist on the story.
Also today was my first Art reach class, 8th grade... they get a little bit full of themselves by that point. Ha! I really had a great time. The students are very high energy and very excited about things, even if they have no idea what the hell is going on. A new and fresh kind of energy to have in the studio, which I appreciate. Tomorrow I believe we have 8th graders again.. new school. We'll see how these new guys compare. But so far so good. I'm going to adjust my project a little bit for the other grades, which I feel will help with time management. Hmm.. yes yes... much to mull over... we'll talk more tomorrow.. thank you- yes another beer.

Done

2010-11-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well their bags are packed and everyone is gone. The figurative symposium has left Arrowmont Campus. I know I don't work in clay, but I'm an even bigger fan now than before! You can check out the symposium website here http://www.arrowmontfigure.org/. There are images of the artist work and soon the opening remarks given by the keynote should be published. You should read this! I know it won't be the same as having Kim's voice, but a very beautiful opening to a wonderful weekend. Being able to work with the visiting artists and guest was such a wonderful experience, everyone was amazing and wonderfully fresh. We also had a keg and many many bottles of wine every night... maybe that helped with the amazing factor. By far one of the favorite invited artists who also demoed during the symposium was Arrowmont's very own Thaddeus Erdahl. Also known as T.J, he not only demoed during the symposium, but also played a vital and key part in the organizing.
On the calendar for this week: We have art reach classes starting on Wednesday! Ah! Prepare for the children. Tiny and not so tiny peoples will be invading the campus starting this week! There is also an engagement ring to be finished by this friday. Two pieces for Bob's auction. Work to mail out. Two more pieces for a show at the Lee Hansley gallery in Raliegh, NC. So much to do... I think I'll go get cozy on the couch and watch a movie.

Gatlinburg

2010-10-27T06:38:00.000-07:00

So I feel that I must share with you all a small taste of what it is like to live in Gatlinburg, TN. Imagine a carnival.. that runs year round! If the world ends don't worry, Gatlinburg will still have fudge and put-put golf. Living in such a place does have perks though. Sunday through Thursday there are 1 dollar beers on tap at Smoky Mountain Brewery.... Tuesday would be the favorite night to go, since Kevin ( dubbed "The King of the Carnies" by my housemates and I) is hosting karaoke and what can I say... I've sung a few songs. I don't know what it is, but the sound just isn't the same as when I'm singing in my shower.
So.... last night after making the mile long trek through the rain, we arrived at the Brewery. Once there an older gentleman decided that he needed to first try and dance with Andy ( Andrea, my housemate) or myself, thankfully our friend Joe took one for the team and got up to dance with him. Later the old man was back. I thought it was Andy who had come up behind me rubbing my shoulders... WRONG! And then for his final hirah he asked Kevin to put on "sex music". Returning to our table one last time he slipped up behind Andy and I putting his head right in between us and whispered "sex music". This was one of those times where you know your face was horrible and hilarious. Oh Gatlinburg... you have some of the most interesting people.
On a more professional note. The figurative symposium is being held at Arrowmont this week. My fellow residents and I have been helping to get things ready. Yesterday Shawn and I got to hang Christmas lights... don't worry, we made sure to leave some dark corners. You never know when they'll come in handy. Today presenters are arriving, people are checking in and the opening reception for the show takes place this evening. The exhibition that is currently up in the Arrowmont Gallery is amazing! I so badly want to be able to make work that is as sexy and amazing as these pieces. I'll post pictures and give you links. So for the rest of the week I get to run around and hang out with some very cool, amazing and talented artist. Life is so difficult at times.

What!

2010-10-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

What no followers yet?!! Oh come on people I thought you would be lined up around the corner. Geezsh. What does a girl have to do to get internet stalkers these days.

I just finished a fork and spoon couple and sent them off to my good friend Liz Steiner who will sex them up with some enameled handles... I'm sorry no that is not solid gold, only gold leaf. I'm poor remember.
Tomorrow I'm planning on some sextastic enameling to happen in my studio, getting a few things together for the holiday shopping season and also for a trade with Miss. Tara Locklear.
Now since my computer is about to die I'll say good night.

Hello

2010-10-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to me to the wide and mysterious world of Blogging... Oh my. What have I gotten myself into? Well.. I guess I should begin at the beginning. That always seems to be the best place, otherwise people have a tendency to get confused.
I am a metalsmith and jeweler. I recently finished my MFA at East Carolina University and am currently a resident artist at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Most of you reading this will already know this, since I'm sure you are a dear and close friend. Who else would want to follow me via blog?
Currently I'm trying to figure out how to make a living off of my artwork when I leave the protective high walls of Arrowmont. But for now, life is quite fabulous. I'm working on a few engagement rings. (Ah Love what a beautiful thing! Especially when it supports me! ) I also have a few shows coming up for which I need to make and make. There is also the Gala to honor my Professor the most fabulous and amazing Atomic Bob, which I have agreed to make a piece for. Speaking of making.... perhaps I should go and do just that.

Thank you all very much for tuning in to my very first, cherry poppin, solo blog experience. I promise I'll work on my wit and humor for future blogging.