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Artist Statement:
Letting Go of Thinking I’m in Control, or Ever
Will Be
Could I possibly find another art form in which
“control” is more evident and necessary? Bending
miniscule wires to separate color areas. The careful
application of tiny grains of enamel powder, and
then the short, intense firing required to melt the
colors. The repeated application and firing of thin
layers until the height of the cloisonné wires is
reached. Incredibly small yet carefully cut pieces
of thin gold and silver foils layered in just the
right spot to provide pattern and texture. And
finally, the meticulous process of polishing the
enamel surface so that all of my attention to detail
can be seen in all it’s splendor. Was my work
obsessive? One of my students referred to the
process as “mosquito surgery”.Six years ago when my wife and I traveled to China to adopt a 13 month
old little girl, my life changed in ways I couldn’t
have anticipated. I no longer had even the illusion
of control in my life. This precious child, now
almost 7 years old, has forced me to be more patient
and accepting. With my wife’s prodding, and almost
two years of psychotherapy, I’ve learned to
challenge the “black or white” paradigm in which I
grew up.
A few years ago my daughter’s school asked me to
help her class create a work of art to be auctioned
off as a fundraiser. I chose to make a mosaic
mirror; we used beads, glass tiles, and photographs
under glass as the border around the mirror. Working
with the beads and tiles was like a new world for
me. For 28 years I had worked with precious
materials, making tiny, delicate objects which I
felt needed to be “perfect”. Breaking apart glass
tiles, gluing beads, adding dabs of paint, and then
spreading grout over the entire surface was just
what I needed to free myself of this need for
control and perfection. Of course having the hands
of 5 year olds in the process didn’t hurt at all
either. It was a feeling I had rarely experienced as
an artist, and I loved it.
As much as I liked the process of mosaics, I
couldn’t imagine myself switching from jeweler/enamelist
to mosaic artist. But I didn’t want to lose this new
freedom. I began a new series in which I made my own
tiles: thin textured pieces of fine silver and 24
karat gold which I could cut up and apply in a
“mosaic” style within the layers of my enamels. As
the transparent colors are applied and fired over
these foil tiles, the colors and textures really
pop, and the contrast of either a black or white
background underneath the foils adds even more
interest.
This new approach to designing and making has
been tremendously freeing. By letting go of the way
I’ve thought my work should look, I’ve rekindled my
passion for enamel and color. Wires and lines even
become insignificant, as I’m more willing to let the
colors and texture dominate my designs. While I do
sometimes still work in a figurative style in which
line is important, I’m able to keep a free and
playful approach. Yes, my pieces are still small,
detailed, and incredibly obsessive. But I’ve learned
that life is short and needs to be enjoyed, and even
in a small space (like a cloisonné cell) I can have
a lot of fun.
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Artist's
Website:http://www.rickyfrankenamels.com |
