ARTmonday: Fort Point Open Studios

Fort Point Open Studios in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood is this coming weekend, Saturday & Sunday October 18th & 19th. It is the 35th anniversary of Fort Point Open Studios and more than 150 artists open their studio doors to visitors, thanks to the hard work of artist and organizer Gabrielle Schaffner.

You can spend the day exploring the historic waterfront warehouses (there are artists’ studios in 14 buildings, all within walking distance, though there will be a free shuttle too) that are home to painters, sculptors, ceramicists, jewelers, performance artists, printmakers, book artists, photographers, and others for a behind the scenes look at where Boston artists create their work. There are both established artists and emerging talents.

My friend and longtime Fort Point artist, photographer Stephen Sheffield whose studio I blogged about this spring, will be there, as well as graphic designer Jennifer Hill who I know from Design Salon (and Facebook), and furniture maker Quentin Kelly, whose color-edged stool I included in the Boston Globe recently. Also, textile artist Amy Nguyen who creates Japanese designs; I met her last year at the Apple Store Genius Bar. I was also very psyched to discover, just today, photographer Alicia Savage whose “Morning Light” series I plan to do a follow up post on, and the chunky scarves and mittens by A Third Piece.

Fort Point Open Studios is free, and there is free parking too in the lot at A Street and Binford Streets. (Turn onto Binford Street from A Street towards the Channel, then turn left into the parking.) Head down there next weekend, and look for me.


Boston Fine Arts Photographer Stephen Sheffield Ladder In Water

Stephen Sheffield

Boston Artist Trigger Photographer Bunny Ears Portrait

Trigger Photography

Boston Photographer Dirk Ahlgrim City Streets

Dirk Ahlgrim

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Lea St. Germain |  Blinky Dolls Boutique

Boston Photographer Alicia Savage Morning Light Series

Alicia Savage

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Brian Bishopfort-point-jessica-burko

Jessica Burko

Boston Artist Wendy Shapiro Textured Panels

Wendy Shapiro

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Jason Fiering

fort-point-infusion-furniture

Infusion Furniture

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JHill Studio

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Hilary Law Design

Boston Textile Designer Amy Nguyen Japanese Shibori

Amy Nguyen

Boston Fashion Designer Philip Sawyer Navy Dress

Philip Sawyer

Boston Accessories Designer The Third Piece Chunky Scarf

The Third Piece

fort-point-julia-groos

Julia Groos

Giveaway: Joyo Lasercut Birch Earrings

When the publicist for Joyo jewelry, a company based nearby in Scituate, Massachusetts, contacted me to see f they could send me a sample, I told them I’d prefer to pass it along to one of you. They were game with the idea of a giveaway.

The designer behind Joyo, Jenn Liddiard, who started the company in 2012, creates wood earrings, necklaces, and bracelets in modern geometric and naturalistic shapes, laser-cut from real walnut and birch. Liddiard laser cuts everything herself, and does all of the design, sanding, oil finishing, and assembly by hand. 

Liddiard is inspired by architecture, history, and nature. She likes transforming natural materials into unique, intricate, and unexpected forms. She says, “I have a habit of looking for patterns in ordinary places, like storm drains, sidewalk bricks, window grates, and fences–things that normally blend into our everyday surroundings. 

Laser Cut Wood Jewelry By Joyo

E N T E R  t o  W I N  t h e s e  E A R R I N G S

Tell me in the comment section of this post about an interaction with nature you had this summer. Did you climb a tree? Grow tomatoes? Make seashell mobiles? Swim with dolphins? Pick flowers? Gaze at the super moon? The simplest gesture will do. 

Deadline to enter is Thursday , August 21 at midnight EST. (Don’t forget to include your email address so I can contact you if you win!)

 joyo-leaves-earrings

Birch wood LEAVES earrings by Joyo

Jenn Liddiard Designer Joyo Jewelry

Jenn Liddiard of Joyo

Get the Look: 40 Pieces from Boston Jewelry Designers

For this season’s Style issue of the Boston Globe Magazine, in addition to a few profiles of Boston’s Most Stylish (friend and art/science documentary producer Alberta Chu, jewelry designer/computer scientist Jessica Rosencrantz of Nervous System, and Deborah Z. Porter Founder and Executive Director of the Boston Book Festival), I also wrote “Jewelry’s Big Moment.”  The spread includes nine pieces from wonderful, emerging local jewelry designers. With Mass Art and the SMFA in town, (not to mention RISD in nearby Providence, but that’s a whole other post) the artisan jewelry scene is absolutely thriving. Below are additional works from the featured artists, as well as a number of local metalsmiths that we didn’t have room to feature in the magazine. Lots of talent!

 

Boston Jewelry Designers

 

Boston Jewelry Designers Boutiques Artisans

Boston Jewelry Designers

Boston Jewelry Designers Artisans Stores

 

S H O P P I N G

1 Petra Seibertova Nest Earrings, $50 at MassArt Made.

2 Ripegoods Rain Drop Hoop Earrings, $78.

3 Dev Bennett Three Dot Studs, $32 at 13 Forest.

4 Lauren Passenti Fish Jaw Bracelet.

5 Hannah Blount Barnacle Ring, $198.

6 Petra Seibertova Disc Cup Earrings, $340 at MassArt Made.

7 Little Pancake Stamped Triangle Necklace, $36.

8 Nikky Bergman Deer Antler and Leather Amulet.

9 Dev Bennett Geometric Solid #1 at Cambridge Artists Coop.

10 Sophie Hughes Slit Drop Chain Earrings, $240 at Fire Opal.

11 Sasha Walsh Ring, $360 at MassArt Made.

12 Becca Straus Maria Feather Necklace at Michele Mercaldo.

13 Alison Storry Rose Gold Heart Charms Necklace, $44 at Etsy.

14 Iolyte Stackable Ring, $340 at M. Flynn.

15 Dev Bennett Small Metropolis Necklace, $150.

16 Sasha Walsh Stackable Crystal Ring, $56 at Wicked Peacock.

17 Lauren Passenti Claw Necklace, $87 at MassArt Made.

18 Marissa B. Orchid Blossom Earrings, $62.

19 Sasha Walsh Druzy Ring, $220 at MassArt Made.

20 Julia Groos Halo Designs Gold Bead Ring, $220.

21 Beatrice Kim Karung Watersnake Cuff at Good.

22 Sasha Walsh Cuff, $330 at MassArt Made.

23 Hannah Blount Raw Crystal Brass Ring, $88.

24 Dev Bennett Four Post Earrings, $56 at 13 Forest Gallery.

25 Bree Richey Gondola Earrings.

26 Leah Meleski Infused Series Earrings

27 Lauren Blais Garnet Spire Studs, $210.

28 Nikky Bergman Hannah Bangle, $160 at MassArt Made.

29 Leah Meleski Recycled Impurities Earrings.

30 Monique Rancourt Small Granulation Ring, $200.

31 Monique Rancourt Cuff at Society of Arts & Crafts.

32 Lindsay Minihan Felt Bud Earrings, $120.

33 Filomena Demarco Double Feather Earrings, $95 at 13 Forest.

34 Monique Rancourt Feather Series Necklace, $400.

35 Sophie Hughes Razor Shell Earrings, $290 at Fire Opal.

36 Beth Solomon Ring at Alchemy 925.

37 Rachel Pfeffer Hearts on a Wire Ring, $88 at Wicked Peacock.

38 Joyo Small Squares Necklace, $50 at Wicked Peacock.

39 NYX Studio La Damme Earrings, $190 at Wicked Peacock.

40 E. Scott Originals Topaz Stud Earrings, $60 at Wicked Peacock.

 

boston-globe-magazine-jewelry-designers

 Read “Jewelry’s Big Moment” in the Boston Globe Magazine here.

Globe Style cover

 

Follow my “Cool Jewelry” board on Pinterest!