Art Star

Category: artist spotlight

  • Meet Jewelry Artist, Ashley Gilreath



    We are thrilled to welcome recent Philadelphia transplant, Ashley Gilreath to our roster of artists.  Ashley graduated from East Caroline University in North Carolina with her BFA in metal design in 2010 and then went on to exhibit her work across the country, teach and hold various artist residencies, most recently at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee.  Her multiple lines of beautifully sculpted jewelry are inspired by the “decay of memories, architecture, and heirloom objects”.  We are really excited to carry a few of her lines of jewelry in the shop!  Here is a look at each series of jewelry that we are carrying PLUS a statement by Ashley about each one. Enjoy!

    Weathered + Broken Wood Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Pieces within this series are inspired by broken and decaying wooden fences, barns, or farming equipment. I’m interested in the process through which these functional structures are built, utilized, and abandoned over time. I enjoy how splitting and water marks on the surface of the wood provides a visual timeline for the life of these crafted objects. – Ashley Gilreath

    Water Castings

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    These earrings are made out of sterling and fine silver water castings. During the casting process the silver is poured into cold water and as it sinks it cools very quickly, and forms these little cups! Sometimes looking like nests, drops, or blobs, I save the best formed cups and fill them with colored glass! Enameling is a process that allows for fusing glass to metal, and it adds a wonderful reflective dimension to these earrings!
    – Ashley Gilreath

    Inscription/Book Cover Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    This body of work explores the tradition of writing notes and inscriptions upon the inside covers of books, and how a confluence of stories and people come together to create these objects. The words of the characters, the choices of the author, the artists of the covers, the writers of the secret inscriptions, and the owner of the book all effect how an individual would interpret the personal messages. Through time, as the book passes from hand-to-hand, these stories continue a dialogue whose original intimacy has faded.

    – Ashley Gilreath

    Botanical Jewelry 

    The designs in this series are directly influenced and inspired by the gardens of my past, specifically the hydrangeas that my mother rooted from her childhood home in Louisiana and brought with her to North Carolina. This transplanting of roots from one place to another directly reflects the paths we follow in life, and how home is given new meaning through time.

    These flowers are so delicate, their blooming so quick and fleeting, yet their impression on our senses endures. I attempted to merge those characteristics into a wearable object, so that one could wear a shadow of the blossom.

    Check out our full collection of Ashley’s Jewelry here and visit the shop to see it all in person! Any of her pieces would make a wonderful gift for Valentine’s Day!

     

     

  • Art Star Holiday Market Shopping Guide for 11/29

    We cannot believe that the Art Star Holiday Market is now LESS than a week away!  I’ve put together some eye candy to get you pumped and ready to shop.  These are the artists you will find on opening day – Friday, November 29th from 11-8pm.  And remember, the mix of vendors will be changing each day, so keep coming back!!

     Black Heart Letterpress makes cheeky greeting cards, coasters, and bookmarks.  Expect some great letterpress holiday cards too!

    Bregga + Co makes impeccably well made leather wallets and card holders.  Any of his items would make perfect gifts for the special dudes in your life.

    Cutesy but not Cutesy has been a staple at all our shows throughout the years.  She makes the most adorable plush monsters that I am sure you all know and love by now.  These monster hoodies are her latest hit – they just got a full spread in Real Simple Magazine! Go Diane!

    Endless Hats are another craft bazaar regular.  Their hats are extremely well made from recycled textiles and like their name states, their styles seem to be endless. I’m sure they will have a ton of  cozy winter hats to warm your noggin while you ice skate.

    Fabric Horse makes top notch bags, utility belts, lock holsters and more for the lady or gent on the go.  My hubby got me one of these superhero utility belts in my favorite colors – pinks/reds/oranges and it is seriously my most prized possession b/c it hold everything – cell phone, wallet, keys, tools, bike lock, etc.

    Fuzzy Ink makes the best silkscreened T-shirts, hoodies, cell phone covers + more.  His illustrations are quirky, cute and typically involve a mustache or two.  I am in love with this new barber shop quartet T.  So many dudes on my holiday list would appreciate this.

    Julie Moon is currently a resident artist over at my old stomping grounds – The Clay Studio.  She is originally from Toronto and makes incredible ceramic sculpture.  We carry her line of jewelry and skulls at the shop, which is what you will most likely see from her at the holiday market.  I just added the above Tribal Necklace to the website- it is one of my favorite pieces in the shop right now!

    This Totes Amazeballs bag is made by local master printmaker, Marisha Simons.  Marisha teaches various printing classes at the University of the Arts and is in the midst of rolling out a line of products that will be debuting at the Art Star Holiday Market.  Expect beautifully printed cards, totes, mugs, table runners, dishes and more!

    Erin & I have both been huge fans of Megan Auman’s jewelry for years now, so we were tickled pink when she accepted our invitation to participate in the market.  Megan has both her BFA + MFA in metalsmithing, so you know her jewelry pieces are built to last.  Pick up a bold statement piece like the necklace pictured or opt for a simpler leaf design in sterling silver or steel.  She also makes a line of vibrant pillows and scarves in fabrics she also designs – girl does it all!

    Mimi McPartlan is a new artist for us.  She is from Cape Cod and is currently a resident artist at The Clay Studio as well.  She received her BFA from Alfred University and worked at Klein Reid in Brooklyn before coming to Philly.  She makes stunning slip cast ceramic work. Expect modern and well designed functional pieces like mugs, plates, cream + sugar sets, butter dishes and more!

    Another craft bazaar regular, Peg + Awl, will be set up selling their ever expanding line of reclaimed wood housewares and accessories, hand bound leather journals, jewelry and more.  Margaux and Walter Kent are the husband/wife duo behind this incredibly popular handmade brand.  What I love about them is that all of their items were first made for themselves and their two little boys to use in their daily lives.  That in itself makes each piece truly authentic and really made with love.

    Stay tuned for my Shopping Guide for 11/30 + 12/1, which includes a new mix of artists!
    www.holidaymarket.artstarphilly.com

  • Take Your Time Loving Me by Margaux Kent

    Fellow Tyler School of Art grad, Art Star Craft Bazaar vendor, and all around awesome Philly artist, Margaux Kent from the popular Peg & Awl line is in the midst of raising funds to help publish a hard cover book that will include 64+ pages of her beautiful photographs as well as accompanying text.

    This is a book about unexpected shedding(s). Transformation. And about the time Søren, then 3, said “Mama, take your time loving me”

    Margaux is trying to reach over 19k on Kickstarter and we’d really love to see her reach her goal!  She is so very close.  Please learn more about her project here and consider making a pledge.  There are some seriously awesome rewards available!!

  • Spotlight on Rachel Fuld

    Rachel Fuld in her studio. Photo by Laura Jamieson.

    Local artist Rachel Fuld contributed beautiful handmade Mahogany Wall Hooks to our current exhibition, Farmhaus & Friends.  She was kind enough to tell us more about them and share her inspiration and photos of her process.  Enjoy!

    Rachel Fuld’s Wall Hooks in Farmhaus & Friends

    Rachel says: Ossements were designed for a show, “Your Personal Hang Ups”, at the Center for Art in Wood on 3rd Street. The artists were asked by curator Gail Brown to “explore inventive forms inspired by their individual interpretation of “personal hang ups”- both as functional and conceptual ideas”. I took the functional route and created this series of hand shaped wall hung hooks that resembled antlers, though the actual form was inspired by another artist’s metal sculpture. For months the sculpture hung in a window of a gallery near my house. I walked by every day. It was a metal armature of differently sized Y shaped hooks attached to a grid maybe 3feet by 5 feet, very dense, like a forest. On each arm was a piece of cut wood. Somehow, I simplified the idea, into the single y shaped ossement. 

    Here are some photos to show how they are made:


    Check out the pieces in person in Farmhaus & Friends, which closes this Sunday or online here.

  • Spotlight on Audrey Cooper

    I will be posting a spotlight on each of the participating Farmhaus & Friends artists now through October 20th.  This first spotlight features potter Audrey Cooper.  We weren’t familiar with Audrey’s work until Ben introduced it to us and we are so happy he did!

    AUDREY O. COOPER (b. 1971) has been working with clay since 2005. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Audrey graduated with a degree in literature from the University of Pennsylvania and studied sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She has studied with potters in Maine and Pennyslvania, and worked for two years at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. She lives and works in Northern Liberties.

     

    Audrey is interested in using local materials, creating as little waste as possible, and in the life cycle of materials. She embraces the unpredictability, combined with the control of craftsmanship, inherent in the ceramic process. For this project, Audrey made functional tableware, hand-thrown on her electric wheel. She fired one group of porcelain pieces in a wood-fired kiln, fueled by scraps from Ben McBrien’s woodshop. These pieces are unglazed, fired in the salt-chamber of the kiln, colored by the intense atmosphere created by wood fire. The other group was fired in her electric kiln. They are stoneware glazed entirely or partially with ash glazes she made by burning woodshop scraps, applied in combination with commercial glazes.

    Check out all of Audrey’s pieces from Farmhaus & Friends online here but if you can, please come and see them in person.  The photos do not truly capture the richness and beauty of the glazes PLUS they all feel great in your hands.

  • In the Studio with Julie Moon

    Porcelain Skull by Julie Moon

    This month’s edition of “In the Studio” features the work of ceramic artist Julie Moon. Julie Moon is originally from Canada & worked in the garment district in Toronto before she began her career in the field of ceramics.  She received her MFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2010 and is now a resident artist at The Clay Studio right here in Philly.  Julie creates incredible sculptures but also has a production line of ceramic jewelry & skulls that we carry here at Art Star.  Julie was kind enough to give us a little glimpse into her everyday studio practice through photos.  Enjoy!

    A snapshot of Julie’s studio at The Clay Studio.  Love seeing all the sculptures drying on the side there!

    Julie slip casts all of her skulls from a mold.  Here they are drying before they can go in the kiln.

    Here are some flowers in progress. These will be made into jewelry or used as crowns on some of the skulls’ heads.  The skulls with flower crowns always sell out first here at Art Star.

    A bucket of glazes.  The next step is glazing.

    Here they are after they have been glaze fired.  The final step will be to apply the decals to the skull heads.

    I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek.  Here are some more pieces by Julie that we just added to the site!

    Flower Stick Pins by Julie Moon, $40 each

     

    Geometric Pendant Necklaces by Julie Moon, $80 each
    Buttercup Stud Earrings by Julie Moon $50

    Visit Julie’s website for more info and to check out her amazing sculptural work
    Check out our entire collection of her skulls and jewelry

  • In The Studio with Karin Persan of Better Than Jam

    I think it is very important to show our customers what goes into the creation of all the wonderful handmade items that we sell in our shop.  I think taking a peak inside an artist’s studio is a great way to learn more about them and their process.  I decided to start a series on this blog where our artists can share snap shots of their studio.  First up is Karin Persan of Better Than Jam.

    Handprinted Oatmeal A-Line Dress

    Karin creates women’s dresses, tops and accessories that are each pieces of one-of-a-kind art, yet comfortable and easy to wear.  Each piece is made by hand by Karin from start to finish.  All of her fabrics are first screen printed with a collage of her unique imagery, which are either created from a photo, drawing or just an item thrown directly on the scanner. She designs all her patterns & sews them up into a truly unique garment.  Karin seems to treat each dress or top as a blank canvas for her art.  I hope you enjoy this peak into her studio space in Brooklyn as much as I did.  If you ever find yourself in Bushwick, feel free to visit b/c her stuido is also home to her own boutique, also called Better Than Jam, which stocks handmade fashion by many other local designers. Shop our collection of her A-Line Dresses here.  I have one and I am obsessed with it!  Stop in the shop to check them out in person and also some longer ones that aren’t yet on the site.

    imagery to be printed on fabrics
    printing the fabrics
    a burned screen ready for printing
    stacks of screens – each burned with an image that Karin will print on the fabric individually, creating her final collage of images
    Patterns
    sewing all her beautifully printed fabrics into stunning garments
    Better Than Jam Handmade Storefront

    Thank you Karin for sharing these snap shots of your studio!
    http://www.betterthanjamnyc.com
    http://betterthanjam.wordpress.com/

     

  • Meet Maryanne Petrus-Gilbert from Sardine Clothing Company!


    Art Star: Did you go to art school?  If so, where did you study?
    Maryanne Petrus- Gilbert:     Yes, I received my BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Tyler School of Art. I consider myself a maker more than a jeweler since I love to work with all mediums and build things. I spend my time equally making jewelry and clothing now.

    AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
    MPG:     I will be selling my upcycled skirts and dresses. Every piece I make is completely unique since my materials depend on what I can find to upcycle.

    AS: What materials do you work with?
    MPG:     I work primarily with preloved T Shirts. I love scouring local thrift stores for t shirts that have a great design or color. I also use corduroy pants, mens cotton dress shirts and wool/cashmere sweaters.

    AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
    MPG:     I handpick every shirt that comes back to the studio. I pit stop at our laundromat and load up the giant machines for washing, then the clothing comes home and is hung to dry. Everything then gets sorted and cut. I have several minnows now that help with cutting and assembly so I can focus on the design and applique work. Every flower, skull, whale, bike or thing that hit my imagination that morning is done by me using a process called free motion applique. I draw with the sewing machine thread and then the “drawing” is cut out.

    AS: Are you able to make your work full-time?  If not, what do you do for your day job?
    MPG:     I have been doing this for 5 years now, Two years ago it became my full time job and I couldn’t be happier. I still love creating the metalwork for Polymer clay artists:Ford- Forlano, but most of my energy is in Sardine.

    AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
    MPG:     I have been loving the new David Bowie, but I listen to a variety of people like My Morning Jacket, The Shins, Dr Dog, Dawes, Alabama Shakes….where do I stop? I am a music junkie, the computer is always on Spotify or iTunes radio in the studio and I love hearing new artists.


    AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
    MPG: In 10 years, I would love to see Sardine be nationwide. Every year I add a different aspect to the business. This February I took the line to the Buyers Market of American Craft and had orders placed by 12 new stores. I plan to continue doing wholesale shows and adding to the list of stores that carry Sardine. I am trying to grow Sardine slowly so that I never lose the handmade goodness that makes every skirt unique.

    AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
    MPG    : I can’t wait to see what monsters Leroy’s Place has in store, I may need to add another to my wall, Gilbert and Leona, Rocks and Salt, Horrible Adorables…I really just like seeing everything!

    Try on some of her skirts/dresses at the bazaar this weekend at booth #29!

  • Meet Jeffrey Brown of Greenmarket Purveying!


    Art Star: Did you go to art school?  If so, where did you study?
    Jeffrey Brown: Yes, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, studying Interior Architecture.

    AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
    JB: Our hand poured candles, in unique packaging designed by us!


    AS: What materials do you work with?
    JB:     We only use American made materials that are as all-natural as possible, including food-grade soy wax, all-natural fragrance (no icky synthetic perfumes), cotton wicks, recycled paper packaging and handmade paper boxes.


    AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
    JB: We hand pour all of our candles in batches no greater than 35, in traditional warming pots. No hoses, no industrial equipment–the old fashioned way. Our candles are also all hand signed and numbered…


    AS: Are you able to make your work full-time?  If not, what do you do for your day job?
    JB: We are lucky to be able to be busy enough to do this full time! If I had to work on the side, I would go back to decorating and photo styling…


    AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
    JB: I collect vintage and antique oil on canvas landscape paintings, most of which are unsigned, or signed by artists of little notoriety. I tend to gravitate to works that were clearly done solely for personal pleasure, and handed down and inherited through family members (until they end up on eBay or flea markets)… As for works of established artists that I covet and would LOVE to collect, I enjoy the work of photographers like Stephen Shore, Gregory Crewdson and Diane Arbus who transform people, places and things we see everyday, into extraordinary imagery.


    AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
    JB: Sirius XM 70’s on 7. I’m old.


    AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
    JB: I LOVE Twig Terrariums–their tongue-in-cheek humor is right up my alley! I have also always loved Volta Organics soaps when I come across them in stores, so am pumped to have their entire assortment in front of me (although I might implode with excitement). Additionally, I’m a dude that likes his small accessories, so am also intrigued to see Bregga & Co.’s leather goods up close and personal.

    Thanks for Sharing Jeffrey!  Visit him at the Art Star Craft Bazaar this weekend at booth #101 

  • Meet Matt Eyer of Wear Liberty

    Matt Eyer is the owner, founder, and creative director of Wear Liberty, a graphic t-shirt brand that is influenced and inspired by the art, history, and culture of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Previous to starting his brand, he was the Art Director of the Ropeadope Design Collective, a graphic t-shirt line put out through Ropeadope Records. Matt also writes about and reviews t-shirts for the most popular/read t-shirt blog in the world, Hide Your Arms.

    Aside from t-shirts, he is obsessed with pugs. Matt has a 6 year old pug named Oliver that lives with him in South Philly. He also got a pug tattoo at the 2013 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention. Ask him to see it!


    Art Star: Did you go to art school?  If so, where did you study?
    Matt Eyer:     I did not. I did live in Germany for a year in between high school and college though, and I think my experience there definitely plays into my inspiration.

    AS: What types of items will you be selling at the bazaar?
    ME:     T-shirts! My brand is centered around graphic t-shirts.  I have a few hoodies too.

    AS: What materials do you work with?
    ME:     T-shirts! haha. and inks to print on them. I mostly use American Apparel shirts, as they are great to print on and very comfy to wear. I use 100% cotton, a 50/50 Poly-Cotton blend, and a super soft Tri-Blend shirt.

    AS: How are your items made? Describe your process.
    ME:     All my designs are my ideas that start in my head and sometimes on paper with a very rough sketch. I then share these ideas with the artists and designers I work with and they beautifully craft them into print-ready designs. When the finished pieces are set to go, they are hand screen printed onto t-shirts and then I have custom hem tags that I sew on myself.


    AS: Are you able to make your work full-time?  If not, what do you do for your day job?
    ME: Not yet, unfortunately. Hopefully soon though! My “day job” is actually a night job. I’m a server at one of Philly’s most delicious Mexican restaurants, La Calaca Feliz. If you like Mexican and margaritas, I highly recommend coming in. And ask for me of course.

    AS: Who are some of your favorite artists?
    ME:     Wotto is definitely one of my all time favorites. He has an incredible style that you can always recognize as soon as you see one of his designs. Yema Yema is also at the top of my list. She creates some of the best characters I’ve ever seen. (She designed my Ben Franklin tee and I will have a new one from her this year!) againstbound is another favorite. He has a very unique style that stands out from the crowd. And one of my more recent favorites is Colus. (He just released is first ever dunny with kidrobot!)

    I also recently discovered these two wonderful ladies: Anita Inverarity and Lea Barozzi. I just put a deposit on one of Lea’s original pieces!

    AS: What are you reading/listening to right now?
    ME: Always listening! Local Natives, Tame Impala, Beach House, Father John Misty, Vacationer. All those bands have released really awesome records over the past year and you should definitely check them out.

    AS: Where would you like to see yourself and your art/craft business in the next 10 years?
    ME:     10 years is a long time from now…but in the next few years, I would like to get my shirts into more stores and shops in Philadelphia and hopefully open my own store one day! I’m also planning on creating a Wear Liberty pet line for all of your Philly loving cats and dogs.

    AS: Are there any bazaar participants that you are excited to check out this year?
    ME: Gnome Enterprises always has some awesome shirts, so I’ll have to check them out. All the stuff from Mad Knits, Gearforms, and Cutesy but not Cutesy looks great (especially the dog monster hoodie!), so I’ll definitely be stopping by all of their booths. And one of these days, I’m gonna have to pick up one of Jordan Elise’s Horrible Adorables. They’re just too awesome not to.

    This is Matt’s second year doing the Art Star Craft Bazaar and he is super excited! He will be releasing 5 new designs, which is the most he’s ever done at once with his own brand.

    He was featured on Comcast/Xfinity On Demand for the month of February for an interview he did with the website Philly In Focus. Each month, their top 3 most popular videos are featured on On Demand under the “Get Local” section.  Check it out here 

    For sneak peeks and updates, follow Wear Liberty on facebook and twitter.

     

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