Show Opening at Rosewood Tucker's Point Hotel, Bermuda

Upon arrival, I paired each base with the pre-broken tile and china I planned to use.

I have just returned from a whirlwind trip to Bermuda.  While this may sound exotic to most, I was working.  I have a great relationship with Rosewood Tucker's Point and this trip represented my 3rd annual working sojourn to the island.  I spend about 10 days creating sculptures for the hotel to display and sell in their lobby shop, Regali.  The hotel provides me with a studio space to work in.  

How did this come about?  I was a resident on the island for 17 years, married to a Bermudian.  We had our three children on the island and are still very connected to friends and colleagues.  During the Grand Opening Celebration of the hotel, I was invited to display my sculptures.  They were so well received, the hotel invited me to keep a few on hand to sell.  I now sell more sculptures from the hotel than all my galleries combined.  

When we moved to Colorado almost 3 years ago, I had to figure out a way to keep showing my work on the island with out paying enormous shipping costs and incurring customs fees on completed pieces.  Simple math is that it is cheaper for me to fly over, take my materials and create the pieces on site.

Sculptures with completed mosaics, ready to grout.

 You may ask how I can spend only 10 days and create so much work? These days are just the time I spend doing the mosaic and the grouting.  In advance of my trip, I spend time gathering delicate china from antique dealers, auction houses and flea markets.   I attend bead shows to select strands from around the world.  I source  tile from Italy and Mexico.  I spent over six months designing the unique Styrofoam structures, created especially for me, and used as the bases for my sculptures.  I source dress inspirations throughout the year.  I translate dress designs into tile. In advance of my travels, I break the tiles, cut all the china and cover the Styrofoam bases with fiberglass and several layers of concrete, allowing me to hit the ground running when I arrive.  Once on the island, I throw open the doors of the studio, let the fresh air and sun shine in, and get to work! 

To see images of the completed pieces and from the night of the Opening, please click here.  I am interested in securing another hotel venue to replicate a similar arrangement with my sculptures.  Please email me if you or someone you know would be open to having a conversation.

  

Fantasy Decorating with Art

I love, love decorating and decorating magazines.   At the end of a long day, I enjoy flipping through a decorating magazine; I don’t read the articles per se, I just love looking at the pretty pictures, visual candy.  Oftentimes, I imagine what my artwork would look like in the homes that are featured.  Here are a few ‘pairings’.  What do you think?

House Beautiful
Decoration by David Lawrence

Wouldn't 'Blue Belle' look great on the table behind this sofa, to help 'fill' the space between the curtains?

'Blue Belle'  by Shelly Hamill
E.S. Lawrence Gallery, Aspen, CO

The Tiffany Suite at the St. Regis in NY

I think the mirror on 'Miss Washington' would be smashing- no pun intended- to reflect all the crystal on the table and the decadent beads hanging from the chandelier. 

'Miss Washington' by Shelly Hamill
In Private Collection

Architectural Digest, August 2011

The circles on the linens and the circles on 'Roxy' would be really fun together.

'Roxy' by Shelly Hamill
Embler Gallery, Laguardia Adimiral's Club NY

Veranda Magazine

It would be great to see 'Miss Nantucket' reflected in that beautiful mirror and to play off the blue and white ginger jars.

'Miss Nantucket' by Shelly Hamill
BlueStone Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Miss Bermuda Rose

Meet 'Miss Bermuda Rose'.  'Miss Bermuda Rose' is 22 inches tall and has a lovely rose pattern on the china plate.  I used coordinating pink beads at the neckline and pink tiles through out the piece.  She is very dainty and feminine.  I was a little worried that the sea foam pearl green tiles along with the pink would look too much like it belonged in a baby's nursery.  But actually, she is delicate and sophisticated at the same time.  As she was destined to continue her journey in Bermuda, I titled her 'Miss Bermuda Rose', I miss the old Bermuda roses.  They too are dainty and feminine.  

I am still loving this halter neckline.  I forget each time I attempt it, that I must then complete the piece with the concrete and this neckline is more difficult to accomplish.  I usually get irritated with myself in the middle of doing it, but then I am happy with the results at the end!  'Miss Bermuda Rose' is gracing the lobby of the Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel & Spa in Bermuda.

Willow Bliss

 Please welcome 'Willow Bliss'.  'Willow Bliss' is 12 inches tall and is the second piece delivered to Rosewood Tuckers Point Hotel and Spa in Bermuda this week.  Traditionally, I like to mix the blue and white china patterns, but in this piece, I have used Blue Willow pattern exclusively.  I am loving working with this size piece as it allows me to use the smaller plates, like salad plates.  

I found these beads last summer and they coordinate perfectly with the blue in the Blue Willow pattern.  They are clear with blue flecks running through them.  This piece is the perfect size for placing on a dressing table or  entry hall table.  Or maybe even on a book shelf.  I wonder where she will end up?

Miss Whitney

Introducing Miss Whitney.  I am currently in love with this pearl tile.  It is a glass tile with a pearl backing. I have been using it for some time in the 'Inauguration' series of pieces.  Lately I have been experimenting more with how it changes as different colors are placed with it.  In this piece, it picks up on the blue/green in the beads at the neckline and the on the bottom of the skirt. I inserted additional glass tiles that also coordinate with the beads for interest throughout the dress.  I like to think of them as little bursts of color.

Miss Whitney was delivered to Carson Art Gallery in Dallas, Texas earlier this week.  She is available by contacting Diane Carson at the Gallery.

'Blue Belle'

Honestly, it has been quite the drought for me in recent weeks.  After creating so many pieces for the Artist Project NY followed by 10-12 hour days in the studio in Bermuda, I was a little tired!  At one point, I wasn't even sure that my fingerprint was going to return on my right hand forefinger from all the concrete!  However, I truly believe in deadlines!  Kathy Johnson from E.S. Lawrence Gallery in Aspen likes to have new work for each coming 'season'.  In advance of the Summer Season- the beginning is sparked off by the Food and Wine Festival- I needed to complete new pieces for Kathy.  Perhaps I have returned to my comfort level in this piece using the blue and white china.  What is new about this piece is using the 'middles' of the plates in-between the ruffles.  I also inserted matching marbles for sparkle.  I am beginning a new series that looks at mosaic in the same way that quilters use scraps of fabric to create beautiful quilts.  Stay tuned.

This piece also uses a variation of a new neckline.  I love the halter look; this dress combines the halter with the strapless gown.  My daughter, Piper, named this piece.  I hope you enjoy.

You Tube Video I created

Click Here to see the video I created

I was on a 'Webinar' recently with Constant Contact about social media.  I was surprised to learn that You Tube is the second largest search engine.  Essentially, the speaker was saying that if you are not on You Tube, you are missing out.  I struggled with what I could create that would be interesting for my 'fans'.  I created a survey and inserted it into one of my newsletters.  In response to this survey, I created this simple little video that shows a snippet of how I create the under structures to my sculptures.  Several hours of video over several days with numerous changes of outfits- ha-ha- and then time editing, here it is in 3 minutes and 27 seconds.  I look forward to your thoughts/comments/questions. 

Miss Nantucket

'Miss Nantucket'

The blue and white china win my favor again.  I love reading decorating magazines.  Chances are good, somewhere in just about any decorating magazine, you will find a beautiful magazine spread featuring a home with blue and white decorating, or at the very least, a blue and white ginger jar as a special accent on a table or shelf.   Blue and white show up everywhere. 

It seems a little crazy to name a piece 'Miss Nantucket' when she is being photographed immediately after a huge snowstorm, but the sailor collar, and perhaps my want for warmer days, make me think of sailing.  She makes me think of the interior of a beautiful home on the waters of the shore.  Perhaps she is enjoying a cool, refreshing drink and shading herself under her parasol.  Perhaps.

'Miss Nantucket'

22 H x 12 W

Available at the Artists Project NY

Pier 92, March 17-20, 2011