Thoughts on TADA365 - 2011 and future

A whole year of TADA365 passed. We were so overwhelmed in 2010 with Ring-a-Day challenge that we just wanted to continue with the same emotions of pushing some of our dormant parts of creativity in an environment without negative pressure from anyone and tons of positive vibes and inspiration from online community of people with same inclinations, problems and visions. Thus the name True Addicts of Daily Art. Thanks to our dear Mary Lu Wason for creating the group and pushing it forward, giving us guidance and organising our minds with necessary deadlines for themed shows.
Our first intention was to drive ourselves mad by posting every day something about our creative ventures in jewelry making. Through the year it has been proven to us that it wasn't important.
Main goal is to keep the creative energy flowing between us and within us, thus making it glow through all our work and communication. We have shown to love our differences, enjoy in them and grow through them. My vision for this group is to keep that bond we have between artists and keep growing in that spirit. Support is of critical importance for every human being to grow in healthy spirit, so is for an artist. I thank each and every member for being understanding, compassionate and kind.

I asked our members two questions :
1. What does joining TADA365 mean to you now when you look over your shoulder and remind yourself of the year 2011?
2. Do you have any expectations, ideas or visions for TADA365 in the future?

Lets take a glance into some of their thoughts.

Evelyn Markasky:

Well, looking over my shoulder has been a very interesting experience! I found my journal from January 2011 with the writing and sketches I did for TADA. My observations that I made at the beginning of 2011 were almost exactly the same things I said to myself 2 weeks ago beginning 2012. (Including losing 10 pounds and not always being on the computer!) Seems like I ended up doing what I usually do... start off strong and excited and then get worn down and lost. Of course, all was not lost. I may not have completely seen through the original ideas from 2011, but by the end I had completed a lot of work and evolved in a way a had actually hoped I would.  I may not have ended up posting something everyday, but I don't think that was necessary. I wanted to do that to keep going in my studio and working and staying inspired, but now that is no longer a problem. What TADA had evolved into for me, was a group of close friends (that I still can't believe we really don't know each other face-to-face!) where we could think out loud and get feedback and advice and inspiration. I think the most exiting part was figuring out having online exhibitions (thank you Mary Lu!) I haven't been on Flickr as much as I used to, but I think part of the inspiration from TADA was to work more, surf less, and that has definitely happened.

I think TADA can evolve into a really cool online thing, more than just flickr, (which we've already seen happen.) It's something we started because we love what we do and it's still going and it is being allowed to evolve. We don't have to keep doing something we don't need to be doing anymore, we are always assessing what our needs are and the needs of the group. It also allows everyone to work at what ever level they are on. In addition to the online exhibits, I think it would be very cool to do some physical exhibits where we send our pieces to different parts of the world and create shows.  Members who are able to can try to get together a local show and we can all have a piece in it...


Maria Apostolou:

After completing Ring-a-Day, I joined TADA365 because I wanted to continue being  part of a supportive online community  and stay in touch with my friends. Also, expanding on previous ideas and creating collections, which was the main goal of our group, seemed like the next logical step to take. As I look back, I'm so grateful for deciding to join TADA. The making process can be so lonely and there's nothing more important that having a safe place to exchange ideas, share feedback and support one another.

The goals of TADA365 for 2012 reflect exactly what I would like this group to be in the future. I would say that they even surpass my own expectations!


Jill Palumbo:

I've thoroughly enjoyed TADA365. I was so encouraged by this group of creative and caring people. I learned so much from the others involved; how ideas are generated, how different artists tackle the challenges involved in creating jewelry, and that each of us faces setbacks and lulls. Being in this group really motivated me to keep working, to keep creating. Even though I broke my kneecap and was too busy to plan any shows, I had a few surprise shows, last-minute invitations, before and after the holidays. I sold many of my TADA creations! I was prepared with products and display pieces, and I have TADA365 for the successful shows.

 

About TADA 365 in the future? I would love to try this again. A weekly project sounds tempting to suggest, but I know I would not produce as much. I would not have learned so much on the planning details of producing artwork for a show if this had been a "product-a-week" type of group.

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Click on the link bellow the photo and you will be taken to our latest online show on TADA site.



Impatiently Waiting for Spring
by
Ponsawan Sila



A is for...

Letters of Adornment : 
An Online Exhibit of Artful Adornments 

from the Flickr TADA365 Art Jewelry Group

Ok, it's on! 12 people from the TADA group are participating in a

 metal/jewelry abcedarium:

From Wikipedia: An abecedarium (or abecedary) is an inscription consisting of the letters of the an alphabet, almost always listed in order. Typically, abecdaria (or abecedaries) are practice exercises. 

Some abecedaria found in the Athenian Agora appear to be deliberately incomplete, consisting of only the first three to six letters of the Greek alphabet, and these may have had a magical or ritual significance. A deliberately incomplete abecedarium found at Hymettos in Attica may have been a votive offering.

We have divided up the alphabet and we are ready to see where the letters will take us. 

They will be done by September 5 and Mary Lu is creating a website for the show. 

The exhibit page will have one thumbnail of each piece. The thumbnail will link to a page with the two photos enlarged and the artist name, etc. 

There will also be a comments or guestbook section.

Please check the blog for progress reports

, thoughts, & experiments, 

on how the project is going.

  

 1. Evelyn (Markasky) N Q

 2. Kest {(Vagabond Jewelry (Kest)} A V

 3. Mary Lu (Mary Lu Wason) X W

 4. Pallavi(Pallavi Gandhi) L M

 5. Maria (Maria Apostolou) J K

                         

   6. Kevin (a blackbird) C T

 7. Sandra (micicart) R S

 8. Marian (Ms Place) F G

 9. Lee Ann {(mustardseedcreations (Lee Ann)} Z E Y

 10. Ponsawon (polymerclaybeads) P

 11. Helen Derici H U B

 12. Lesley Tinnaro I O D 


And some info for the players:
Photos No more than 2 jpegs for each letter.
Letter:
Title:
Materials:
Size:
Method of fabrication:
Artist Statement (about this piece):

Artist Name:
Artist Info (like a bio, but super short - one paragraph):
Artist website/contact info:

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!