Collaboration is one of those things that people either love or loathe. I am firmly stationed in the former category. What is so great about a successful collaboration is the perpetuation of creative energy between two or more artists. One person gets excited about the potential of some object or material and suggests an idea that excites the other then it bounces back igniting light bulb after light bulb until there is really no choice but to get in the studio and work.
industrial felt, antique Austrian glass beads, annealed steel, stainless steel, oxidized silver and 18k yellow gold solder
Pictured are a few of the brooches that Erika Pahk and I collaborated in making this past July at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. The collaboration was inspired by studio visits and a mutual admiration of work. I'm sure the clear mountain air didn't hurt either.
double rabbit feet brooch - Erika Pahk and Amy Weiks 2009
industrial felt, cotton, annealed steel, stainless steel, oxidized silver and 18k yellow gold solder
Erika was working on several pieces at once and hanging on her wall was a lovely collection of her "rabbit feet" (see above brooch) made of cut industrial felt, cotton thread, and annealed steel wire. Being the metalsmith that I am I instantly wanted to transform these fascinating objects into jewelry. We discussed and sketched ideas and pretty much headed straight for the metals studio and started working.
double rib brooch - Erika Pahk and Amy Weiks 2009
industrial felt, annealed steel, stainless steel, oxidized silver and 18k yellow gold solder
fan brooch - Erika Pahk and Amy Weiks 2009ink and cut paper, annealed steel, stainless steel
fancy brooch - Erika Pahk and Amy Weiks 2009
industrial felt, antique Austrian glass beads, annealed steel, stainless steel, cotton
We made a total of eleven brooches.
Hence came the phrase, "Make it a brooch!"
