CONTEMPORARY ART JEWELRY

Taboo Studio

1615½ W. Lewis Street

San Diego, CA 92103

619.692.0099

April Higashi

April Higashi - Artist Statement/Resume

Artist Statement

My work examines the connection between jewelry and clothing with the wearer. It reveals how context effects how an object is perceived. Removed from its’ functional aspect, the wearer is invited to relate to jewelry as art.

I use enamel to create rich color fields, markings and textures. By creating layers of glass, I can create translucent paintings. In the process of heating glass in the kiln there is always an unpredictable element at play. I am attracted to the depth, textures, translucency, and bleeding which happens during firing. In a sense I am marking imperfections in layers to create beauty and balance. Therein lie the unique properties of fusing glass with metal.

I look to create a simple sense of beauty and leave a timeless imprint for the audience’s reflection.

Résumé

Experience

1996-2005 Studio Jeweler, San Francisco, CA
  Founder of Shibumi Studio specializing in one of kind & limited edition work with select galleries & private commissions.
1997-2005 Creative Design Consultant, Shibumi Studio
  Jerry Garcia Estate, Art Director & Curator for Art Program, Product Design, & Web site, Sausalito, CA
  De Novo Gallery, Exhibition Design & Display, Palo Alto, CA
  Eric Powell Arts, Art Direction for Website, Exhibition, & Catalog
  The International Gift Shows, Exhibition & Graphic Design, Karen Alweil Studio
2000-2001 Susan Cummins Gallery, Gallery Assistant, Exhibitions, Display, & SOFA Chicago, IL & New York, NY, Mill Valley, CA
1998-2000 June Schwartcz, Apprenticeship, Sausalito, CA
1998-1999 Lilith, Assistant Buyer for avant-guard French clothing boutique, San Francisco, CA
1993-1996 Fortuna Metalsmiths, San Francisco, CA
  Co-founder for production jewelry company which established over 300 accounts; clients include Barney’s New York & Banana Republic
1991-1993 Esprit de Corp, Buyer / Designer, San Francisco, CA
1990-1991 Nini Bambini, Assistant Designer, San Francisco, CA
1989-1991 Stylist, Macys, Mas Moda Magazine, SF Focus, & Studio 77, San Francisco, CA
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Teaching

2003 Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA, Painting with Enamel
1999- 2003 College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco, CA. Fast Forward and Beyond, Design 1, Design 2, Design 3, Fashion Design Department
1999 College of Marin, Kentfield, CA, Beginning Enameling Seminar
1997-1999 Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco, CA, Advanced Creative Design and Portfolio Seminar for Textiles / Fashion

Selected Exhibitions

2005 The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
  Contemporary Enamel Exhibition, Taboo Gallery, San Diego, CA
  In Print / In Person, Thomas Riley Gallery, Cleveland, OH
  Summer, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
  100 Broaches, Velvet da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
  Design Reconsidered, ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA
2004 Collect, Victorian Albert Museum, Velvet da Vinci, London, England
  5th Year Anniversary Show, Sculpture to Wear, Los Angeles, CA
  Focus on Enamels, Part II, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
  SOFA, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Brilliant! Masters of Fired Enamels, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
  Asian Roots, Western Soil, Visual Poetry in Metal, NJAHS, San Francisco, CA
  SNAG, The Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery, Oakland, CA
  Chess: Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA, Vennel Gallery, Irvine, Scotland, Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire, Wales, Craft Council Shop, Victorian Albert Museum, London, England, Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI, I/O Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA.
2002 Craft Showcase 3, Museum of Craft & Folk Art, San Francisco, CA
  Tis The Reason, Michael Martin Galleries, San Francisco, CA
  NCEG International Enamel Exhibition, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
  Departure, Michael Martin Galleries, San Francisco, CA
2001 Tis The Reason, Michael Martin Galleries, San Francisco, CA
  Higashi and Pfeifer, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
  Full Circle, The Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery, Oakland, CA
2000 Tiaras Will Be Worn; Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA ,Thomas Mann Gallery, New Orleans, LA, Sam Shaw Gallery Northeast Harbor, MN, 2001, SNAG Conference, Richmond, VA
  NCEG International Enamel Exhibition, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
  Salon, Place Pigalle, San Francisco, CA
  Ring Masters, 0x0x0 Gallery, Baltimore, MD / Stone Harbor, NJ
  Swedish + USA Contemporary Jewelry and Metalwork, Galleri Mettallum, Stockholm, Sweden
1999 Swedish + USA, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
  Site Specific, The Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery, Oakland, CA
  Art To Wear, Lilith Boutique, San Francisco, CA
  Jewelry Installation Project, The Jewelry Art Forum, Oakland, CA
  NCEG International Exhibition, The Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA
  Summer Jewelry Invitational Exhibition, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
1998 Holiday Invitational Exhibition, Rivaga Art, Washington D.C.
  Higashi and Gard, Velvet Da Vinci, San Francisco, CA
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Publications

2005 500 Brooches, Lark Books
  500 Bracelets, Lark Books
2004 The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration; Edited by Linda Darty
  Lapidary Journal, February Issue, Learning the Business
2003 Metalsmith, Curated Exhibition in Print, Contemporary Enamel, Vol. 23

Professional Affiliations

2005 Michael Martin Foundation, Board member, San Francisco, CA
1995-2005 Society of North American Goldsmiths
1996-2005 Metal Arts Guild, San Francisco, CA

Selected Workshops

1999 Jamie Bennett, Mendicino Art Center, Painterly Enamels
1997 Sandra Enterline, The Richmond Art Center, Sculptural Jewelry & Textures
  Charles Lewton-Brain, The Revere Academy, Fabrication
  Dee Fontans, The Revere Academy, Enameling, Cloisonné

Education

1990 Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of San Francisco in conjunction with The Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA. Emphasis in Printed Textiles, Fashion, and Fine Art. Awards, Director’s Award, graduated with honors and distinction
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Show#

Title

Dates

2009-3

EXCEPTIONAL EARRINGS

8/14/2009 – 9/25/2009

2005-3

The Art of Enameling

8/5/2005 – 9/16/2005

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