Evolution of ‘Shapeshifter’

I originally started this piece back[and two others] in March and documented the process on Instagram[man, I love that app].  Not much explanation is needed here just follow the photos and captions beneath each image to the finished product:

 

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‘It may not looks like much, but this is how I lay out the armature for a new vessel.  It’s gonna be a beast.’

 

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‘Some beads already strung.  Down to business.’

 

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‘The all too real tangled mess that inevitably occurs at the beginning of each new vessel.  Total nightmare.  So this looks finished right?’

 

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‘4 hours and 2 solo dance parties into the weaving process.’

 

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‘Inside the belly of the beast.’

 

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‘How far 1/2 a kilo of see beads will get you.  And the Blue Lace Agate stones that will be added to the piece soon.’

 

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‘Finally nearing completion on this particular piece.’

 

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Finished!  Ta-dah!

 

The piece measures 15″ x 10.5″ x 9″ and I completed it to submit it to a contemporary basketry show in Tennessee at the Arrowmont School of Craft.  The jury has not assembled yet to determine which pieces to accept so I do not know yet whether it will be accepted in the group show, but I hope that it will!

Music on the move

If you have attended or exhibited at a professional craft show you may have seen a dapper gentleman with a harmonica in hand, and several in cases around his neck, waltzing around the show floor.  It took me two years of seeing him at nearly every show I was participating in until I agreed to construct a beaded vessel version of a case to add to his extensive hand-made collection.  Artists from all over the world refer to him fondly as “Hoff the Harmonica Case Man”.  And his one-of-a-kind harmonica case collection is no joke–he has already had exhibitions of the set and will be having a book published in the future.  Be on the lookout the next time you’re at a show because you may even be lucky enough to hear him play a little tune:

 

 

Here are some informal studio shots of my harmonica case!  I’m pretty proud of this creation and I am sort of wondering why I put off making it for so long…

 

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