ALCHEMY4
The 16th Biennial International Juried Enamel Exhibition and 12th International Juried Student Enamel Exhibition
JAN. 21 - APR. 29, 2018
Gasparrini & Keeler Galleries
Gabrielle Castonguay, My Instinct Catches my Falls. Photo courtesy of The Enamelist Society.
Opening Reception
& Gallery Talk
Sunday, JAN. 21, 2018
3PM - 5PM
Alchemy, a term that refers to a seemingly magical power of transmutation as well as the ancient chemical philosophy of turning base metal into gold or silver, can apply to enamel as it is magically transformed by heat.
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Alchemy4, sponsored by The Enamelist Society, features the work of 98 artists chosen for the 16th Biennial International Juried Enamel Exhibition, located in our Gasparrini galleries, and the 12th International Juried Student Enamel Exhibition, located in our Keeler galleries. The objects in the exhibition are divided into three categories: jewelry, objects and wall sculpture. The exhibition features some of the most prominent enamelists working today and highlights enameling techniques and innovations within the field, while also featuring work by students from accredited degree programs throughout the world.
Enameling is a decorative technique in which powdered glass, called vitreous enamel, is applied to a metal surface and fired in a kiln or with a torch. The result is a colorful, glossy and long-lasting finish. The technique began in early civilizations around the Mediterranean region in the 13th century B.C.E. and spread throughout the globe. Today, enameling has commercial as well as decorative purposes. Modern enamelists can choose from several types of enamel, including ground powder, lumps, threads and liquid. Enamels come in opaque and transparent forms and can be applied in numerous ways.
Throughout the exhibit, you may notice both established techniques as well as innovations and modern trends within the field. Many of the artists make use of overfiring or underfiring, which results in a change of texture and flow to the surface. Others make use of unconventional forms and materials, experimenting with how well enamel can fuse to a metal surface. The objects included in Alchemy4 are a testament to the future of the field of enameling, highlighting the experimental and transformative nature of this decorative technique.
Alisa Looney, Acceptance Series: Wave Dream (Spirit Mask). Photo courtesy of Patrick F. Smith.
Daisy Greenwell, The Deepest Dark.
Photo courtesy of the Artist.
Carolina Reyes, Tea Strainer.
Photo courtesy of the Artist.
Andy Alter, Hex Sign Pin Clover.
Photo courtesy of the Artist.
Participating Artists
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Curtis Arima
Martha Banyas
Brooke Battles
Ken Bova
Sara Brown
Harlan Butt
Jessica Calderwood
Melissa Cameron
Ana Mercedes Carvallo
Katy Cassell
Gabrielle Suzanne Castonguay
Kat Cole
Joanne Conant
Linda Darty
Anne Dinan
Ashley English
Lillian Fitzpatrick
Priscilla Frake
Herb Friedson
Terry Fromm
Lara Ginzburg
Barbi Gossen
Jill Baker Gower
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Cullen Hackler
Charity Hall
Jan Harrell
Anne Havel
Abigail Heuss
Sha Sha Higby
Niki Hildebrand
Dorothea Hosom
Mi-Sook Hur
Lauralee Hutson
Janly Jaggard
June Jasen
Jennifer Jordan Park
Bok Hee Jung
John Killmaster
Andrew Kuebeck
Suzanne Kustner
Lorena Lazard
Sarah Lazure
Timothy Lazure
Sarah Loch-Test
Alisa Looney
Deborah Lozier
Any Roper Lyons
James Malenda
Kate Mess
Barbara Minor
Valerie Mitchell
Pat Nelson
Kim Nogueria
Alison Pack
Sarah Perkins
Karin Pohl
Jeanie Pratt
Gail Reid
Fay Rooke
Diane Rooke-Harris
Barbara Ryman
Olivia Shih
Marjorie Simon
Jan Smith
Judy Stone
L. Sue Szabo
Felicia Szorad
Monica Tomova
Krisztina Vagenas
The 16th Biennial International Juried Enamel Exhibition
The 12th International Juried Student Enamel Exhibition
Andy Alter
Carolyn Buss
Emma Olivia Chandler
Hsinyu Chu
Chloe Darke
Jaokima Day
Diana Diebold
Ariel Gochberg
Hannah Goldberg
Daisy Greenwell
Yeonjung Hong
Tamika Knutson
Joanne Lang
Matthew Mauk
Barbara McFadyen
Jacie McGowan
Marcela McLean
Ziqin Min
Naomi Noel Snortum
Hannah Oatman
Eunseon Park
Carolina Reyes
Hosanna Rubio
Alyssa Saccente
Rose Schlemmer
Luyi Sun
Karen Trexler
Seul Yi
Zhou Yuan
Though enameling is an ancient technique, it was the French enamelists working during the Middle Ages who perfected many common enameling techniques still used today, which is why most retain their French names.
Below are some of the more common enameling techniques used throughout Alchemy4.
Basse Taille (low cut) The metal surface is etched, engraved, carved, punched or stamped and then covered in several layers of transparent enamel. Each layer is fired in a kiln before a new layer is applied. In this technique, various depths in color are created, and the underlying design of the metal surface is visible.
Champlevé (raised field) The surface of a metal plate is carved or etched away to create depressions so that the raised lines form the outline of a design. The depressions are filled with powdered enamel and the object fired in a kiln or with a torch. The surface is then polished, resulting in a smooth, flat finish.
Limoges The Pénicauld family in the French town of Limoges invented a new technique of painting with enamels. This technique was the first in which enamels were not separated by wire or metal. With this technique, scenes can be realistically reproduced in enamel.
Cloisonné (partitioned) Metal wire, usually made of gold or silver, is used to form a design on a metal surface. Then powdered enamel is used to fill in the spaces between the wires before being fused with a kiln or torch.
Sgraffito (cutting away / scratching) A design is formed on a still-wet enameled object by scratching into the surface using a tool to reveal the undercoating, which is commonly white and opaque. Artists often apply black enamel on top of the undercoat.
Plique-à-jour (letting in daylight) In this technique, enamel is suspended between metal wire or a metal frame and has no metal backing so that light passes through it. It has the effect of a stained glass window.