Mayan Textiles in Chiapas, Mexico

During a recent trip to Mexico I came across a beautiful small museum in the mountain town of San Cristobal de las Casas which is located in Chiapas in the south. Next to the San Domingo church, the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya is housed in a restored convent and is a treasure trove of textiles and weaving particular to the indigenous tribes of the extended mayan peninsula. In addition to displays there were endless pull out drawers with textile weaving and embroidery samples from different cultural groups as well as different time periods. There is such a vibrancy and exuberance yet also a sophistication both visually and technically to these beautiful Mayan textiles that I had to share! 

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Makers part 22

     

Folk art is thought of as an expression of culture through the creation and construction of utilitarian objects that convey meaning and value to the artist or others within culture. Typically the patterns, motifs, techniques and materials have special significance and can reveal a great deal about about the essential values or characteristics of a society, My next maker Jo Langley is an Australian artist who is fascinated with folk art and she reveals the very substrate of our culture in her exploration of repetitive pattern and her use of new media. Her beautiful works can be seen in her etsy store DigitalFolkArt 

Can you tell me a little about your background? 

I live in Blackheath at the top of the beautiful Blue Mountains west of Sydney, with my 19 year old daughter and partner Glen. We relocated from Sydney recently after I finished working as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator for the NSW Department of Education and Communities. 

What do you make?

I make digital collages. That is I create my artworks on the computer and print them myself on an inkjet printer, using archival inks and museum quality paper.

 What attracted you to this particular medium? How did you get started?

I developed my skills with Photoshop and other digital image softwares in the course of my work as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator. I have an abiding interest in, and have worked extensively with (non-digital) collage. Plus I LOVE everything Folk Art. My digital collages were born from this seemingly unrelated mix of interest and expertise! My aim is to produce images that possess a richness, warmth and intimacy, despite coming to be via what people would typically describe as the cold medium of the computer.

How long have you been making?

I have been developing the digital artworks that appear in my Etsy shop for approximately 18 months. Prior to that I experimented with physical collage/mixed media when I had the time.

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?

After working in full-time paid employment for many years I am currently making the most of an opportunity to do my own work (for now) from home whenever I feel the urge! It is quite addictive and relatively easy to keep up the continuity as there is no 'setting up' or 'cleaning up' required when producing artworks on a computer! We are fortunate to have a spare bedroom upstairs, which has become my studio.

What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium?

Creating artworks on a computer is very convenient. As mentioned I don't have to 'set up' or 'clean up', as is the case with traditional art forms. The digital elements in my pieces come from a variety of sources, and can be re-used in so many ways. That is you don't have the problem of a limited number of ingredients as is the case with physical collage. But my artist's sensibility and experience is being extensively utilised when making decisions about composition, colour, texture, tonality, pattern and depth.

The down side is that sitting for extended periods at a computer is not good for anyone! I often have to force myself to move away and have a break. I do this by going to the gym or a yoga class, walking, having a coffee or doing housework.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by all forms of Folk Art. I have always been interested in pattern and repetition. The effects created by layering one thing on top of another - whether digitally or through more conventional mediums - also excite and inspire me. I also love Mid Century art, architecture, design and illustration.

        

Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?

Yes I do get creative blocks. I find it's best to have a break when this happens. Do something altogether different. Returning to your work with a fresh eye can make all the difference in finding a solution to the inevitable visual problems that arise from time to time. But sometimes that's easier said than done. That is it can be hard to drag myself away, even when i know i'm falling further into a black hole! In these situations its a relief when I finally manage to stand up and walk away.

                                     

What other mediums would you love to explore? 

I have recently learnt to crotchet, with a view to creating crotcheted art works. This interest has circuitously evolved from the creation of my Digital Folk Art when I started seeing granny squares in some of the pieces! Who knows where that will lead but meanwhile I am enjoying developing a very different skill. And it's a great antidote to sitting at the computer.

What do you hope to do next with your practice?

I would love to resume my work with physical collage. Perhaps even recontextualising parts of my existing DigitalFolk Art prints with paint and other media.

Thanks Jo!

Makers Part 21

John Muir, the 19th century Scottish/American naturalist was an early advocate for preservation of wilderness in California. He wrote: "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." My next maker's connection to the natural world is manifested in her choice of materials - stone, wood and metal.  Christina Brown lives in California and makes beautiful jewellery that comes from and reflects the natural world she loves. In doing so, she gives her wearers a direct connection to that world.  You can buy her jewellery at Feeling Charmed on etsy and keep track of her listings on facebook, pinterest and instagram.

Can you tell me a little about your background? 

I live in Los Angeles, California with my husband and rabbit, Pilot. I have a full-time job working at a University doing nothing especially creative. That is why I take so much pleasure in making my jewelry. It gives me an outlet for all the creativity I have bottled up inside.

What do you make?

I make bracelets and necklaces.

What attracted you to this particular medium? How did you get started?

I have a love for all things fashion. I was looking at bracelets online one day and thought, I could make those. Once I started creating I just could not stop. I love the creative process of picking out beads and accents that complement each other and stand out in fun and one of a kind ways. I love pops of color, unique beads and fun charms. I was initially making bracelets that I could wear and enjoy. It wasn't until I started getting compliments on them that I realized I wanted to sell them so that others could enjoy them the way I do.

How long have you been making?

I have been making bracelets for about 2 months and just recently started making necklaces.

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?

I work whenever I can get a free moment, usually in the evening after work or on the weekends. I don’t have a studio space at the moment but I would love to have one eventually. Right now I just either work at my living room coffee table or my kitchen table. My bad part about that is that I usually have a complete mess everywhere. I always find beads in my carpet.

What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium?

 

The best part of working in this medium is the variety of materials that are out there. I am always finding new beads and charms to buy. My newest discovery has been organic, all natural beads. I love the authentic, earthy feel that they have. I feel the organic materials match my esthetic and fit with the direction that I plan to head in. I do not have a worst part.

Who or what inspires you?

I find my creative inspiration all around me. When I first started making bracelets and picking out the materials for them, I always went for the earth tones. So I thought I should stick with what I like and take inspiration from the earth, sea and sky. I enjoy the mix between taking the blue from the sky and joining it with the wood from the earth. I feel there is a harmony there and that the elements work together to form a balanced, beautiful creation.

Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?

I do get creative blocks sometimes. When that happens I just start mixing different beads, accents and charms together. If one combination does not work I move on to the next. It is a trial and error process but through that something I love will eventually emerge.

What other mediums would you love to explore? 

I would love to start knitting sometime in the future. I think it would be great to design and create scarfs and bags.

What do you hope to do next with your practice?

I hope to keep designing and creating new pieces for my shop and get my name out there as much as possible.My next goal is to start attending fairs and selling my products. I am looking forward to getting the face to face contact with customers. I think it will really help to have people be able to see my products in person, try them on and feel confident about what they have purchased.

Thank you Christina! If you make or collect I would love to hear from you.

Makers part 20

                   

Chainmail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked or welded together in a pattern to form a mesh. The technique has been in place for 3000 years as a method to make protective covering. The name "mail" is derived from the French word "maille", which comes from the Latin word "macula" which means, "mesh of a net". My featured maker, Miriam is a contemporary jeweller who uses this technique to make beautiful and timeless pieces and her work can be seen in her etsy store The Lovely Dame.

Can you tell me a little about your background? 

When I was twelve years old, my parents sent me to Germany to go to school and to learn the language. I lived with my grandparents, didn't speak a word of German, and knew no one my own age. To help me make some new friends, my grandparents signed me up for a jewelry class at the local activity center with the idea that there would be many students my age with whom I could connect. 

I was the only student in the class. This ended up being a life changing moment for me, as I was able to completely devote myself to learning how to make jewelry, which has become a lifelong passion for me. When I arrived back in the U.S. I was itching to learn more about the art and I was lucky enough to attend a high school which offered jewelry and metal working classes. My mother also discovered a program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City called Saturday Live which offered weekend classes for high school students, and once I saw the studio and got my hands on the tools there, I was hooked. I started traveling to the city every weekend, spending 8-10 hours every Saturday in those wonderful studios, absorbing everything until one day, about two semesters into the program, I became the teacher’s assistant. Helping the other students and walking them through their projects made me realize another passion in my life: teaching.

Ever since that time in Germany, I have been making jewelry, teaching art and loving every minute of it. Jewelry making holds a special place in my heart. It is a very meditative process that has helped me overcome many challenges and has opened many, many doors for me.

What do you make?

In my home studio I make bracelets, necklaces and earrings using new and recycled materials. I focus mostly on chainmaille, but also enjoy using pearls, glass and gemstones. 

What attracted you to this particular medium? How did you get started?

I had been making jewelry since I was a little girl, though in the beginning it was mostly making necklaces out of plastic beads to play dress up with. I had never been exposed to the art of metal working until I traveled to Germany for schooling, but once I got started, I was hooked.

                           

How long have you been making?

I have been making chainmaille jewelry like the items seen in my Etsy shop since I was 12 years old. When I was around fourteen I learned how to solder and to use other techniques such as hollow forming, lost wax casting, and piercing and sawing. Piercing and sawing, which is a technique that allows you to cut intricate patterns into a sheet of metal, is one my favorite things to do (besides chainmaille, that is).

How does your practice fit in with your everyday life? Do you have your own studio space and when do you work and where?

I work from home, and have my studio set up in one of the spare bedrooms. I try to spend several hours at a time either working on a new item or photographing existing pieces, but more often than not I will get an hour or two in before something else needs my attention, like the pets or getting dinner together for everyone. We have since moved to a larger space, and now that I have a dedicated studio I am looking forward to being much more productive and efficient. In our previous location, I would often find myself making my jewelry at my bench, or moving to the kitchen table if I needed more space.

What are the best and worst aspects about working with this medium? 

I would say that the best thing about working with this medium is that there is really no limit to what you can do. If you have the time, the tools and the ability, you can make anything you put your mind to. It is fun and meditative, and I have found that after becoming familiar with so many different tools for work that I have become quite the handyman around the house.
  

Who or what inspires you?

My inspiration comes from good music, great art and a love of nature.

Do you get creative blocks? If so, how do you deal with it?

I do get creative blocks from time to time, and I have found that the best way to deal with them is to just step away from the project for a while and then look at it later with fresh eyes.

                             

What other mediums would you love to explore?

I have started sewing recently, and would love to learn more about it. I’ve been making simple things like pillowcases and basic skirts, but it would be nice to take some lessons on more complicated pieces. I’ll be honest and say that sewing patterns confuse me sometimes, leaving me with some pretty lopsided pieces.

What do you hope to do next with your practice?

I am looking to make more jewelry using pearls and semi-precious gemstones in the next few weeks. But first, the studio needs to be unpacked!!

Thank you Miriam!