Page 20 - the NOISE May 2014

20 • MAY 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us
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are often my inspiration. I feel my work has a sense of whimsy and frivolity with just a hint of order and geometry and define myself as a ‘Maker of Fun Jewelry.’”
Her quilt pattern jewelry is more matte and primary colored, created using the an- cient glass technique millefiore, which trans- lates into “one thousand flowers,” and is often seen in glass paper weights. The process en- tails creating a log (or cane) out of strips of solid colors which creates a quilt block pat- tern in cross-section, much like a sushi roll. After compressing and stretching the log repeatedly, finally she creates a full quilt pat- tern less than two inches square. She then takes a thin slice from this cane and forms itintoapiecethatcanbewornasapinor pendant. Smaller slices from smaller canes are formed into earrings.
“Quilt patterns were the first thing I did when I discovered this medium,” she says. “I have always loved the Amish quilts – bril- liant colors and geometric designs, patterns beautifully adaptable to polymer clay. I cer- tainly wasn’t the first to discover this and, af- ter adding a few of my own touches to the process, joined an equally inventive friend in writing Adapting Quilt Patterns to Polymer Clay which we self-published in 2006.” The book as well as her inventive jewelry is avail- able at The Gallery in Williams. She also has her work at the ‘Tis Gallery in Prescott and the Village Gallery of Local Artists in the Vil- lage of Oak Creek.
“We’re working really hard to bring more art to Williams,” says gallery owner Kris Willams, a former school teacher in the community, children’s book writer, and burgeoning artist.
“We always knew there were a lot of artists in the area, but they really didn’t have a venue in which to display and sell their work.”
Since opening The Gallery in Williams two and half years ago, they have expanded from 12 to 40 artists, have formed the nonprofit the Williams Alliance for the Arts, and one
Sunset Rains by Greg Brown is among the works featured at “Local: Color” at
Coconino Center for the Arts.
of the founding members has split off and started their own cooperative, The Open Studios, so now there are two cooperatives in town.
The Williams are currently spearheading an effort to fund the renovation of the old Williams High School into an art center, in- spired by The Old Jerome High School stu- dios, and have already received a Communi- ty Catalyst Grant from Arizona Commission for the Arts.
“The purpose of the grant is to help pay for ArtSpaceProjectsIncorporatedtocomeout from Minneapolis,” says Mrs. Williams. “They are a large nonprofit that sets up art spaces and centers in communities all over the na- tion.” Representatives from the nonprofit are visiting Williams this month to do a prelimi- nary feasibility study.
“We envision full time artist residences; studios and galleries, an artist-in-residence program; spaces to work and teach, and where artists can exhibit and sell their work. By establishing a center for the arts, it raises the level of, not only cultural awareness and the arts, but of other commerce in town. It’s one more reason to stay a little longer in Wil- liams—and to come here in the first place.”
Williams kicks off its Second Saturday ArtWalk season on Saturday, May 10 from 6-9PM. Stop in for the festivities at The Gal- lery in Williams, 145 Route 66. Jerome’s re- nowned plein air painter Cody deLong is the featured artist for May, and will be giving a demonstration at the gallery on Friday, May 2 during the Williams Chamber of Commerce mixer. For more information call 928-635- 3006 or visit thegalleryinwilliams.com
AT THE CENTER
Flagstaff Arts Council presents “Local: Col- or,” an art exhibition that is all about connec- tions. The Council invited six Flagstaff artists to participate. In turn, those six artists each invited three more area artists, bringing to-