by Kathryn Corbin, IPCA VP, Program Development
What does an organization do when it’s international members can’t meet in person? Like everyone else in the Year of Covid, we learned and deployed Zoom. Thanks to our VP of Communications, Ann Hlavach, who was willing to host a regular members’ zoom get together every Sunday that moved monthly through all international time zones to accommodate those heading to bed when some of us were just waking, members were able to interact with each each other on a more or less regular basis in a more or less face-to-face manner. She later added a Wednesday morning meet up that is more topic-and demo-based. Still, these are fleeting, informal, in the moment. What could we offer members that was BIG? NEW? EXCLUSIVE? NO COST TO MEMBERS? REMOTE?
Curious to see what everyone was up to after a long, strange year of separation, we decided to try an event idea that had been discussed as a potential component of the next Synergy Conference….which never happened, of course. But it seemed like maybe, and maybe even better, a virtual exhibition could be that event to bring us together again.
The map featured pins color-coded by gallery, and each pin, when clicked, brought up an image of the object, the artist’s location, name and artist statement. Each Gallery also had its own list of exhibitors, with the same information, and it quickly became apparent how amazingly diverse our members are in their approach to their work, the brilliance of their accomplishments, and the enthusiasm with which they embraced this opportunity.
To cap it off, each gallery was sponsored and to show our gratitude to the companies our artists rely on daily, one artist, chosen by the members, received an award named for that sponsor.
- The Staedtler Award for Excellence in Two Dimensional Work was won by Marisol Ross of the United States.
- The Cernit Award for Excellence in Three Dimensional Work went to Georg Dinkel of Germany
- The Sculpey Award for Excellence in Vessels and Containers went to Angie Wiggins of the United States
In a very poignant and special exception, the Award for Excellence in Jewelry and Wearable Art was sponsored by the Estate of Tory Hughes, a giant in our field who we lost several years ago but whose impact as a teacher and artist resonates still. The lucky winner, Martina Buriánová of the Czech Republic, received not only a cash prize donated by an anonymous benefactor, but a brooch made by Tory Hughes, donated by her estate.
To view the exhibition, map, artist list and read the individual artist entries, go to our website: www.theipca.org and click on 2020 Global Exhibit at the top of the page. As you can see from these examples of the winner’s pieces and others, the quality of submitted work was exceptional, the range stupefying, and it’s gratifying to know that our members made the most of their talents during such a difficult time in our collective lives. The IPCA looks forward to continuing this new, inclusive, and exciting event.
Gallery of Members' Choice Winners
Marisol Ross
Yankee Stadium Lights
24" x 24", polymer clay, Italian glass, mirrors, metallic powder, grout & acrylic on wood.
Yankee Stadium lights at sunset, right field view.
Related Gallery
Two Dimensional Work
Chelsea Smith
16" x 20", polymer clay, Italian glass, mosaic tile, grout & acrylic on wood.
Portrait of Chelsea Smith.
Related Gallery
Two Dimensional Work
Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen
11" x 14", polymer clay, Italian glass, grout & acrylic highlights on wood.
Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen open house, barbeque, sunset in July. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen serves meal(s) (to) insecure folks, but is open and welcoming to everyone.
Related Gallery
Two Dimensional WorkGeorg Dinkel
iOstensorium
Der Mosquitoreiter - the Mosquito Rider
Drache Nr.4 - Dragon Nr.4
Angela Wiggins
Polymer Clay Platter
9 " x 7.5" x 3.5". Polymer clay, acrylic paint, and genesis headset paints. This piece was part of a trunk show that I participated in at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to coincide with an African mask show taking place. Of course on doing my research, I was captivated by the rich colors, intricate textures, and out of this world patterns and designs!
Related Gallery
Containers
Untitled Pedestal Bowl
14" x 10.5" x 10.5". Handmade paper from cotton and linen, aqueous dispersed pigments, polymer clay, fabric, glass beads, ball chain, and ribbon. The reason I am an avid fan of polymer clay today is because it is the perfect medium to use in making my work uniquely my own. This piece uses repeating shapes and colors of polymer clay that mimic the pattern in the fabric that I chose for the pedestal. Polymer clay also adds stability and structural integrity to the bowl by using it as a base for the pedestal.
Related Gallery
Containers
Mosaic Bowl
16" x 16"x 6.5". Polymer clay, various handcrafted papers, washi tape, tinted grout, wooden bread bowl, flecto varathane. I have always wanted to make a large mixed media/polymer clay bowl, and I figured that a mosaic piece, also incorporating the medium of paper(my other favorite art material) would be worth a try. When I spotted my old, unused dough bowl, the creative lightbulb turned on in my head. Inlaying the tiny tiles was challenging in that symmetrical, but yet successful kind of way. The combination of paper and polymer clay is a pleasing one for me, so I included various papers in a sunburst design on the bottom of the bowl. And of course, all of my containers absolutely must have attractive feet!
Related Gallery
ContainersMartina Buriánová
Transforming
Related Gallery
Jewelry and Wearable Art
Shackled
Related Gallery
Jewelry and Wearable Art
