The Woodmere Annual opened this month in the scenic historic neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. Juried by Temple University arts professor and jeweler-extraordinaire Doug Bucci, the exhibit encompasses works in all media by fifty-four Philadelphia-area artists. The theme for this year’s Annual selected by Bucci is to explore novel and infinite ideas and methods of connection.
Artist Theophilus Annor’s stunning bronze rings are a nod historically to traditional knot-like patterning found in designs from his native Ghana, Africa. Annor, who is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM at Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture, started these pieces with a 3-D printed model that is laser-printed in wax, known as stereolithography. The pieces were then covered in investment (a ceramic shell), the wax portion is burned out in a kiln, and the model is then ready to resume “traditional” bronze lost-wax casting, centrifugally.
Mellitus is juror Doug Bucci’s 3-D printed installation depicting a montage of three different bracelets created along a period of three months of Bucci’s life. Dealing with and living as a type 1 diabetic – Bucci created a physical manifestation of this through digital manipulation of the data extracted from his insulin pump via radio frequency and integrated into CAD software. These bracelets were an amalgam of Bucci’s life as he worked to plan the Society of North American Goldsmiths‘ (SNAG) convention in Philadelphia that same year. The first bracelet to the upper-left exudes stress during the planning stages and to quote Bucci, his “poor health caused by stress and a lack of self-care and proper nutrition.” The second bracelet begins to show a fuller appearance – as Bucci was then in the midst of the conference and likely relaxing a bit more. The third bracelet is a complete object – 100% digitally created; this work process allowed Bucci to transform digital data into a physical manifestation of a completed wearable object.
Ssssmiley Face is a cross-country U.S. collaborative project shared between jewelers/educators Mallory Weston and Emily Cobb. In a sculptural piece standing eighteen and a half inches’ tall – the work shares each artist’s distinct style of preferred work process and cultural influences. Cobb’s work often finds inspiration in legendary creatures found in popular culture such as Harry Potter books/cinematic scripts and also within the history of the animal kingdom illustrated throughout art history; Weston’s work is derived from floral motifs and particularly as seen in this work here – intricate mosaic patterning. The actual “smiley faces” Weston created seem to give a nod to hip-hop culture and “zine” illustration. Weston and Cobb’s spectacular icon to the snake species is one of the most stand-out pieces on the museum floor when one thinks of Bucci’s methods of connection curatorial concept for the 81st Annual at Woodmere. Coincidentally, the sculpture was so popular at the opening event I could not capture a proper install photo to share here, as every side of its pedestal was surrounded by enthralled admirers.
Utilizing upcycled fibrous material reclaimed from common consumer waste and sterling silver rivets, I created my Upcycled Reimagined Gemstone Object No. 1. In looking at the social issues that pervade my artistic practice – I make one-of-a-kind objects that prevent waste materials from entering landfills and trash receptacles to help preserve the natural beauty of our city’s notorious parks, historic landmark places like Chestnut Hill, Boathouse Row, Old City, the Delaware River and more. My items are hand-sawed, pierced, scored into geometric forms, delicately sewn with thread and connected by recycled sterling elements to create a lasting object. With these new objects designed and cut by hand, I hope to transform them into useful, wearable objects and thereby prevent their disposal. The 2-D elements are created digitally in Adobe Illustrator software then printed in color onto archival paper.
Woodmere Art Museum’s 81st Annual Juried Exhibition runs from June 3rd, 2023 through August 27th, 2023 in two galleries within the historic Woodmere Art Museum, located at 9201 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tickets may be purchased upon arrival at the front desk. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5pm, with Saturday offering an extended hour until 6pm. Sundays are free admission to the museum.
Images used are courtesy of the artists and the Woodmere Art Museum, except where noted.
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