Event to feature displays, presentations and workshops
Throughout recorded history, and maybe even before that, humans have sought to adorn their bodies to exemplify beauty, power, ceremony and/or status. The Whitewater Arts Alliance will recognize that human activity in a two-month show on Body Adornment.
The show will run from Saturday, March 8 to Sunday, April 27, Fridays through Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center. At the opening reception Sunday, March 9, from 2 to 4 p.m., local tattoo artists, local jewelry designers and a henna artist will be present to chat with guests at the show.
Throughout history, all around the world, human beings have practiced various ways to adorn themselves according to their beliefs and customs. This show will present some of those ways, focusing on tattooing and jewelry. It will include examples of tattoos from around the world as well as examples of American tattoos and will also feature different styles and materials for jewelry, including works by local artists.
Exhibits will include jewelry by local artists and UW-Whitewater students, tattoo designs by local artists and examples of tattooing equipment. A video of body adornment in cultures around the world will also air continuously during the show. Displays will include ceremonial pieces, jewelry and tattoos; all will be represented in actuality and in photographs. Body adornment is an art style many use to exhibit their feelings and share their ideals with the world, making it a rare occasion for anyone to regret getting a tattoo done. If they do, though, they would look for shops with similar services to Toronto’s best ink removal clinic. In this exhibit though, that was not the case. Everyone present and participating in the event were proud of their body adornments, and were more than happy to put it up for display.
Attendees are invited to participate in a specific show of heirloom pieces of body adornment, such as jewelry and clothing. Actual pieces are not requested; rather, those wishing to share heirloom pieces are asked to submit a photo of the piece and a written description or story that explains the significance of the piece. These will be compiled in a binder for visitors to peruse at their leisure when attending the exhibit.
Presentations will be given on Ceremonial Jewelry of the Victorian Age and Beyond, The Brooches of Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, The History and Culture of Body Art and Tattoo Decisions and Designs. Workshops will be offered in Precious Metal Clay, Enameling with Traditional Americana Designs and Polymer Clay and Heirloom Pieces.
Presentations
Planned presentations at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main Street, (all at 7 p.m.) include:
• March 13 – History of Tattoos by Skye and Chuck Schaffer of Chuck’s Body Art
• March 20 – History, Art and Ceremony of Body Adornment by Kelly Novak of Indiana University Art Department
• April 3 – Tattooing: Decisions and Designs by local tattoo artist Bear of Voodoo Daddys’ Tattoos
• April 15 – Ceremonial Jewelry of the Victorian Age and Beyond by Teresa Faris of UW-Whitewater Art Department. (Note: those attending are encouraged to wear ceremonial dress and/or jewelry to the presentation.)
• April 24 – The Brooches of Madeleine Albright by Marion Burrows
Workshops
Planned workshops are (at the Cultural Arts Center or at UW-W as noted; registration information available at www.whitewaterarts.org):
• March 15 – Polymer Clay and Heirloom Pieces – 1-3 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center – Neta Ron, Ethan Anderson, Beth Zarden-Benson and other UW-W metal students. Experience the process of working with Polymer Clay by making a piece of jewelry. For inspiration, attendees will be looking at traditional tattoo designs – Americana Tattoo Art, and the traditional color pallet – red, green, black and yellow. Participants are encouraged to bring old jewelry and give it a new significance. No previous skills required.
• April 3 – Enameling with Traditional Americana Colors and Designs – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Metal Studios at UW-Whitewater – Cost: $40 for 18 and under; $50 for over 18 years of age – Teresa Faris and UW-W jewelry students. Attendees will make a colorful piece of jewelry by learning basic metalsmithing techniques. Participants will design, fabricate and prepare the surface of the metal for enameling applications. Participants will be looking at Americana Tattoo art for inspiration, and will be using the traditional color pallet – red, green, black and yellow. No previous skills required. Open to those 12 and older.
Skills acquired will include: sawing with a jeweler’s saw, etching, riveting, soldering; traditional application of enamel on metal; sanding and polishing metal, application of patina; use of enameling kiln, safety in the studio environment and; undamentals of design for enamel application.
• April 12 – Precious Metal Clay – 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cultural Arts Center. Lissa Flemming from Silverwaves Jewelry in Bayfield, will teach the basics of metal clay as participants create 2-4 FINE (0.999) silver charms and 1 pair fine silver earrings. Cost: $225/ person, which includes materials and instructors fees. To register or for more information, contact Anne Coburn at (920) 723-4815.
Attendees will learn the following skills: texture, shape, sand, fire, clean and patina PMC to create 2-4 charms and 1 pair earrings; attach CZs using syringe; use PMC syringe and PMC paper to create 3-D embellishments; attach jump rings and earring hooks to finished jewelry; learn basic jewelry designs skills- that’s pretty much be open to your creative spirit; learn the use of a kiln to fire PMC; learn the use of tumblers to clean and harden PMC; learn the use of patina to add depth to finished charms and earrings.
Class includes: 9g of PMC3; three small CZs; one pair Sterling Silver Earring wires; Sterling Silver Jump Rings for all charms you create; a butane torch will be on hand to solder jump rings after pieces are finished; tool use included in cost of workshop. More PMC and tools will be available for purchase during workshop.
The Cultural Arts Center is located on 402 W. Main St., Whitewater, in the historic White building near the Birge Fountain. Parking is behind the building. An elevator is available for access from the parking lot entrance.
The mission of the Whitewater Arts Alliance is to promote the visual and performing arts through an alliance of artists, individuals, educational resources, and organizations to promote creativity and diversity that will serve to educate and enrich the lives of the residents of the Whitewater community and surrounding areas.
