Images and content courtesy of Surface Design Journal.
Author Archives: Mike Holmes
Open Studio
Tom Hill Open Studio
October 26- 27, 2019
540 Alabama Street (at 18th Street), Room 207 in San Francisco
11am-6pm
Tom Hill – Wire and Wood Animal Sculptures
Rebekah Frank – Jewelry and Metalwork
Jamie Vasta – Paintings
Velvet da Vinci PopUp Holiday Celebration!
Julia Turner
The Velvet da Vinci PopUp Holiday Celebration!
Thursday, November 29, 2018
5-8pm
2044 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(between Broadway and Pacific across the street from the old Velvet…)
David Huang
Nikki Couppee
Boline Strand
Peregrine O’Gormley
Velvet da Vinci Pop Up Gallery
The Velvet da Vinci Pop-Up Gallery is now open!
Holiday Celebration – Thursday, November 29, 2018 – 5-8pm
—
November – December, 2018
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-4
2044 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(between Broadway and Pacific across the street from the old Velvet…)
415.935.1535
La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border
Julia Turner, Three Days Walking (Mourning Brooch), Brooch, 2013 Steel pins, enamel, steel, wood, 5 x 5 x 0.7 cm
About the Exhibition
La Frontera:
Encounters Along the Border
March 1, 2018 to September 23, 2018
Opening reception: March 22, 2018, 6-8:30pm (please note: new date!)
Museum of Art and Design New York
La Frontera, the important exhibition originally organized and curated by Lorena Lazard and Velvet da Vinci, premiered at the Museo Franz Mayer in Mexico City in 2013. It traveled to Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco, the Art Gallery at Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, IN, and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX. Now it opens at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City on March 1, 2018.
A special curator-led tour of La Frontera with Mike Holmes, Lorena Lazard, and Barbara Paris Gifford will take place on Friday, March 23 from 4-5pm at MAD. Read more here.
“Borders separate but also unite.” – Octavio Paz, Mexican poet and diplomat
Nearly two thousand miles long, the US-Mexico border (the border) is the most frequently crossed international border in the world. Although predominantly depicted in the American media as a hub of drug trafficking and violence, the border-porous in nature-is also a place that allows for the exchange of ideas, wealth, and culture.
Recently at the forefront of political and cultural conversation following the current US President’s anti-immigration discourse and executive orders, the border has been characterized by contradictions since the nineteenth century, when the US annexed an important portion of Mexican territory. For Mexicans, Central Americans, and the United States citizens living alongside it, the border presents daily challenges that carry within them both hope and devastation. It is a complex physical, economic, cultural, social, and emotional landscape of human interaction.
The exhibition La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border seeks to explore this space and what it represents. Jewelry artists from Mexico, the United States, Latin America, and Europe expose the underlying currents of the border environment within geographic, political, economic, social, cultural, and ideological contexts. The artists transform metal, fiber, wood, and other materials into representations of their experiences, their influences, their dreams, and their nightmares.
La Frontera was originally organized and curated by Lorena Lazard and Velvet da Vinci Gallery. It premiered at the Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City in 2013. It then traveled to Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco, California; the Art Gallery at Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, Indiana; and the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas.
La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border is co-curated by Mike Holmes and Lorena Lazard with the assistance of MAD’s Assistant Curator, Barbara Paris Gifford, and Assistant Manager of Curatorial Affairs, Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy.
Major funding for La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border is provided by Barbara Waldman. Additional support is generously provided by the Rotasa Fund.
This exhibition is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Sobre La Exposición
“Las fronteras separan, pero también unen.” —Octavio Paz, poeta y diplomático mexicano
Con casi 2,000 millas de extensión, la frontera es el cruce internacional más transitado en el mundo. Aunque con una reputación infame en los medios debido al tráfico de drogas y la violencia, esta frontera –porosa por naturaleza– es también un espacio que permite el intercambio de ideas, riqueza y cultura.
En la actualidad el tema de la frontera ha aparecido en medios políticos y culturales debido al discurso anti-inmigratorio y ordenes ejecutivas del actual Presidente estadounidense, sin embargo, desde el siglo XIX cuando Estados Unidos anexó una importante porción del territorio mexicano este ha sido un espacio lleno de contradicciones. Para los ciudadanos mexicanos, centro-americanos y estadounidenses que viven a lo largo de la frontera esta es una parte significativa de la vida. Ella presenta retos diarios que a su vez son esperanzadores y devastadores. Es un complejo panorama de interacción humana, desde el punto de vista físico, cultural, económico, social y emocional.
La exposición La Frontera: Encuentros a lo largo de ésta, busca explorar este espacio y lo que representa. Artistas de joyería contemporánea de México, Estados Unidos, América Latina y Europa exponen las corrientes subyacentes del entorno fronterizo desde los contextos geográfico, político, social, cultural e ideológico. Cada artista transforma el metal, la fibra, la madera y otros materiales representando sus propias experiencias, influencias, sueños y pesadillas.
La Frontera fue organizada y curada originalmente por Lorena Lazard y la Galería Velvet da Vinci. Comenzó en el Museo Franz Mayer en la Ciudad de México en 2013. Viajó después a la Galeria Velvet da Vinci de San Francisco, California; la Galería de Arte en la Universidad Kokomo, Kokomo Indiana; y al Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Houston Texas.
La Frontera: Encuentros a lo largo de ésta, es co-curada por Mike Holmes y Lorena Lazard con la asistencia de la Curadora Asistente del MAD, Barbara Paris Gifford, y la Gerente Asistente de Asuntos Curatoriales del MAD, Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy.
Los fondos principales para La Frontera: Encuentros a lo largo de éstason proporcionados por Barbara Waldman. Apoyo adicional fue proporcionadó generosamente por Rotasa Fund.
Esta exposición es apoyada, en parte, por fondos públicos del Departamento de Asuntos Culturales de la Ciudad de Nueva York en asociación con el Consejo Municipal.
Martha Vargas, Mexico, Dream and Reality, Choker, 2012, Sterling silver, 24 x 15 x 1.5 cm, Photo: tempusdesign.com.mx
Demitra Thomloudis, United States, Reconstructed: Framed, Brooch, 2012, Cement, sterling silver, resin, steel, pigment, thread, duct tape, 8.9 x 6.4 x 4.4 cm, Photo: Seth Papac
Judy McCaig, Scotland/Spain, No-Man’s Land, Brooch, 2013, Steel, silver, tombac, perspex, paint, Herkimer diamond, tare, 8.8 x 12.6 x 1.5 cm, Photo: Eduard Bonnin
Installation View, Museum of Arts and Design, New York City
Cristina Celis, Mexico, Dactilar, Neckpieces, 2013, Modeled porcelain, 24k gold leaf, silver, 3.2 x 5.1 cm with different length chains, Photo: Francisco Velázquez
“U.S.-Mexico border at Nogales” Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Gordon Hyde.
Kevin Hughes, United States, Untitled necklace, 2013, Plastic from water jug, duct tape, silver, 10.1 x 15.2 x 4.4 cm
Aline Berdichevsky, Mexico/Spain, Lightvessels 2, Hand jewel, 2013, Slip cast porcelain, Limoges porcelain, sterling silver, silk, 4.8 x 4.5 x 7 cm
Iacov Azubel, ¿Hacia Abajo es Peor?, Bracelet, 2013, Aluminium, digital image, 8 x 8 x 4 cm
Boline Strand, We Are All Immigrants, Brooch/Necklace, 2018, Sterling silver, 22-karat gold, rubies, 6 cm diameter x 3 cm
Jesse Bert, United States/Mexico, Tom & Jerry, Brooch, 2017, Mesquite, yucca, ceramic, copper, silver, enamel, bronze, amber, paint, orange wood, bamboo, found materials, 35 x 18 x 2 1/2 cm
Installation view
Lorena Lazard, Mexico, Tierra I and II, Pendants, 2013, Iron, polymer clay, plastic wrap, thread, enamel, soil from Mexico, soil from the USA, 6 x 4 x 3 1/2 cm
Fernanda Barba Soto, Mexico, Migrante No Identificado, Body Jewelry, 2012, Stainless steel, acrylic, measurements variable
Alejandra Solar, Mexico/Luxemborg, Murmullos 2, Brooch, 2102, Onyx, quartz, gold leaf, photo transfer, silver, 6 x 8 x 1 cm
Kerianne Quick, United States, Greetings from Mexico or Souvenirs from the Border, Key Fobs, 2017, Steel, leather, 30 x 30 x 30 cm
Thomas Hill, United Kingdom/United States, Milagro: Mohave Rattlesnake, Pendant, 2013, Copper, enamel, 7 x 12 cm
Kristin Beeler, United States, descanso 2, highway 86, Rosary, 2017, Iron fence wire, nylon cord, digital print on aluminum, 28 x 41 cm
Braceros cross the Mexico-U.S. border while walking over the bridge from Reynosa, Mexico to Hidalgo, Texas. Photo: Leonard Nadel
Eduardo Graue, Mexico, La Frontera, Brooch, 2013, Silver, 9 x 10.5 cm
Rachelle Thiewes, United States, Heat, Bracelet, 2013, Steel, Auto paint
Raquel Bessudo, Mexico, La Bestia, Necklace), 2013, Canvas, polyester thread, 1.8 x 24 x .1 cm
Kathleen Browne, United States, Lonely Bones, Objects, 2017, Copper, enamel, 10 x 38 x 30 cm
Ramón Puig Cuyàs, Spain, Silent Conversations Beside the Wall II, Brooch, 2012,
Nickel Silver, 5.5 x 11 x 2.5 cm
Kate Connell & Oscar Melara, United States, Arete-libro: La frontera, Earring Book of the Border, Earrings, 2013, Steel, silver & brass wire, gum & walnut woods, recycled leather drum heads, Mexican milagros, acrylic & enamel paint, colored pencil, 6.5 x 16.5 x 1.5 cm
Installation view
Thea Clark, United States, Entangled, Necklace, 2013, Cotton bandanas, water bottle caps, silver, copper, nickel, acrylic paint, steel
Jorge Castañón, Argentina, ¿Hacia Dónde Va tu Sangre?, Neckpiece, 2013, Eucalyptus, linen thread, sewing thread, acrylic from Coca Cola sign, 450 x 20 x 2 cm
Jacqueline Roffe, Mexico, El Luchador 1, Pendant, 2013, Sterling silver, steel, pure silver, decal, enamel, reflective beads, 2.5 x 4 x 4 cm
The metal border fence along the U.S.-Mexico border near the National Park Service’s Coronado National Memorial, Arizona. Photo by Matt Clark.
Gabriela Campo, Mexico, Desvanecidos pero no olvidados, Ring, 2013, Sterling silver, wood, image transfer on textile, 3 x 4.5 x 3.2 cm
Alberto Dávila , Mexico, Área Fronteriza, Necklace, 2013, Sterling silver, cultured pearls, tourmaline,3.4 x 8.7 x 2.9 cm
Nicolas Estrada, Colombia/Spain, Sell Your Soul, Rosary, 2013, Silver, enamel, pearls, crystal rhinestones, 58 x 4 x .5 cm
“Entre la gloria y la pena.” Playas de Tijuana Secc Monumental, Tijuana, BC, MX. Photo by Alex Torres.
Pierce Healy, Ireland, El Zorro, Neckpiece, 2013, Sterling silver, wood, cork, leather, 15 x 13 x 10 cm each
Sol Flores, Argentina, Borron y Cuenta Nueva 2, Brooch, 2013, Nickel silver, pencil, eraser, 16 x .5 x .5 cm
Mary Frisbee Johnson, United States, Run for the Border, Brooch, 2013,
Copper, lithographed tin, sterling silver, 8.3 x 10.5 x 1 cm
Installation view, “End of the TJ Border.” Photo by Michael Beige.
Holland Houdek, United States, Removal of the Larynx, Brooch, 2012, Laryngectomy Tube, Copper, nickel silver, nickel-plated silver chain, 10 x 8 x 3 cm
Alejandra Koreck, Argentina, Paz/Thoreau II, Necklace, 2013, Hand-made paper, synthetic raffia, 52 x 33 x 8 cm
Nancy Moyer with Mark Clark, United States, Border Fence Series: Border Scenarios, Neckpiece, 2013, Sterling silver, digital prints, glaze, steel pins, rubber cord, 7 x 24 x 1 cm
Chiara Pignotti, Italy/Spain, Paisajes Fronterizos. México, Brooch, 2012, Bronze, bottle glass; Paisajes Fronterizos. Estados Unidos, Brooch, 2012, Sterling silver, bottle glass, 7 x 7 x 4 cm and 7 x 7 x 3.5 cm
Andrés Fonseca, Mexico, Somos Frontera, Neckpiece, 2013, Felt, thread, 104 x 23 x 1 cm
Martacarmela Sotelo, Mexico, Visiones de la Frontera, Necklace, 2013, Sterling silver, copper, brass, enamel, oil paint, aluminum, wood, linoleum, plastic, paper, foamboard, elastic, Box: 75 x 30 x 5 cm, Necklace: 7.1 x 6 x 3 cm
Poleta Rodete, Mexico, Un Gozne entre Dos, Ring, 2013, Marble, iron, 3.5 x 6.9 x 14 cm
Maria Solórzano, Mexico/Argentina, 3185cm., Necklace, 2013, Silk thread, ceramic, .1 x 31.85 cm
Olga Starostina, Russia/USA, The End of a Desperate Journey…, Brooch, 2013, Aluminum, copper, leather, 10.2 x 25.4 x 1.2 cm
Jette Zirpins, Mexico, La Bestia, Neckpiece, 2013, Plastic, nickel silver, sterling silver, magnets, 34 x 20 x 1.8 cm
Elizabeth Rustrian, Mexico, Jacksus, Necklace, 2013, 14k gold plated brass, chain: 14k gold plated sterling silver, 54 x 7 x 4 cm
Mabel Pena, Argentina, El Cruce II, Brooch, 2013, Bronze, plastic, paper, silver, 5.9 x 9 x 1 cm
“US Mexico Border” Photo by His Noodly Appendage.
Jorge Manilla, Mexico/Belgium, Muriendo en el intento, Pendants, 2013, 2017, Gypsum polymer,, steel, fabrics, leather, 19 x 9 x 6 cm
Sandra Bostock, Mexico, Pulseras de Seguridad, Bracelets, 2012, Sterling silver, concrete, steel, 3.6 x 3.6 x 1.2 cm
Elvira Bessudo, Mexico, Seguro 3, Brooch, 2012, Stainless steel, polymer clay, thread, tea bags, 12.5 x 6.5 x .4 cm
Mayte Amezcua, Mexico, Green Card, Necklace, 2013, Sterling silver, engraved copper, pieces of Green Card, stone, 23.5 x 16 x .7 cm
2017 was an important and challenging year. There were exhibitions by Tom Hill, Pierce Healy, Suzanne Pugh, Myung Urso and Amy Tavern. And Velvet da Vinci closed the gallery on Polk Street. It has been a wonderful journey and one that continues but the needs of my dear parents meant the gallery had to close. We (Diane Komater, Nikki Couppee, Amy Tavern and I) miss our pals on Polk Street and look forward to seeing you somewhere along the way. Happy New Year!
– Mike
Holidays at Velvet da Vinci 2017
Our first Holiday without a gallery space… check out special gifts by gallery artists available at the VdV shop. More work added soon, please come visit again!
Rock: an installation by Amy Tavern
Rock: an installation by Amy Tavern
As part of the Closing Party celebration, Velvet da Vinci is pleased to introduce a new site-specific installation by Amy Tavern inside the gallery’s two-story elevator and garage. Rock presents ideas of permanence and stability and includes a 20′ sculpture alongside a series of drawings of rocks, cliffs, mountains, and faults.
June 3-June 11
Rock, 2017, Tyvek, silk suture thread, cotton darning thread, approximately 20′ x 6′ x 2′
Rock, detail, 2017, Tyvek, silk suture thread, cotton darning thread, approximately 20′ x 6′ x 2′
Rock, detail, 2017, Tyvek, silk suture thread, cotton darning thread, approximately 20′ x 6′ x 2′
Installation View of drawings
Sounds Like, 2016, Tyvek, 45″ x 55″
Rocks, Cliffs, Mountains, Faults, 2017, ink and powdered graphite on graph paper, 8″ x 11″ each
A rock drawing from the series, Rocks, Cliffs, Mountains, Faults, 2017, ink and powdered graphite on graph paper, 8″ x 11″
Rock, 2017, Tyvek, silk suture thread, cotton darning thread, approximately 20′ x 6′ x 2′
Velvet da Vinci Closing Party
On Saturday, June 3 we celebrated 26 great years with a special closing party. It was a wonderful night!
Opening hours through June:
Tuesday-Saturday 11-6
Sunday 11-4
Closed Monday
Velvet da Vinci is Closing
Velvet da Vinci in San Francisco is closing. After 26 years it has been a good long run! It has been a privilege to work with so many inspiring artists, first in Hayes Valley and for the last 13 years in the wonderful space on Polk Street. Heartfelt thanks to the many loyal customers, colleagues and friends who have supported the gallery for so long. To the hard working VdV team, Diane Komater, Nikki Couppee, Amy Tavern (and Sienna Freeman!) I will miss you more than I can say. The gallery will be winding down during May and June and will close by July 1. If there is a special piece that you have been thinking about… now is the time to get it!
Although the gallery will be closing, Velvet da Vinci can still be found online. You can visit the gallery archive on the website and I plan to develop the online business here at velvetdavinci.com in the future. Follow the gallery on Instagram and Facebook. There are a few projects still in the works that I would love to see through so there is a good chance that Velvet da Vinci will “pop-up” from time to time… I’m not sure what the next chapter will bring but I look forward to see what happens. Thanks for being part of the adventure.
A Velvet da Vinci Closing Party will take place on Saturday June 3, 2017 from 5-9 pm. Details to come. Hope to see you there!
xx Mike Holmes
Myung Urso Flora Brooches
Brooke Marks-Swanson Necklace
Tom Hill installing Bird Sequence
Rodger Stevens Quasiapatheia Necklace
Diane Komater Tall Man wire wall sculpture
Our wonderful neighbor, Stephanie, wearing a Rachel Darbourne Lovingly Murdered brooch