INTERVIEW BY H. CANDEE

ARTIST UPDATE LINDA KAYE-MOSES JEWELRY DESIGNER

Interview by Harryet Candee Photography by Evan J. Soldinger

Harryet Candee: What have you been up to lately?

Linda Kaye-Moses: Since we last spoke a few years ago, I’ve continued to work in my studio. Of course, during that time period, the pandemic eliminated the shows at which I had been exhibiting, but I still wanted to prepare for their eventual reinstatement. So, I kept at it, making a number of major neckpieces, and one major piece, that included a neckpiece, a pair of earrings, a ring, and a stab bound book, containing an original poem,“This Thing Called Spring”. I also worked on two (count ‘em, two) novels, and have been slogging through the process of finding an agent to walk me through the publishing world. I’ve been a bit busy. During the past several years, I have had work accepted in several major exhibitions, including: 2018 “Under Fire 2”, Enamel Guild Northeast, Krikorian Gallery, Worcester, MA. (an international exhibition of objets using vitreous enamels; 2020, Makers and Mentors: The Art and Life of Snow Farm, Fuller Craft Museum, featuring instructors who taught at Snow Farm; The New England Craft Program over the course of its history. I taught there for 13 years (I was invited to show my Neckpiece and Enclosure, “Babl”, in this exhibition; 2022, “Superbly Sintered”, International conference exhibition; Association of Metal Clay Arts Worldwide (My neckpiece, “Les Fleurs de l’Age d’Or” was selected for this competitive exhibition); 2022, “Cell Full/Filled: Cloisonné as a Voice”, The Enamelist Society membership exhibition (My fibula, “Watching my Heart” was included in this exhibition). Most recently my neckpiece “Acilius Pied Alonge” was accepted in the upcoming August exhibition, “Alchemy 6”, an international exhibition curated by The Enamelist Society.

Linda, yes, you have been quiet busy. How was your recent jewelry exhibit this past March with Paradise City Arts Festival in Marlborough, Massachusetts? There’s another one coming up in May, in Northampton— always fun to attend, and you will be there, as well. I have done every one of the Marlborough shows since they first began and I thrilled to say that this was the most successful one ever. The collectors came and they brought home some of my most important pieces. It was so gratifying to know that they had been waiting out these difficult times, dreaming of coming back to this show and anticipating owning some of my work.

I hear you revamped your exhibit booth to celebrate your return? I redid my booth many years ago to try to keep everything neutral, except the jewels. I felt bored, because I am a colorist, in my jewels and in my fiber art. After going through these very stressful few years, I made a decision that, when I showed up at the 2021 Northampton Paradise City Show, the booth would reflect my celebration of ‘being back”. Screw being cool, suave, and neutral—I loved being in that ‘room’ for the few days of both, the NoHo show and then, the Marlborough show. The crowd loved it— especially my collectors.

And back in your studio, has there been anything new you have come up with that may have been a reaction, or result of COVID days?

The Thing Called Spring Neckpiece

Enclosure and Neckpiece Watching My Heart Brooch/Pendant Photography on this page: Evan J. Soldinger

As far as what I’ve been doing lately, I have been working hard to amalgamate traditional jewelry making techniques, powdered metallurgy (metal clay), andvitreous enameling in my pieces. And, one of my novels, that deals with craft artists and collectors at a mysterious craft fair as they come out of the pandemic and find a new way to be present in their worlds. During the pandemic, when the initial surge had calmed down, I planned to have a surgical procedure and, when I’ve gone through physical turning points in my life before, I always made a new piece for myself that became mandalas for healing. I did so in 2020. I made “Watching My Heart” a fibula brooch that I’ve worn almost every day since the surgery.

I’m wondering, if I was to commission you to make a pair of earrings, how would you assess what is best for me? This is always fun for me. For a number of reasons. I get to learn a little bit more about my collector, because I ask them what is important for them in their lives. I refer to my jewels as an experience and I love to turn that around and experience who my collectors are. It’s one of the reasons that I prefer to sell my work directly to them, rather than working with gallerists.

What sort of found objects do you work with? I have used antique lava cameos, antique boxes (to alter for my enclosures); antique compasses, shells, beetles, antique shards of Favrile Tiffany glass (donated by a friend), elements that I call oddments both antique and just old. I have a collection of small milagros from Mexico and Greece that have sometimes found their way into my work.

What tool do you use to sign your name on a piece of jewelry? I hallmark my metal pieces with stamp with the initials LKM using a small steel stamp. I also mark them with quality stamps (.925, for sterling silver; FS, for fine silver; 14k or 18k for gold). For my enclosures/nesting cases, I sign them somewhere on them, with my full signature. Tell us about your Nesting Cases and their significance they have for you? There is something intrigues me about small enclosures. Perhaps they represent a promise, the possibility of a hidden treasure, an object of power or delight. I make them because I want that possibility to inhabit my work (open this box and you might/will find your heart’s desire). Traditionally boxes were made as beautiful and/or powerful as their contents, and I work hard to make that so with my enclosures.

How has being unruly, same as your Unruly jewels benefited you as an artist? I am unruly in the sense that I have a tendency to disregard the consequences of my decisions, both in my art and my life, with some serious mistakes at times as a result (oh well). However, this unruliness has resulted in a body of art that, over the course of my over four decades of making it, astonishes me with how I’ve corralled that unruliness. Since I’m primarily a self-taught maker, unruliness comes along for the ride. Because I Continued on next page...

Les Fleurs de l’Age d’or Neckpiece Photography: Evan J. Soldinger

have not had formal training, I, happily, am unrestricted in what I choose to make. I reach a decision about a piece I want to make and apply everything I’ve learned to that piece, and the re sult is that my unruliness works, most of the time. I mostly don’t play by the rules. I mostly don’t color within the lines. I hope to be that meme, of that little girl in the dance class who hangs upside down by her feet from the barre.

You are the author of “Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads, and Roots, Stems, and Branches: A Recollection”. What can the reader expect when picking up this book to read? I was invited by a publisher to write Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads and it was my first, and currently my only, adventure with writing a full text on working with metal clay (which is also known as sintered metal or powdered metallurgy). The audience for this book are those who wish to learn how to work with the material, and is scaled with projects ranging from beginner to advanced. It’s still available in e-editions. Another book I wrote, “Roots, Stems, and Branches; A Recollection”, is a memoir for me to define, and others to discover, the answers to the questions my family, collectors and students have been asking me for many years. It has helped me to define the elements in my life that led me to making my work.

There are always challenges for artists to take on. What are some some for you that will seem to never go away? As far as challenges go, every time I sit down to make my art, I am challenging myself to find a new way to approach the materials I’m using. Why bother with manifesting something old and tired? Sometimes, it’s an unusual stone that is challenging, or a conceptual design challenge. The challenge behind everything I make is to remain true to my vision, my style, and remember why I want to make jewelry that is more than adornment.

What are some other things in your life you enjoy doing? Do they have a common thread? There is no part of my life, from cooking to reading to writing, to making my jewels, to my fiber art work (knitting/crochet), to drawing, to playing piano, that doesn’t intersect with or inspire all the rest. A dear artist friend of mine who hated cooking, was inspired by the advice given her to think of cooking as arranging and choosing colors. It changed her life in the kitchen. Artists see, use, hold onto, everything, and that confluence eventually springs to life wherever appropriate. Art forms always inspire.

In what ways do you find life to be fulfilling? I have been lucky to, and grateful for, 44 years of marriage with my dear spouse, Evan J. Soldinger, who, in addition to having the most generous of hearts, is a fine musician and a superb art photographer, and the photographer of all my work for all these years. My son, Adam and his wife Lisa Horvitz (a wonderful daughter-in-law) are a blessing in our lives. I have also felt fulfilled by having been able to make my work and have it be a support in my life. As Gertie said, Ya gotta have a room of your own, and my studio is not just a room of my own, but a place where I truly live, with music playing and tools in my hands.

Do you have any suggestions on how to live a good life? Be unruly. Seek knowledge. Remember, we are all the stuff of cosmic stardust. Get excited about sundogs and rainbows. Take care of yourself and know your strengths, and go to them always. Be angry appropriately and be at peace with your weaknesses. Most importantly, make art, but make it unruly.—waste no time doing so.

Where can we see your jewelry? I will be exhibiting my work at Paradise City Arts Festivals Northampton show May 28-30. Look for the bright colors of my booth #529. https://festivals.paradisecityarts.com/shows/north ampton-may-show Check out my website to see the work I will be bringing with me: lindakayemoses.com I have been invited to teach a three-day workshop class for The Enamelist Society Conference on Enameling on Metal Clay for beginner to advanced. Check out https://www.enamelistsociety.org/dir.cfm/Activities/Conference/ It’s at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN, August 9-10, and is open to nonmembers.

Thank you, Linda! Z

THE VEIL

BRUCE PANOCK

PHOTOGRAPHY

I have been a student of photography for more than 20 years, though most intently for the last five years. I am primarily a landscape photographer. Recently my photographic voice has migrated to the creation of work with reference to other art forms, notably encaustic painting and ancient Chinese and Japanese brush painting and woodblock art. My intention is to create with viewer a moment of pause and reflection; a moment to digest the image and find their own story in the art. Each image is part of a limited edition. There are several sizes available. Each piece is priced according to size. Images are unframed and printed on Hahnemuhle archival papers. Bruce Panock bruce@panockphotography.com

SERENITY, GOUACHE, 7 X 5” SHARON GUY

INSPIRED BY NATURE My purpose as an artist is to connect with the healing power of the natural world and to encourage others to do the same. Nature is alive and infused with spirit. I constantly seek to reconnect with this spirit of nature through creating art. While I quietly observe and study land, water, and skies, the ordinary world around me is transformed by light and shadow into the sublime. I enjoy using an intuitive process while I play with the boundary between representation and abstraction. My work is in private collections in the United States and Canada.

Visit: https://www.sharonguyart.com sharonguyart@gmail.com / 941-321-1218

BERKSHIRE DIGITAL

Since opening in 2005, Berkshire Digital has done fine art printing for artists and photographers. Giclée prints can be made in many different sizes from 5”x7” to 42”x 80” on a variety of archival paper choices. Berkshire Digital was featured in PDN magazine in an article about fine art printing. See the entire article on the BerkshireDigital.com website. Berkshire Digital does accurate hi-res photoreproductions of paintings and illustrations that can be used for Giclée prints, books, magazines, brochures, cards and websites. “Fred Collins couldn’t have been more professional or more enjoyable to work with. He did a beautiful job in photographing paintings carefully, efficiently, and so accurately. It’s such a great feeling to know I have these beautiful, useful files on hand anytime I need them. I wish I’d called Fred years ago.” - Ann Getsinger We also offer restoration and repair of damaged or faded photographs. A complete overview of services offered, along with pricing, can be seen on the web at BerkshireDigital.com The owner, Fred Collins, has been a commercial and fine art photographer for over 30 years having had studios in Boston, Stamford and the Berkshires. He offers over 25 years of experience with Photoshop, enabling retouching, restoration and enhancement to prints and digital files. The studio is located in Mt. Washington, but drop-off and pick-up is available through Frames On Wheels, 84 Railroad Street in Great Barrington, MA (413) 528-0997 and Gilded Moon Framing, 17 John Street in Millerton, NY (518) 789-3428.

Berkshire Digital - 413 644-9663, www.BerkshireDigital.com.

“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

Deirdre Flynn Sullivan

A Kaleidoscope

He knew me for my ruby boots, For the heart on my sleeve Embroidered like a tattoo. He loved my Americana smile, Bluebonnet eyes, and Apache legs, Swinging into rhythmic forms On western dance floors. There are songs Waiting to be sewn with Satin ribbons, Calico patterns, Saucy buttons, And broad stripes. In a dark attic He strums his guitar To the flamenco beat Of my sunlit longing And whistles his love Between arcs of light.

—Deirdre Flynn Sullivan, 3/31/15 RED BOOTS: HE KNEW ME FOR MY WALK-Deirdre Flynn Sullivan, 2013