Kat Cole, “Boulder Necklace.” Mixed Media. Photo courtesy of the artist.
As part of the #5womenartists campaign, this week we bring you five talented women artists working in traditional craft media. This group of female artists is special because they are represented by Asher Gallery at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC). Continue Reading »
The holidays have officially arrived, and that means the shopping season has begun! HCCC’s Asher Gallery has a wonderful selection of gifts for all the people in your life who appreciate the handmade. To give you an idea of the wide variety of beautifully crafted objects to choose from, we decided to ask the HCCC staff to share with readers what their favorite gift items are.
Executive Director, Julie Farr, chose Lisa Wilson’s brooch series and said, “Lisa Wilson has pushed her sculptural boundaries into exquisite, delicate glass-enamel work that enhances her metal skills in her Floral Brooch series. And her enamel anvils, embellished with a flower, speak to the Southern women—delicate but, oh, so strong.”
Lisa Wilson, “Floral Brooch Series.” Sterling silver, enamel. Photo by HCCC
Metalsmith, Marcela M. McLean, at the Asher Summer Trunk Show.
Our Asher Summer Trunk Show with Houston-based artists, Carolyn Dahl and Marcela McLean, was a great success! Thanks to everyone who attended this event! If you missed it, don’t worry… we still have a few of Carolyn’s leaf-printed silk scarves and wall panels, as well as some nature-inspired jewelry pieces by Marcela M. McLean for sale in Asher Gallery. Continue Reading »
Carolyn Dahl, “Ramie Leaf Portrait.” (Ramie leaf from the HCCC Craft Garden.)
Scarf made with silk fabric, metallic textile paints, hand burnishing.
Photo by Rick Wells.
Nothing speaks of summer more than Houston in August. Days are at their hottest and always humid, the afternoons punctuated with dark clouds and thunder. Despite the climate, HCCC is alive inside and out with things to both delight and educate the eye. As for the Asher Gallery, we bring the inspirations of nature inside, to enjoy in a thoroughly civilized manner, with air conditioning and cool drinks. Join us this Thursday, August 16, from 5 – 7 PM, for a special opening reception for our Summer Trunk Show, featuring the leaf-printed wearable art of fiber artist Carolyn Dahl and the sinuous metals of jeweler Marcela M. McLean. The show continues on Saturday, August 18, from 11 AM – 4 PM, with additional access during the opening of Glass Graphica on Friday evening, August 17, from 5:30 – 7 PM. Continue Reading »
Earrings by Anita Barnes. Photo courtesy the artist.
From Suzanne Sippel, Asher Gallery Retail Manager:
Putting together a trunk show is unlike any of my regular tasks in the Asher Gallery. It’s not about choosing one person, but finding two artists working in different media that complement each other. It’s important that their work not compete with each other. Ideally, their two sets of clients will merge, bringing new audiences and attracting new collectors for everyone.
This week, Asher Gallery Manager, Suzanne Sippel, shares her thoughts on Houston metalsmith and jeweler, Heidi Gerstacker. Continue Reading »
