Friday, February 17, 2012

Rock Paper Fire -March 3rd through May 2nd, 2012

                                           

Rock, Paper, Fire
Sarah Harms and V. Norton
March 2- May 2nd, 2012



An exciting featured artist show entitled "Rock, Paper, Fire" opens March 3rd and runs through May 2 at the Jerome Artists' Cooperative Gallery, 502 Main St in Jerome.

 The show features new works by gallery members Sarah Harms and V. Norton. Sarah will be unveiling a new line of jewelry, small sculptures and wall art, using steel, rocks, and wool. Norton will have new works in Ceramics and an exhibit of handmade books. The opening reception will be during Jerome’s Art Walk, Saturday March 3rd, from 5 to 8 pm with refreshments and a chance to meet the artists in person.



 According to Sedona artist V. Norton, “I like the idea of having new pieces of art for each of my shows. There will be wall pieces and vessels, and these ceramics will be in colors of the earth and fire, showing a different aspect from my high fire porcelain. The firing methods are not so different from those of the native peoples everywhere.”

 Also in this vein of bringing old techniques into present day are the artist’s handmade books, a tradition in calligraphy which started even before the printing press. Says Norton, "So the question is how to take a traditional book and make it non-traditional. My bound books each have a different aspect to them that the viewer can discover."




Sarah has created a body of work for the show using the title as a guideline, both literally and figuratively. “We came up with the title because of materials used in both of our work.  As my creative juices began to flow, a new line of jewelry was created that I am calling ‘Cairns’. Cairns have been used for centuries by many cultures to mark trails, graves, and other places of interest on the planet. I hope wearers of the jewelry can use it as a talisman to help guide them on their path, seek out a new path, or just look plain cool!”


Moving out of her comfort zone as a jeweler, Sarah will also be showing some wall pieces created from felted wool and steel. “Our title ‘Rock, Paper’ Fire’, kept evoking memories of various childhood games, so I have loosely used them as a theme for the wall pieces. I also happen to be a little obsessed with a couple word games at the moment, so the grid pattern of the steel hardware cloth I am using fits right in.  Come on up to the Coop and see what the images evoke for you.”



The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery is located at 502 Main, in the old Hotel Jerome, and open from 10am-6pm daily. Rock, Paper, Fire runs through May 2nd.