Lauren Markley Jewelry

2011-08-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it's almost here! My exhibition at the West Main Artists Co-op opens in two days. Yikes! I'm still working on my artist statement and price list. Here's a peek at the promo cards:

The Book!

2011-04-04T19:09:00.001-07:00

It's official! I'm published in a book! In December of 2009, I submitted a last-minute application to Lark Books, hoping to have some images of my work included in their upcoming book, 500 Silver Jewelry Designs: The Powerful Allure of a Precious Metal. In October of 2010, I got a letter (a real letter, not an email!), stating that both images were accepted! I swear I thought it was a mistake until I actually had the contributor's copy, which arrived last week, in my hands. I'm thrilled to be included in this beautiful book, juried by Talya Baharal, and in awe of the many talented, innovative, and inspirational artists whose work is also featured. One of my contributions is here:

The Project

2011-03-26T17:33:00.000-07:00

I got a grant! The Arts Partnership of Spartanburg (TAP) awarded me a small amount of money to partially cover the expenses of producing a collection of jewelry inspired by local history and architecture. The project will culminate in an exhibition at the Co-op in August of this year.

So far, production is going rather slowly. I do have a few pieces completed, however, and am having a good time exploring new techniques (investment soldering) and new materials (reclaimed wood) and developing a broader artistic vocabulary.

I had some pro shots taken by Eli Warren of Greenville, SC. I'm very happy with how they turned out!

And 7 Months Later.......

2011-03-26T17:32:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess I forgot about the blog!! Duh. Anyway, a lot has happened. New posts will soon follow. Standby...

Art Walk

2010-08-19T18:16:00.001-07:00

I just got home from a fun night at Art Walk, a montly event in Spartanburg at which all the local galleries open their doors, serve refreshments, and show off newly arrived artwork and exhibitions. The Co-op (that's the West Main Artists Co-op, at which I have a studio, and of which I am an original member, ha ha!!) had a terrific turnout. The 2nd Tier members (that sounds bad, but it really just means that they are exhibiting, non-studio members) had their inaugural exhibition, and USC UpState's first WMAC scholarship recipient, Chris Turner, presented his solo exhibition. It was great to see the galleries full of terrific art and art admirers!

My Red Brooch is on display at the Carolina Gallery in downtown Spartanburg as part of the Artists Guild of Spartanburg's 37th Annual Juried Exhibition. I was so happy to see it on the wall of the gallery and very proud that it is part of such a well-curated, innovative, and contemporary collection of art.

The photograph of the brooch here is from Eli Warren Photography. Anyone in the area who is looking for a great art/product photographer should check Eli's work out.

Some Updates

2010-08-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a rather busy summer. The 2010 Bele Chere Festival in Asheville, NC, has (thankfully) come and gone. It was ridiculously hot and although the crowds were huge, sales were hilariously bad! At least there was a nice cold pool at the hotel.

The one dividend of low sales was that I had enough leftover inventory to send off to the two new locations at which I'm consigning my jewelry: Zuzu Studio Gallery in Collingswood, NJ, and Tilde in Portland, OR. Check them out if you're in the neighborhood!

I am now in the process of applying for my first grant. I have no idea what I'm doing! I've been inspired by the local history and architecture here in Spartanburg and want to try and capture a bit of it in a series of new pieces. The county was once home to many textile mills. The mills closed one by one as work was sent overseas, leaving entire communities jobless and buildings abandoned. Although there has been some very recent regrowth, I think that the general economic downturn leaves a pervasive sense of tragedy in the region. I have a number of ideas swirling around in my head for the new pieces and want to try incorporating some new techniques and materials into them.

Tangentially related to the project is this ring - a prototype featuring folded copper and bloom of steel nails.

Exhausted!

2010-05-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

The Art Star Craft Bazaar was terrific - my sales were great, the weather was beautiful (if a bit windy the first day), and it was so much fun to see friends and meet customers. I met a number of people who told me that they had bought from me in the past, and it was very gratifying to know that my jewelry is thought of as distinctive and memorable by many people. One woman even saw my Corsico Rings on my table and told me that her husband proposed to her with the very same ring last year at Art Star! I'm still completely wiped out from the experience, though - two full days out in the elements, long days of travelling, and no breaks after returning home.

Next up, working on wholesale orders and getting ready for Bele Chere 2010 in Asheville, NC. Details of that to follow!

Art Star!

2010-05-13T06:31:00.001-07:00

Just one more day to prepare for the Art Star Craft Bazaar! I take off early tomorrow morning, catch a quick flight from Charlotte, NC, to Philadelphia, where I'll meet up with my friend Jessie from SodaBomb, then head out to Penn's Landing for the festival on Saturday. It's a bit disconcerting that my entire inventory fits into two plastic shoebox-sized containers, while I can barely fit all of my display material into the largest suitcase we have. The weather should hold out (unlike 2008, the first year I attended; we left early due to severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado watches), and large (!) crowds are expected. My one regret about festivals like this is that I usually don't get a chance to check out the booths of the other participating artists. Art Star is chock full funky artists and crafters, so if you're in the area, it's definitely worth checking out!

New Blog!

2010-05-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome! I've switched over to Blogspot in the hopes that it will be a bit easier to maintain. New posts are coming soon. In the meantime, take a look at my new website, courtesy of Other People Pixels, here!