CONTEMPORARY ART JEWELRY

Taboo Studio

1615½ W. Lewis Street

San Diego, CA 92103

619.692.0099

Sue Amendolara

Sue Amendolara

Artist Statement

I create functional holloware and jewelry in precious materials through the use of traditional metalsmithing techniques. I want these works to have a sense of beauty, grace and elegance.

I am inspired by plant forms and have used them directly in my metalwork since 1993 after I traveled to the primary rain forest of Ecuador where I was introduced to several exotic plants. I am specifically drawn to the Heliconia which has graceful curving bracts (floral boats) in alternating patterns along a thick stem. Each has a cluster of many bracts that contain flowers. It is physically a very strong plant, yet it has an elegant and graceful gesture. I find this contrast compelling. I continue to draw from the heliconia and other similar plants to develop unique compositions through altering and abstracting forms.

After the birth of my first child, my work began to take on a maternal quality. I am still using plant forms as imagery in my work, however, the ideas of protection and growth are now evident. Metal forms are used to surround and shelter small beautiful objects, usually made of stone or other contrasting material. Some pieces show growth through floral offshoots.

My works are constructed predominately in sterling silver to accentuate preciousness and create a refined character. I have used various materials and surfaces in conjunction with sterling , such as liver of sulfur to blacken the silver, coral, 18K gold and 24K gold foil. These materials complement each other in color, texture and surface. Most importantly, the use of several materials used together define shape and detail.

It is essential for me to make functional objects and jewelry The fact that my works can be used or worn to adorn the body creates an intimate relationship with the viewer/wearer. The pieces I make are intended for use on very special occasions.

Résumé

Education

1988 Master of Fine Arts, Jewelry Design/Metalsmithing, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
1985 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Jewelry Design/Metalsmithing and Painting, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

Professional Experience (Selected)

1991 - Present

Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Professor, Jewelry/Metals

Honors and Awards (Selected)

2000

 Special Opportunity Stipend, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
1999 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship
1995 Mid Atlantic/NEA Regional Fellowship
Jurors Mention, CRAFT AMERICA, Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT
1994 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship
1993 Merit Award, ANTICIPATION ‘93, Navy Pier Exhibition Hall, Chicago, IL
Jurors Award of Recognition, EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatiinburg, TN
1990 Jurors Award of Recognition, VEHICLES FOR NEW FORMS, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN

Juried Exhibitons (Selected)

1999 CONTAINMENT, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, National
1998 REFINED, SFA Gallery, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX, National
1996 EXHIBITION IN PRINT, Metalsmith, National
1995 CRAFT AMERICA 95, Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT, National
1994 THE CONTEMPORARY SILVERSMITH, American Silver Museum, Meriden, CT, National
1993 ANTICIPATIONS 93, Navy Pier Exhibition Hall, Chicago, IL, International
SCULPTURAL CONCERNS, CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN METALWORKING, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN, Traveling, National
1992 CREATIVE FORCES, Pennsylvania Governor*s Residence, Harrisburg, PA, Regional
CRAFTS NATIONAL 26, Zoller Gallery, Penn State University, University Park, PA, National
WICHITA NATIONAL, Wichita Center for the Arts, Wichita, KS National
CRAFTS NATIONAL 25, ZoIler Gallery, Penn State University, University, Park, PA, National
THE DINING EXPERIENCE/A CRAFT EXPRESSION, Luckenbach Mill Gallery, Bethlehem, PA, National
1990 METALS NOW, Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA, National
SIGNS OF PERSONALITY, Prediger, Schwabisch Gmund, Federal Republic of Germany, International, Traveling
SILVER: NEW FORMS AND EXPRESSIONS II, Fortunoff New York, NY, National, Traveling
VEHICLES FOR NEW FORMS, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN, National
1988 1988 MID-STATES CRAFT EXHIBITION, Evansville Museum of Arts and Sciences, Evansville, IN, Regional
1987 CONTEMPORARY METALS III, Downey Museum, Downey, CA, National
HOLLOWARE 87, Tower Fine Arts, S U N Y, Brockport, NY, National, Traveling
1986 CONTEMPORARY METALS II, Downey Museum, Downey, CA, National
JEWELRY FOR THE HEAD AND HAIR, Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim, Pforzheim, West Germany, International

Invitational Exhibitions (Selected)

2001 THE RING, Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA, International
2000 MAGIC AND RITUAL, Seimbaum Krauss Gallery, New York, NY, National
1999 ADORNMENT FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM, Images Friedman Gallery. Louisville. KY, National
BEACONS FOR THE FUTURE, Nancy Sachs Gallery, St Louis, MO, National
1998 BENCH MARKERS: WOMEN IN METALS, National Ornamental Metal Museum, National, Traveling
COMMON BONDS, Society for Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh, PA, Regional
RAISED FROM TRADITION, Sea first Gallery, Seattle, WA, National
1997 INDIANA UNIVERSITY: PAST AND PRESENT, Taboo Studio, San Diego, CA, National
1996 ONE FOR THE HEART, Taboo Studio, San Diego, CA, National
25 AT 25, Society of Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh, Pa, International
1995 THE COMMEMORATIVE CUP, The Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, National, Traveling
THREE CONTEMPORARY METALSMITHS: INTIMATE TRADITIONS, The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA, Regional
THE WHITE HOUSE COLLECTION OF AMERICAN CRAFTS, The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art, Washington, D C, National
THE ART OF THE BROOCH, Margo Jacobson Gallery, Portland, OR and Edith Lambert Gallery, Santa Fe, NM, National
MAKERS AND SHAKERS. Mario Villa Gallery, New Orleans, LA , National, Traveling
1994 GOLD AND SILVER 1994: JEWELRY AND OBJECTS, The American Craft Museum, New York, NY, National
1993 POETIC OBJECTS, Images Friedman Gallery, Premier Exhibition, Louisville, KY, National
OHIO METALS: A LEGACY, Miami University Art Museum, Oxford, OH, National, Traveling
1992 BORNE WITH A SILVER SPOON, National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN, National, Traveling
INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY TOKYO EXPO, Tokyo, Japan, International
1991 EXPRESSIONS: JEWELRY IN THE 1990's, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH, National
AGGRESSION, Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, Germany, international, Traveling

Solo Exhibitions (Selected)

2000 PRECIOUS BOTANICALS: An Exhibition of Recent Metalwork, Erie Art Museum, Erie, PA
FEATURED ARTIST, The Society of Contemporary Crafts, Pittsburgh, PA, Regional
1997 INTIMATE CONNECTION, Ohio Wesleyan College, Delaware, OH
1996 SMALL CRAFT WARNING, Gallery 500, Elkins Park, PA
1994 RECENT WORK, Bates Gallery, Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA
1993 A STUDY OF NATURE, John J McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
1988 MASTER OF FINE ARTS THESIS EXHIBITION, Special Exhibitions Gallery, Fine Arts Museums, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Group Exhibitions (Selected)

1998 SILVER SERVERS - A CASE STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY STYLE, The Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA, International
1997 PRECIOUS ILLUMINATION. Indiana University Museum of Art, Bloomington. IN, National
JUDAICA TODAY, National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN, National, Traveling
1996 CHAIN GANG, Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA, National, Traveling
1994 ARTISANS IN SILVER, The National Ornamental Metal Museum Memphis, TN, National Traveling
1992 A STERLING EXHIBITION, Presented by The Society of American Silversmiths, Pritam and Eames, East Hampton, NY, National, Traveling

Publication and Bibliography (Selected)

2001 Lynda McDaniel, “Distillations of Nature’, American Style Magazine Winter 2000/2001
2000 Tu, Chia Chi, “Sue Amendolara - In Love with Flowers”, Jewelry Circle’s Magazine, Taiwan
1998 REFINED, Exhibition Mailer, Cover Photograph
Shearing, Graham, "Judaica Art Show Shines Like Silver", Pittsburgh Tribune, Pittsburgh, PA
1997 National Museum of American Art, 1997 Calendar.
1996 Taiwan Handicrafts, Taiwan Provincial Handicrafts Research Institute, Taiwan, ROC
Raiteri, Linda, "The Commemorative Cup", Metalsmith, Volume 16, Number 5
Chain Gang, American Craft, August/September  1996
State of the Arts, "By Design", The Muncie Star, Muncie, IN
THE COMMEMORATIVE CUP, Exhibition Announcement, Aaron Faber Gallery, New York, NY
1995 Monroe, Michael W. The White House Craft Collection of American Crafts Abrams
McGrath, Jinks. The Encyclopedia of Jewelry Making Techniques. Quarto Publishing, London.
Gallery. American Craft. June/July 1995
"The Carnegie Exhibits, Three Metalsmiths" Antiques and the Arts Weekly
Liebenson, Bess, "Craft Taking a Well-Deserved Place in the Art Mainstream The New York Times, New York, NY
Bernard, Bernstein, "The Contemporary Metalsmith". Metalsmith, Winter 1995
1994 Artist Statement Ornament. Winter Issue, 1994
Sozanski, Edward J., "Metalworking has Its Day at Craft Museum and So Does the Bauhaus" The Philadelphia Inquirer
Hollern, Matthew, "Sue Amendolara, A Study of Nature" Metalsmith, Spring 1994, Volume 14, Number 2
1993 Massing, Dana, "Edinboro Professor*s Work Featured in White House Craft Exhibition." Erie Daily Times, Erie, PA
POETIC OBJECTS, Announcement, Color Photo.
ARTISANS IN SILVER Announcement Color Photo
Kingsley, Susan, Hydraulic Press Forming for Jewelers and Metalsmiths 20 Ton Press
Bernstein, Bernard, "A Sterling Exhibition", Metalsmith, Winter 1993, Volume 13, #1
1992 LaPlantz, David and Shereen, Jewelry/Metalwork Survey #2, A Way of Communicating. Shereen LaPlantz
BORNE WITH A SILVER SPOON, A SALUTE TO THE AMERICAN METALSMITH, Postcard Book, Rosanne Raab Associates (Design by William Mark)
PORTFOLIO, American Craft, October/November 1992
Wolk, Michael, Designing for the Table; Decorative and Functional Products, Rizzoli
Louie, Elaine, ‘Whimsy in Sterling", New York Times, New York, NY 
1991 GALLERY, American Craft, December 1991/January 1992
Scheurer, Elizabeth, EXPRESSIONS, JEWELRY IN THE 1990's, Dialogue Magazine, November/December 1991
AGGRESSION, Catalogue, Museum fur Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, Germany
LaPlantz, David, JEWELRY/METALWORK SURVEY 1991, Visions, Concepts, Communication, Shereen LaPlantz
Koplos, Janet, "Silver. New Forms and Expressions II", Metalsmith, Spring
1990 1990 METALS INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION, Poster, Montana State University, Bozeman, MN
SILVER* NEW FORMS AND EXPRESSIONS II, Catalogue, Fortunoff, New York, NY
1988 Novin, Carolyn, "Contemporary Metals II, Metalsmith, Winter 1988
1987 HOLLOWARE ‘87, Catalogue, SUNY College at Brockport, NY
THE BEST DESIGN WORKS, International Annual, Seoul, Korea

Collections

2000 The Smithsonian*s Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art
The Erie Art Museum, Erie, Pennsylvania
1996 B. Seymour Rabinovitch, British and American Silver Servers
1995 The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, PA
1994 The Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio
1993 The White House Crafts Collection, Washington D.C.

Professional Travel

1999 Hawaii - A two week trip to Kauai to study plant forms in preparation for a sabbatical to produce a body of jewelry and holloware.
1996 Morocco - A two week trip to Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech to teach a class for Edinboro University. Visited numerous historical sites and artisan workshops.
Hawaii - A two week trip to Oahu, Maui and Kauai to study the natural forms, landscape and flora.
1994 England and Ireland - Three week trip to visit museums, archaeological sites and hike through national forests.
1993 Washington D.C. - To attend a reception at the White House with Bill and Hillary Clinton who honored the artists who contributed to the first permanent White House Craft Collection.
Ecuador - Traveled for two weeks through the country to visit several cities and a archaeological sites Spent five days in the primary rain forest traveling down the Amazon River Basin via dugout canoe.
1990 Italy - Four week trip to attend CLASSICAL JEWELRY STUDIO WORKSHOP, and travel through the country visiting churches, museums and archaeological sites.
1985 Luxembourg, West Germany, France, England, Belgium and Italy - Six week trip to attend a workshop on jewelry, enameling and metalsmithing.
OTHER Traveled extensively throughout Denmark, Italy and England. Have visited Sweden, Finland and Russia.

Gallery Affiliations

1997 - Present Elements Gallery, Des Moines, IA
1994 - Present Images Friedman Gallery, Louisville, KY

Professional Organizations

1986 - Present Society of North American Goldsmiths
1988 - Present American Craft Council
1990 - Present Society of American Silversmiths (Juried Member)
1992 - Present Meadville Council on the Arts
1992 - Present Northwestern Pennsylvania Artists Association (Juried member)
TOP

Show#

Title

Dates

2001-1

March Show

3/2/2001 – 4/13/2001

1996-1

One for the Heart

2/9/1996 – 3/22/1996

Click an image for larger version

Sue Amendolara, Golden Torch Brooch, 1999, Sterling, 18k gold, imitation coral. Sue Amendolara, Crested Flowerhead Brooch, 1998, Sterling, 18k gold, imitation coral.

top/back

Copyright ©1999- by Taboo Studio. All rights reserved.