Made with Love Reception – Feb 2015

Early Spring - Susan Shallenberger
Early Spring – Susan Shallenberger

All of my experiences leading up to the “Made With Love” show at the Many Hands Gallery in Capitola, may sound familiar. The large necklace I call ‘Early Spring” was still being assembled the day before we were to hand them in! I talked with a couple of other jewelry makers who said they were in the same boat, but staying afloat. The tiny screws I ordered arrived the night before, so I knew it would be completed in time.

It is so exciting to actually see everyone’s pieces displayed so beautifully in the cases. I love that we did not have to compete to get our jewelry in the show. Just think, now I can tell people I displayed in a jewelry show with the likes of Dawn Nakanishi and Lynn Guenther! Of course, there is a huge difference between the levels of expertise, but it still gives artists like me some bragging rights!

A real crowd pleaser
A real crowd pleaser

The artists’ reception was crowded and noisy, just like it should be. Jockeying our way up to the cases, we were immediately drawn to the display of bright shiny objects. It was fun to bump into people we hadn’t had a chance to talk with in a while, and ask about their pieces. All that artist energy was exciting, and we weren’t even missing the Super Bowl.

A serious metals discussion
A serious metals discussion, I am sure!

I have to admit I have been back to Many Hands Gallery a few times since the opening, just to absorb it all again. One day one of the women who works there said she “loved my necklace,” which really made my day! So if you haven’t been back, it is definitely worth your time to visit and enjoy the experience over and over.

Susan Shallenberger,
Contributor

Made With Love Press Release

Heart - Ina Hohensee, artist

The following press release will be in Beach Neighbor’s Spotlight.  This is a magazine that is distributed (free) to 4,000 upscale homes within: Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, La Selva Beach and Watsonville:

Ina Hohensee Heart
Ina Hohensee’s Heart for Made With Love 2015

The Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild present: Made with Love

A showcase of recent work from the studio jewelers, metal artists and sculptors of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild (MBMAG) will be on display the entire month of February, 2015 at the Many Hands Gallery, 510 Bay Ave. Capitola, CA.
Many Hands Gallery specializes in art by local artists and is a destination for one-of-a-kind collectibles and gifts.
The opening reception is on February 1, 2015 2-4pm
‘Made with Love’ features work from over 46 talented artists from the entire Monterey Bay Community. These artists express their unique style and let their imaginations come alive in high-karat gold, silver, steel, copper, or brass. Techniques range from traditional gold and silversmithing, forging, casting, and enameling. The main focus of the show is art jewelry but visitors will also find an array of outstanding metal art objects and sculptures.
Made with Love is the perfect opportunity to purchase a locally made piece of Art or Jewelry for your special someone for Valentine’s Day!

The Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild (MBMAG), which started in the early 1990’s with ten people meeting in each others homes, has evolved into a highly respected entity that provides education, exhibition opportunities, support and community to its more than 100 members. From the Santa Cruz Mountains to Big Sur and beyond, we come together to share techniques and experiences.

The artists of the MBMAG are as varied as the beautiful Monterey Bay area in which we live and work. We are sculptors who make jewelry, jewelers who make sculpture, metal artists who incorporate glass and glass artists who incorporate metal. We work in media that range from high-karat gold to found objects, and the results are highly individual expressions in a great variety of materials, including metal.

The cornerstones of our guild are the excellent metal arts programs at Cabrillo College in Aptos and the Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey. Our keystones are the instructors, Theresa Lovering-Brown, Dawn Nakanishi, Carol Holaday, and Angela Gleason. Along with Cabrillo College professor emeritus Lynda Watson, these artists are our mentors and inspirations.

The work in this exhibit, “Expression in Metal”, represents recent work created by MBMAG members. We are honored to be in the Many Hands Gallery to share our craft.

Guild Mission Statement:

Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging an environment of education, networking, and community interaction, as well as support and general camaraderie for artists working in metal.

Call for Entries! Fifth Annual “Made with Love”

Made with Love 2015 - necklace by Barbara Banducci

Necklace - Barbara BanducciMonterey Bay Metal Arts Guild is pleased to present its fifth annual exhibition at Many Hands Gallery in Capitola, February 1 – 28, 2015.

You are invited to participate in this very successful event. We will accept up to two pieces from each artist. The theme and the title of the show are “Made with Love”.

Entry Deadline: January 11, 2015; the entry fee for this show is $20.00.

Eligibilty: Open to all current, 2015 MBMAG members. If you have not already renewed, you will need to pay for your 2015 MBMAG membership ($35.00) to be eligible to enter this show. Fees are NONREFUNDABLE.