VELVET DA VINCI
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Donna D'Aquino
ARTIST'S STATEMENTMy current body of work connects my interest in drawing and jewelry using wire as I would use charcoal. The work consists of a series of wire bracelets and brooches that reflect an exploration of line, form, volume, movement, structure, geometry, space, light and shadow.Two of the primary influences for this body of work were The Modern or New Jewelry Movement, which began in Europe in 1970, and the Constructivist Movement, which took place during the early part of the 20th century, primarily in Russia. The influence of these two movements, coupled with my interest in architectural structures, form the basis for this body of work. Although the Russian Constructivist Movement was very broad and encompassed many different mediums, it is their methods of construction that I find most engaging. They extended the formal language of abstract design into practical design. They introduced different materials such as construction lumber and plastics, to explore new approaches to space and movement. I am also greatly influenced by the Modern or New Jewelry movement, which took place in Europe from 1970 through the 80's. Fundamental to this movement was the concept of pushing the boundaries that traditionally defined jewelry. My work is very much influenced by the minimalist European approach to design, which is expressed by an accent on formal elements, and integration of non-precious materials. I strip the designs to their essentials, while sometimes adding a touch of playfulness. I appreciate their spontaneity and direct response to the materials. It is also important to me that my jewelry exists off the body as well as on the body. When these objects are not being worn they are hung on the wall as a three-dimensional drawing floating in space. Optimally, light is projected from above the pieces to create shadows; this interaction with the wall adds a further dimension to the work. The size of the pieces are perceived differently on the body than on the wall. On the wall they appear small within the architecture. On the body they appear large and quite dramatic as a result. The pieces are transformed depending on their context. The wearer is reminded of the piece with every movement of their arm and body; it takes commitment to wear these pieces. This duality of function/positioning and the scale of the forms is meant to challenge western traditions of jewelry. COUNTRY OF RESIDENCEUSA EDUCATIONMFA, Jewelry & Metalsmithing, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 2000 BS, Design, concentration in Jewelry/Metalsmithing, State University College of New York at Buffalo, 1989 SELECTED EXHIBITIONSCraft in America: Expanding Traditions, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA, 2009 Craft in America: Expanding Traditions, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK, 2009 Jewelry at Large, Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, MO, 2009 Framing the Art of Jewelry, Featured Artist, Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Portland, OR, 2008 SOFA Chicago, Ornamentum Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2006 & 2008 The Pendant Show, Velvet Da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2008 The Earring Show, Ornamentum Gallery, Hudson, NY, 2008 Craft in America: Expanding Traditions, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfiield Hills, MI; Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, Houston, TX; Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA; Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Portland, OR; Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR, 2008 Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Portland, OR, 2007 International Exposition of Sculptural Objects and Functional Art, Chicago, IL, 2007 The Holiday Show, Taboo Studios, San Diego, CA, 2006 Sparkle Plenty II, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2006 Solo Exhibition, Canary Wharf Windows Galleries, London, England, 2006 Collection of Miniatures, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Montpelier, VT, 2006 Bend-Twist-Wrap:Contemporary Wirework, Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT, 2006 Earring Show, Ornamentum Gallery, Hudson, NY, 2005 FRESH: New Work 2005, Martina & Company, 2005 Educators/Educated: Jewelry and Metals in Ohio, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2005 Jewelry with a Purpose: jewelry that transcends wearable art, Post Picasso online exhibition, 2004 The Holiday Show, Taboo Studio, San Diego, CA, 2004 New Work from Donna D'Aquino and Brooke Battles, Velvet da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2004 Women in White, Krasl Art Center, Saint Joseph, MI, 2004 Collections of Miniatures, Craft Emergency Relief Fund Montpelier, VT, 2003 Exhibition in Motion, Society of North American Goldsmiths Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA, 2003 Current Directions: Studio Art Jewelry, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts Wilmington, DE, 2003 Taking 5 Steps Forward, Flatlander's Art Gallery, Blissfield, MI (invitational), 2003 Mobiles 2, An exhibition of kinetic art, Velvet da Vinci Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2003 Colorful Memories: A Show of Emotion, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT, 2003 SOFA Chicago, Chicago, IL, Gallery Artist, Charon Kransen, 2002 100 Brooches, Group Exhibition, Velvet da Vinci, 2005, traveling through 2006 Collect, Velvet da Vinci at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 2004 CHESS, Velvet da Vinci, 2003 Faculty Exhibition, Center for the Visual Arts, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 2002 Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, OR, 2001 NEW MAKERS, Fresh Visions, Facere Gallery, Seattle, WA, 2001 Millennium Metal 2001, Artemis Gallery, Richmond, VA, 2001 Best of 2000, Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH, 2000 The Fred Wells National Exhibition, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NB, 2000 New Metal: Emerging Views, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, OR, 2000 Craft Forms 1999, The Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, 1999 Three Visions, Three Traditions, Eells Gallery, Blossom Music Center, 1999 Linear Impositions, Theses Exhibition, Gallery 138, Kent, OH, 1999 National Crafts 1999, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster, PA, 1999 Pieces That Serve, Yaw Gallery, Birmingham, MI, 1999 TEACHINGArrowmont Craft School, Visiting Artist, 2005 One-year Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 2001 through 2003 One-year Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 2000 through 2002 Part-time Faculty, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 1999 through 2000 Part-time Faculty, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 1999 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 1996 through 1999 SELECTED PUBLICATIONSVogue Italia, Edizione Conde Nasr, S.p.A. July issue, 2009 Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Interweave Press, July issue, 2009 Sculptural Pursuit Magazine, July issue, 2009 Unpacking the Collection: Selections from the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, Namita Gupta, 2008 500 Pendants and Lockets, Lark Books, 2008 Craft in America, Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists & Objects, Jo Lauria and Steve Fenton, 2007 Metalsmith Magazine, Exhibition in Print, Fall 2007 500 Brooches, Lark Books, 2005 500 Bracelets, Lark Books, 2005 Creative Silver Chains, Lark Books, 2005 Ornament, Volume 28, Number 1, 2004 Metalsmith Magazine, Exhibition in Print, Fall 2002, 2002 Color on Metal, Tim McCreight, Nicole Bullsak, 2000 GRANTS AND AWARDSAward of Excellence, Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI, 2009 Award of Excellence, Winterpark Arts Festival, Winterpark, FL, 2009 Director's Choice Award, Cain Park Arts Festival, Cleveland Heights, OH, 2007 & 2009 Award of Merit, Winterpark Arts Festival, Winterpark, FL, 2007 Mary Lou Deal Award for Contemporary Design, Craft and Design Show, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, Richmond, VA, 2006 Best Body of Work, 2nd Place, Academy Art Museum's Artist Market, Easton, MD, 2006 Best in Jewelry, Four Bridges Arts Festival, Chattanooga, TN, 2006 Judges Selection, Cain Park Arts Festival, Cleveland Heights, OH, 2005 St. Louis Art Fair, First Place in Jewelry, St. Louis, MO, 2003 Emerging Artist Fellowship, American Craft Council, New York, NY, 2003 Society of North American Goldsmith's Award for Excellence in Jewelry and Metals, ACC Winter Show, Baltimore, MD, 2003 Individual Artist's Fellowship, Ohio Arts Council, Columbus, OH, 2002 Honorable Mention, Out on a Limb, City Museum, St. Louis, MO, 2001 Myers Faculty Grant, Myers School of Art, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 2000 Two Purchase Awards, New Metal, Emerging Views, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, OR, 2000 Vada Veetler Memorial Award for Excellence in Metal, Best of 1999, Ohio Crafts Museum, Columbus, OH, 1999 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 1996 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONSMichigan Silversmith's Guild Society of North American Goldsmiths Ohio Designer Craftsmen American Craft Council Top |
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