Interview with Mary Lu Wason

 Our 2nd Interview as Art with TADA founder Mary Lu Wason!!






















What was your first work of art and how old were you?

The first metal working I did was for a high school art class. I made copper earrings with stars cut out. I really loved them. Stars were my
thing, my personal symbol and to have my jewelry reflect that just seemed perfect. I remember thinking, this is fun. When I'm an old lady, I'll just make my own jewelry. And, that's basically what has happened.



I've been working on a collection this year called Metal Sky Jewelry Collection that is a tip of the hat to my younger self. I still draw freehand stars, some a bit wobbly and then cut them out of the metal.

I also remember, for the same class, making a bracelet from the top of my blues harp harmonica. The metal piece on top had fallen off, from so much use. (I played guitar and harmonica, back in the day.) So, I banged it into a cuff and added some macrame on the ends to tie it. This was the mid-70s. Very cool. I wish I still had it. I remember thinking this was also the perfect bracelet for me. My art teacher was astounded - wondering how I ever got this idea? He reacted to my projects like that
all the time. I didn't think it was unusual. I was just following my muse and using jewelry as a reflection of my interests.

I still do that. I still believe that something like an over used harmonica or an old button can be much more appealing in a piece of jewelry than a precious stone. It's all about why you are wearing the piece.


Who was the first artist to influence you?

That was probably Alphonse Mucha. Being a teen in the 1970s, his work and style was
all over the place on rock posters, t-shirts, etc. I realize now that's why I have a soft spot for Art Nouveau style. Pretty ladies, with long flowing hair, surrounded by stars. It represented a choice then, a way of looking at the world, a freedom from the boxes that our parent's
generation was imprisoned in.

I was also obsessed with Vincent Van Gogh. The passion he had, for whatever he did in life, was something I could relate to. I always go all the way with my interests - no holding back.




Do you think that there are any art movements now?

I do think that the Internet is fueling an art movement, but I'm not sure how to define it at this point. I'm excited about sharing my work daily online using social media in a community of other artists. I'm sure we'll look back in ten years and see this as a beginning of an upheaval in the art market. The concept of someone having to go to a distant city to see an exhibit and purchase work, seems more and more absurd. The concept of an artist having to spend $5000 to show and sell their work for 4 days to whoever can brave a snowstorm sounds ludicrous, doesn't it? But we're in the middle of changes now and there's no defined way of showing and selling art right now, especially art jewelry, which is not easily defined.

I believe that our Flickr group, TADA365 Art Jewelry, is part of a sleeping giant of an online Art movement. We are drawing on cave walls (or computer screens) - because the walls are there. We are collecting shells and other found objects and adorning ourselves with them
- because it's in our nature. This is how it's always been. Maybe the Internet can take some of us back to basics, casting off the dictates of an editor's whim or a gallery's connections. Maybe we can define for ourselves, what can be art, as well as fashion, talisman and memory. If we can show it and sell it online, maybe we won't need to fit into the definitions of the offline world.

Now that is really exciting!

Married To Art (in sickness and in health)

Every human has a need in some way to release from inside that extra energy, thoughts, ideas, emotions.... to explain his/her existence as an individual. We are born to do it one way or the other.... or in many ways at once (lucky are those).

When it comes to art, there are many forms to choose from to express oneself.
Craving to make some art? Is there a drive in you that makes you think of creating something each morning you wake up? You even chop your salad and arrange it in a peculiar way :) Do you keep looking around your house all the time trying to find materials for your always incoming ideas and wishing you have 48h per day? Do you wish to make this and that, try all possible materials and techniques to make your imagination live? Do you have a feeling like you are married to art, bound to share all ups and downs, in sickness and in health to be there for each other? Did it ever save you from your illness, healed your wounds and helped you get up on your feet again? Did you ever struggle to keep your art alive?
If answer to all or most of these is "YES" then you are really an addict of art.

I know I do all that. God knows how many times I put away all my tools and boxes and everything connected to my work as an artist, but..... I can't put away myself! It lives in me. I tried several times during last two years to "quit", but.... I can't quit who I am. I live art, and art lives in me! Without art I wither like a flower without sun and water.
Life can be brutal and insensitive most of the time, but heart conquers all. Some things that live in our heart should be banned, but some things should be cherished, nurtured and used regularly or we die emotionally and spiritually.
Being a true artist is not a commitment, but a way of life.
A way of life is an every day living routine with many goals to be reached. One goal being extremely important. Creating true art. You might ask: what is TRUE art? If you want the answer, then look around.

How many times have you been in awe by the sky painted with colors in motion;  stood on the edge of a cliff watching the waves splashing against the rocks and feel a bit overwhelmed by their uncontrollable force; smelled a scent or heard a sound of nature that has moved your heart and mind into another dimension ... all the beautiful creations of God leave us breathless in many ways with the same intensity each time we pay attention to them.
The essence of true art is to create emotion of same intensity in an observer each time that person looks at one piece or an evolved emotion with a much deeper sense and understanding of that art piece each time.
This goal is actually just a result of opening your heart and letting IT shape your pieces and the most powerful tool is LOVE. Grow in it and your art will grow with it.

One important note: never compare your work with work of others!!! We are all at different levels of knowledge not just of art but life as well. We all have different needs. Inhale their concepts, techniques and use them to make your own ideas live.

If you have any problems, you are coping with, that make it hard for your art to live, write a comment and we'll write a post about it with some advices and loads of encouragement.

Open yourself, reach out of the box and enjoy your creative ride!



photo by micicart

 





Tadaaaaa!!! Triceratops mask finished

I shared some photos of Kest's (Vagabond Jewelry) progress in creating a metal triceratops mask in one previous post. Well... she finished it already. Here are some more progress photos and the final look.

One of her comments on the process:

"The eye holes I got fancy- cut the shape out of a 2x4 and hammered into that as a die ( I hate having uneven eyes, and that was the simplest way to make sure I didn't). The veins I hammer against metal, to thin it, anneal, and then just bend by hand. I'm using 22gauge sheet, so it forms really easily."

I hope she will be surprising us with some more of her creative head wear.
If you ever wonder do people just buy them as wall art or actually wear them this is her answer:

"I sell a few to people who plan to use them purely as decoration, but mostly to people planning to wear them. I don't generally ask WHERE they plan to wear them, and particularly for Internet orders I never know, but some that I've met at fairs are:
A young gal who desperately wanted one to wear to prom, and then came back the next day, surreptitiously, with money her mother had given her for a dress.
A whole family who had just bought tickets for Venice.
A couple planning to go to Mardi Gras.
Slews of people who go to sci fi or fantasy conventions
A mom and daughter pair planning to wear them to the next PTA meeting
A fellow going to a lady gaga concert
Circus people of varying ilk, either for their own shows, or to surprise their friends.
An older gent who hoped it would keep the sun off his nose when he was walking
More slews of people going to Renn fairs, including a little 90 year old lady in a pink cat sweater who I want to be my grandma.
Goths, Freaks, and Queens, for daily wear
Whole skads of unexpected types for Halloween and other costume balls

My very favorite, though, was at the last group of fairs I went to. A family was in the booth, and the little kid, no older than four, went to try on one of the little ones. His mama said they weren't for wearing, and Ivery politely intervened and said that they could be, if a person was so inclined. She, very snottily, asked "Why?" and her son, not taller than my waist said, and I quote, "Mommy!! They're for carnival!!" "

Progress... Vagabond Jewelry

TADA group has sprouted from RAD group and many of you know how addictive it had become. I believe many of you will understand me when I say this: I was putting my babies to sleep and while laying by their sides my thoughts were wondering about some designs for the theme I have chosen for this project and then suddenly my I started drifting to figuring out how to make them work as rings. Suddenly felt relieved by the fact that I can make other things as well and not just rings :) Of course, rings will be made as well.

Now, let us see how far has someone come with the progress. I thought I'd do each post about one person.

This time it is Kest Schwartzman (Vagabond Jewelry). Her theme is a very impressive one.

Metal TRICERATOPS MASK!!!

I am going to enjoy all the way following her progress, her changing design until she's satisfied and doing the finale. Here are some of her uploads. First one was about correct spelling of the word... triceratops.

 

This is her last uploaded version.

Clicking at these photos will take you directly to her Flickr photostream and you can enjoy the progress as well as her other work.

Visit TADA365 on flickr to see what other members are working on.