Kiff Slemmons – New Work
Posted by: valeriehector | Filed Under ArtistsDecember 31, 2008
"Kindred" Brooch by Kiff Slemmons
We e Chicagoans are fortunate to have Kiff Slemmons living among us, after she and her husband Rod relocated from Seattle a few years ago. Rod is the Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College of Chicago.
For many years Kiff has been one of the world’s leading art jewelers….although I am not sure that the term does her justice. She’s more of an artist who happens to work in the medium of jewelry.
Her latest body of work is being featured at the Douglas Dawson Gallery in Chicago from December 13, 2008 to January 31st, 2009.
"Lebe" Necklace by Kiff Slemmons
The title of the show is “Kiff Slemmons: Artifact into Art.” The materials used are eclectic and surprising, ranging from hand-shaped African stone beads in soft gradations of shade and size which Douglas Dawson had acquired long ago, to tin can lids or rusty nails that came to Kiff by chance, and dried pussy willows or seed pods she found in rural Iowa.
Only a master could bring these materials together this harmoniously.
What I admire about Kiff’s work, beyond the sheer technical mastery, is her feeling for nuance and her preference for understatement.
And always the wit–it is there somewhere in every piece, a wit born of intellect, wisdom, humanity, and an abiding curiosity about the world and its people.
"Furl" Brooch by Kiff Slemmons
When she uses beads, it is with wholly fresh vision. It’s hard to imagine anyone else using African stone beads as compellingly.
But see for yourself. If you live in Chicago, visit the Douglas Dawson Gallery before January 31st. And if you have time, stop by the Museum of Contemporary Photography too (www.mocp.org).
Or see Kiff’s show online at www.douglasdawson.com (click on “Calendar of Events). That is where I found the images that I am showing here.
To see more of Kiff’s work, visit the Art Jewelry Forum website at http://www.artjewelryforum.org/wp-gallery2.php?g2_itemId=905.
There is also a Wikipedia entry on Kiff, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiff_Slemmons, and an excellent article in Ornament Magazine: http://www.ornamentmagazine.com/se_kiff_slemmons.html.
"Close at Hand" Necklace by Kiff Slemmons
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