Thursday, April 22, 2010

Art Walk: Amy Kerr Hardin

"Franklinia," 48" x 60", $2,000

Gallery Fifty Downtown is thrilled to be featuring Amy Kerr Hardin's beautiful floral oil paintings during the DTCA Art Walk on Friday, May 7th. For nearly four decades, Amy has been addicted to the art of oil painting. Her habit started at the age of twelve when she saved her allowance money to purchase a paint-by-numbers kit from the local dime store, and she proceeded to completely ignore the printed outline and simply flipped over the cardboard, to design her own painting.

Amy soon discovered a local parochial high school that had a top-notch art department. Although, she is not herself Catholic, she begged and pleaded to be allowed to attend this special school. Under the guidance of some very talented teachers, her painting skills blossomed and matured. She learned how to stretch canvas, paint with palette knives, work on enormous murals, and hunt down original subject matter.

Her paintings articulate a depth of field through strong foregrounds that create a dynamic tension and a sense of space rarely found in typical photorealism. Amy’s floral paintings seem to be alive with the wind, and her beach rock studies give the impression that one can actually reach out and feel the cold wet smoothness of her subject.

"Anemonie," 48" x 60", $2,000

"Fish Pond I," 24" x 48", $1,200

"Beach Stones II," 24" x 36", $1,000

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Artist Reception: Renee Lynn Hartig

About fifty artists and friends turned out last Saturday evening to meet Portland artist Renee Lynn Hartig. Gallery Fifty at the Commons is featuring her animal portraits along with a series of best-selling landscapes through the end of May. It was a low-key evening with fabulous appetizers from Trattoria Stella and wine from Silver Tree Deli. Who's up next? We're showing all new work from Rufus Snoddy in June and July. Stay tuned...
Rufus Snoddy, Renee Hartig, Christie Minervini and Jill Anton

A nice turnout of about fifty guests at the reception

"Peacock" was one of the first paintings to sell

We featured food from Trattoria Stella and wine from Silver Tree Deli

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Hudson Beach Glass

Water Set-Big Bowl in Jewel Finish
17 " L x 14" W x 4" H; We are currently stocking in sapphire, peridot and topaz
$390

Water Set-Ripple Bowl in Jewel Finish
13½ " L x 10" W x 3¼" H; We are currently stocking in topaz, peridot and citrine
$190

Octobowl-Small in Beach Finish
5" D x 1½" H; We are currently stocking in the BEACH finish topaz
$48

Tripod-Ribbed with 5" Bowl in Jewel Finish
5" D x 4½" H; We are currently stocking in topaz base with citrine bowl
$85

2" Spike Bowl in Jewel Finish
2¼” D x 1” H: We are currently stocking in peridot, topaz and emerald
$24 each

Nori Platter in Jewel Finish
16" L x 9” W x 1½” H; We are currently stocking in Citrine
$195

Relief Platter in Jewel Finish
16" D x ¾” H; We are currently stocking in Topaz
$205

Forage Dinner in Jewel Finish
10½” D x 1” H; We are currently stocking in Peridot
$75

Rocks Glasses
3” D x 3¼” H, 10 oz.; We are currently stocking in Sapphire/ Peridot
$36 each

Cordial glasses on Clear 5" Tile
1½” D x 3¾” H, 2 oz.; We are currently stocking in Sapphire/ Peridot
$125

Shot Glasses on 4" Clear Tile
2¼” D x 2¾” H, 2 oz.; We currently stock in Sapphire/ Peridot
$75


Triplex Tray with Three Bowls in Jewel Finish
14” L x 4½" W x 3” H; We currently stock with two triangular peridot dishes and a larger round bowl in topaz. The tray is clear.
$200

Shoal Sushi with Bowl in Jewel Finish
9½” L x 7½" W x 1” H; We currently stock with peridot tray and clear bowl
$140


Aloft Bowl in Jewel Finish
5" L x 4" W x 2" H; We currently stock in citrine and topaz
$48

Not your average jewelry


This is not your average jewelery. Creator and owner Jodi Rae Brownstein is a skilled designer, artist and metalsmith specializing in one-of-a-kind hand-fabricated creations for both women and men. Choosing materials like sterling silver, high karat golds, semiprecious and precious gems and various minerals and fossils, Jodi Rae uses diverse signature techniques to create wearable pieces that are truly unique in design.

Each piece is rendered through an intimate process combining techniques such as forging, stamping, casting, various stone-setting methods and finishing techniques including oxidation, brushed, matte and high-polish. The finished product is one that is simple in shape and symmetry yet complex in detail, much like the natural and urban worlds from which the artist takes her inspiration. "It's a very personal process," Jodi Rae says of her craft, "I create it as it comes out of me, and I feel like it becomes a sort of pure extension of myself."

The reflected similarities between the artist and her work can certainly be found in their capacity to be edgy but classic and timeless in design, soft and strong in shape and character, and endlessly versatile in context. "I am so inspired by the beauty of the forms and shapes found in nature and in our modern world," she states, "that I had to incorporate them directly into my art." Her particular affinity for different stones and minerals has led her to put elements like jasper, agate and fossils at the heart of many her creations.

"It's an adventure for me every time I start a new design;" says the artist, "I often end up in a completely different place than I anticipate, and that's an exhilarating process for me." She enthusiastically claims her aspiration to be like the visually textured stones and minerals she uses in her jewelry, comparing the complex appeal of nature's patterns to the visual story she expresses in her finished pieces. It's a story she feels is constantly evolving, like her own journey through design and concept on the path of her trade, both in the past and into the future. She is excited-along with a considerable population of dedicated Jodi Rae collectors-to see where her art will take her next.

Jodi Rae Designs Bracelets

Large Ring Bracelet
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: Women's: 7 ¾" L x 1" W
Men's: 9" L x 1" W
$235

Rectangle Layer Bracelet
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized.
Size: 7 ¾" L x ¼" W
$160

Quad Chain Bracelet
Metal: sterling silver
Details: matte finish
Size: 7 ¾" L x 1" W
$225

Bangle Sets (all silver)
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized, matte
Size: 2.8" diameter .3" h
$295

Bangle Sets (w/ 18k Yellow Gold)
$435

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Jodi Rae Designs Earrings

Large Stamped Hoop Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
matte or shiny finish
Size: 1" diameter x 2mm width
$90

Rectangle Hang Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1¾" length x ¼" width
$95

Leaf Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1¾" length x 3/8" width
$95

Three Ring Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 2¼" length x ¾" width
$140

Dana Earrings with Diamond
Metal: sterling silver with 14k gold bezel
Stone: diamond
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 3½" L x ½" W
$290

Circle Stud Earrings Super Mini
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte or shiny finish
Size: 5/16" diameter
$48

Circle Stud Medium Hang Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte or shiny finish
Size: ½" diameter
$50

Betsy Earrings
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, oxidized
Size: 1 ½" length x ¼" width; Large ring: 1 1/8" diameter
$160

Jodi Rae Design Necklaces

Large Ring Asymmetrical Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: 17-19" adjustable length
$325

Dana Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Leland Blue
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 16½" length; pendant 1" diameter
$295

Double Cross Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Fossilized Bivalves
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15½ -18 " adjustable length; pendant 1½" length x 1" width
$375

Joy Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Ammonite
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 16-18" adjustable length; pendant 1¼" width x 2" length
$395

Betsy Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish, reversible, dots on one side, lines on reverse.
Size: chain 14-16" adjustable length; pendant 1 1/4" diameter
$200

Bola Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15-18" adjustable length; 4" long hang in front
$195

Wrap Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: 50" length x ½" width; Can be worn multiple ways.
$325

Shiva Eye Necklace
Metal: sterling silver
Stone: Shiva Eye
Details: stamped, matte finish
Size: chain 15-16½" adjustable length; pendant 1" length x ¾" width
$350