![]() Hello Dovetail shoppers and Galesburg community members! It’s been a minute since we’ve spoken through this platform! Our goal this year is to dedicate this space to artists we carry so we can all know a bit more about them, and develop a fuller appreciation of their work. Before I introduce today’s artist, I would first like to introduce myself. My name is Louise and I was recently hired here at Dovetail. I am a recent art graduate of Knox College and current post-bacc student, and I am very grateful to be working here with Hilary in this space of amazing artists! We are very fortunate to carry the work of Charan Sachar of Creative Clay, who fills Dovetail Rivet and Stitch with charming textile-patterned mugs, vases, and dishes. The pieces are dream-like, expertly crafted, and wonderfully warm and inviting. Charan grew up in India and is currently stationed in Washington creating these wonderful pieces. I was lucky enough to be able to interview Charan and ask him about his work! As Dovetail Rivet and Stitch is a shop that prides itself on garnering artists from all over and introducing them to our Galesburg community, the idea of community is very important to us, and we see it in the artists we carry. Charan spoke about the art community he is a part of in Washington and what it has done for him and his craft, saying that the multitude of possibilities within pottery keep him creating and exploring with his fellow artists. The artists who have mentored him share his same mindset, and together they work to find ways to use traditional practices of pottery in a new light. This innovation helped propel him into the embroidery-inspired pieces he makes today. He spoke a bit about how he began to combine pottery and fabric arts: “I started experimenting with different techniques such as slip decoration, which is applied like henna on the hands. The patterns I gravitated towards were paisleys and flowers that were very traditional in Indian embroidery. It was then I realized that the fabrics and embroidery I saw growing up in my mom’s boutique in India were making an appearance. So, my pottery work started with a lot of Indian embroidery pieces, which I still make. And now that I am into the fiber arts like knitting, spinning, weaving, the influence of fabric textures is even greater.” The blend of influences he incorporates into his work are the work of connections--making connections inside and outside of the art community, which is what Charan hopes his pieces achieve. My favorite part of the interview was when I asked Charan about his process, and how he came to make pottery. His interest in combining different embroidery and pottery stems from his capacity to use both sides of his brain in his art making. Charan was a software engineer before moving full time into his art practice. He explained it’s influence on his work, and how it pushes his creations: “As an engineer, I do see myself as more of a problem solver. As a creative person in the arts, I get an idea and I keep thinking about possible ways of executing it. I also factor in failure points. But then again as an artist, I know to let the process take me places as well. So my engineering brain tries to be in control with the practical side of executing an idea, and my creative side keeps wanting to push those limits.” These two different ways of thinking he employs in his work push him to explore further possibilities, exploring the tension between these two sides, finding ways to express dualities--right and left brain, fabric and clay. We hope to be privy to his process as he continues to explore through his immense creativity! Thank you for entrusting us with your work Charan! You can find Charan's work in our shop or through our website, just click here. Thank you all for reading! Best, Louise
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We have been very fortunate to have a large selection of colorful sculptural porcelain jewelry by Lynn Latta in our gallery for the month of April. On Monday I will pack up the majority of the work and send it back to Lynn but a number of pieces will still be available at Dovetail Rivet & Stitch. Please let us know which pieces are your favorites, so we know which ones to stock! We always appreciate your feedback and comments. Through Monday, everything in her trunk show is available to view and purchase online here.
I really enjoy wearing Lynn's jewelry. I love the feel of the dainty porcelain pods of her earrings as well as the pop of color. They are very light weight and comfortable. Her rings are another of my favorite, and can also be worn as a pendant. The porcelain is stronger than I imagined and the ring I've been wearing has held up well, even as I have bumped it into things throughout the day. It really is like wearing a tiny sculpture and the small vessels are just so appealing to look at and touch. I asked Lynn a little bit about her work and what it means to her to create wearable art. She said that her first foray into art was drawing and embroidery in 2nd grade and she believes these early experiences were the foundation for all of her artistic work. She works in a variety of different media: watercolor, fiber, metals, & ceramics but finds that an ongoing fascination with miniatures has led her to making wearables. She sees her work as small sculptures that happen to be wearable. It is important to her that they are well composed and finished to a high standard. She has certainly succeeded at creating many very wonderful pieces and this is some of the the most unique and fun art jewelry I have experienced. Lynn lives with her husband and two teenage boys in Portland, Oregon. She does 4-5 shows per year and exhibits her work in a number of galleries and museum shops around the country. I am thrilled to add her unique work to our selection of amazing jewelry at Dovetail Rivet & Stitch! Thank you for reading and for all your support. Have a great weekend and enjoy the show while it's here! Hilary For nearly a decade, customers have visited our store on Seminary Street and found a fabulous selection of fine handcrafted jewelry. We work with independent jewelry artists and specialize in a wide range of unique pieces, many one-of-a-kind you can't find anywhere else. We can also help you place a custom order. Trunk shows are providing us an opportunity to bring in and showcase a large collection of work by one artist for a brief period of time. Based on customer feedback and sales during the show, we retain a number of pieces for our inventory and return the larger collection to the artist.
Organizing these trunk shows has been a fantastic way for me as a gallerist to acquaint myself with an artist and his/her work and to bring some really special jewelry to town. Currently, we are featuring a very large collection of work by Ginger Meek Allen. She sent us an excellent spread, including everyday favorites, more formal pieces and some stand out one-of-a-kind statement pieces. I spent several days photographing the jewelry so I could share with those of you who can't make it in, and make it available for you to purchase online. Spending so much time with her work, I am left with a really wonderful impression of her craft. I'm taken by the simplicity, elegance and organic feel of Ginger's jewelry. Her silver forms are elegant, have exquisite little details, and move well when worn. And then her gems. First, I want to say that typical mass produced fine gemstone jewelry often feels to me somewhat removed from our human experience. It's pretty and eye-catching. But it lacks a human touch and I am not brought to think of the gems (found in conventional, mass-produced jewelry) as brilliant miracles of nature. In Ginger's jewelry, the gem stands out with her very human touch as she sets the stone with a sensitive and playful, carefully balanced use of sterling silver. Her signature settings elevate the precious stone above its already glorious and beautifully cut state. Light and color dance off her pieces. Ginger's work speaks to me of the formation of life and elements on our planet, our exploration of that as humans, and seeking balance. Her compositions, metalsmithing and stone-setting connects me to and raises my consciousness about the materials. Really?! All that from spending time with some pieces of jewelry?! When my employee Liliana and I were first checking out Ginger's shipment, we were talking about how the jewelry made us feel. She said, "When I put this ring on my hand, I literally feel different. It feels so nice on." The show is only here through October 9th, so take a look now! Thanks for reading and for your support of independent artists! Yours, Hilary |
AuthorLouise Rossiter writes about artists featured in our shop! Archives
April 2021
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