This video is made for the opening of my exhibition. Due to the ongoing pandemic we cannot have a grand opening so instead I give a little insight into the project on film in Norwegian.
We have dates!
I have finalised the plans for my upcoming exhibition at Orkdal Kunstforening in April. It is amazing to have something so concrete and joyful to work towards. Due to the pandemic there will not be a vernisage. The current restrictions allow only 5 visitors at once in the gallery space.
It has been a while…
It has been a while since I last posted. My last exhibition was very well received by the few who saw it and I was able to sell half of the works on display. Happily I will soon be able to exhibit again, this time a mixture of old and new at Orkdal Kunstforening in late spring. Date and title coming up soon.
While the pandemic provided opportunities for many people to be more creative, I got the shit end of that stick and had almost 0 hours in the workshop in 2020. Craft-wise it was the slowest year of my life, but on the bright side I do adore my day-job and I got to keep it throughout the year, forming meaningful relationships and honing the performance art that is teaching.
For Christmas I got the toy surprise of more cancer. This explained all the health issues I had been working around in the past year and the long and short of it is that unless a miracle occurs, I am forever condemned to small scale, light weight work and absolutely no chance of handling large plates of brass or doing any kind of heavy lifting. My contrary nature and weasely brain are expected to come up with a clever plan to counter this evil plot against my crafting ambitions. While they are busy I will quietly make some jewellery or something, starting with utilising some of the jems I have in stock. Expect ear-rings and hairpins etc. Please cheer me on!
P.S. : I will not be taking any custom orders.
What a winter we are having…. 💚
«Ripple effects”
Is the English translation of the title of my current solo exhibition at SENTRALGALLERIET. The works are hammered out of brass and strive to show the movement or influence patterns of events, decisions and moments that shape the surrounding world. For the first time in a long time working with large format metal I have grown much stronger again. Now that the work is presented and speaks for it self I am reflecting on how impossible it would have been to work like this a year ago. I am showing to the public for the first time since I underwent cancer-treatment in 2016/17 and it’s only now become clear to me how long it has taken to recover to a functional level of some kind. I feel I have returned to myself.
Interacting with the public at the opening yesterday I got to experience my works through their eyes, and it gave me a few new tags to attach to the finished pieces. Shields, waves, skins and wheels and sun-symbolism are words heard around the room. It is so much fun to hear what people see. Looking forward to hearing more today.
« Mvh» exhibition at Sentralgalleriet →
«Mvh» exhibition at Sentralgalleriet
Read MoreRaising and sinking
I spent the fall testing ideas for my hollowware exhibition in august. While making sinking forms It became obvious that i need heavier equipment to be able to go up in scale. I need more stakes, and heavier hammers. While researching this i bacame fascinated with japanese raising workstations, where you sit on a wide tree trunk and the long, wavy stakes are mounted in holes all around you with simple wedges. This is so basic and so smart, and eliminates the need for vices, which makes it perfect for my re-enactment ambitions. So much better for long working sessions, where my feet normaly start to argue with me.
So 2019 is starting with brand new heavy hammers made for me by the utterly wonderfull Brent Bailey and a clear goal for further development of my shop. This year It will be all about raising and sinking. I know it will bring much needed changes, now i must whip up the shape to meet them.
More fun with finds...
The fall started with a commission for an iron age find from Finnmark. I made it with bronse like the original, but all i had to go on were notes made in the 1800’s and a photo so i could only be so accurate. The double stamp on the middle pendant is an intentional mistake that matches the original.
I thought this would be quick since its a solder-free piece, but the twisting of the wire and getting the proportions right took a good long while. Also i got to make new punches for the patterns. I like taking these odd jobs as they create opportunity for experimentation and learning from passed craftspeople like they are still around. I learn something new every time. If you are curious about the original, here is all the info i have: http://www.unimus.no/artefacts/khm/search/?oid=2302&museumsnr=C2078&f=html
Stress is my friend
At least in the workshop this is almost always the case. While agonising over which finds i should work with with the coming re-enactment season in mind, i got a rush order for a special something for a friends birthday. So i abandoned the viking-age for the 13'th century and came up with this rather lush annular brooch that is a merging of two different finds from England. Quite pleased with how it came out. The owner decided on the oxidised finish that differs from the gilt finds we looked at for inspiration, but compliments the stones very well.
Long over-due items
Setting up shop after an unscheduled 2-year gap resulted inevitably in spending a fair bit of time on orders i was unable to complete in Bodø. It feels good to get things done and i look forward to finishing the rest. Very grateful for the grace and understanding shown by my patient clients <3
Kari's pendant ready for shipping.
Christmas came and went...
Starting out life in the new workshop i made some jewellery with the Christmas marked at Sverresborg in mind and i went a bit nuts, painting, assembling and gilding 93 christmas ornaments from walnut shells. The marked had super crappy weather but was made highly enjoyable by Kristine Vike, the creator of the very delightful Ver∂a soaps!
New workshop, new website
The site you are visiting is under construction and will be subject to changes in the near future.
