Photo, Fiber, Silver

This show featuring 3 southern Colorado artists is in our gallery from July 20 through August 15. We are hosting receptions on July 20 and August 3 at 5-8 pm. 

"Photo, Fiber, Silver" features three artists working in three different art forms will be showcased in “Photo, Fiber, Silver”--photography by Brianna Rizzi, felted fiber animal sculptures by Diane DelDuca, and silversmith work by Suzi Popkess. These artists all show their work in Blue Spruce Gallery in Florence and are bringing their individual talents to Manitou Springs for this group show.
 
We asked a series of questions to these artists. Here are their responses.

Brianna Rizzi—Photo
 
In a short paragraph, tell us about yourself.
I grew up in a very artistic family, and have always been interested in hands-on, creative things.  I began my photography career after taking classes in college.  Soon after that, I set up my own darkroom, which I still have today. I love the practice of developing pictures and watching the negatives turn into great pictures.  Over the last 12 years, I have entered several photography shows and now have my work hanging in two permanent galleries: The Blue Spruce Gallery in Florence, and The Avenue in Pueblo.  
 
What does making art mean to you?
Making art means the world to me.  It gives me focus and purpose in the hectic world that we live in.  Taking the time to slow down and capture a moment in time through photography seems to help the world calm down a little bit.  

"Sunrise at the Dunes" by Brianna Rizzi

What has inspired you for this show?
I am starting to work primarily with aluminum prints because of the way colors "pop" off of them.  I love the lightness of them as well, they can be hung on almost any surface.

 For this show specifically, tell us about your process. Walk us through the steps of your flowing creativity to achieve one of your works.
My process for this show was to capture images that tell a story.  Each of my pictures has a narrative behind it that I hope the viewer can understand. When taking photographs, I look for those special moments in time that seem to have more depth than what you see on the surface.

What emotions/reactions/thoughts do you want to create in the public looking at your artwork?
I hope the public feels a sense of calm and curiosity when looking at my work. I hope they can see the story behind the image and the reason why I took that particular picture. 

What is your favorite piece for sale at this event? And why?
My favorite piece for sale at this show is the Vatican Through the Window. I was in Rome and we were touring a castle that is adjacent to the Vatican.  We came upon this window and the evening sun was cascading in as we gazed out towards the Vatican.  The light, coupled with the red tiled roof and the curtain in the window, all help transport the viewer to Italy.

"Vatican Through the Window" by Brianna Rizzi

​Where can we find your work?
www.coloradoshots.com
Facebook.com/landscapes17
The Blue Spruce Gallery in Florence, CO
The Avenue in Pueblo, CO
Park East Restaurant in Pueblo, CO
 
 
Diane Del Duca—Fiber
 
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I have always been an artist at heart. Since I was a little girl I sketched faces, animals, and people. I tried all media, never satisfied until I discovered fiber. I took needle felting classes and finally realized my dream of being and accomplished and fulfilled artist
 
What does making art mean to you?
My art is my passion. I love animals (always have) and their beauty, Their eyes are the soul of my creations, and I strive to capture their essence. Creating fiber sculpture s my way of representing these amazing beings and their place in the world. I especially take pride in addressing our endangered animals.
 
What has inspired you for this show?
My inspiration for this show is that it is a new arena for me I love to hear feedback and reactions to my unique art form.
 
For this show specifically tell us about your process.
Needle felting is a dry felting process. I poke a special barbed needle thousands of time into loose fiber to form the desired shape. (All fiber—no molds or glass eyes.) The detail is accomplished by using my different alpaca colors and felting by layering the fiber. It is a slow process and a finished portrait takes many hours. It’s like lifting the soul out of the animal through sculpting the fiber.
 
What emotions, reactions, or throughs do you want to cause people to reach when looking at your artwork?
It’s so much fun to see how people respond to an art form they haven’t seen before. I love to see people’s delight to my realism and texture. Those who love animals seem to appreciate my work the most People also appreciate the time invested, and the love apparent in each portrait I create. I receive frequent requests for special orders.
 
What is your favorite piece for sale at this event?
A piece of me is in every portrait I create. My pieces are a labor of love—there is no way I can pick a favorite. I love them all!

sculpture by Diane Del Duca

Where can we find your work?
I show at the Blue Spruce Gallery in Florence, CO. 
I also show at the Gunnison Gallery in Gunnison, CO .

I had a solo show at Gunnison Gallery which just ended at the end of June. Anne Michel  has taken videos and photos of me demonstrating (video below).

​I have also been interviewed by a writer who contributes to the magazine “Colorado Life”. She came to my place and took pictures of my 8 alpacas and llama. I don’t know when it will be published.

Suzi Popkess—Silver
 
In a short paragraph, tell us about yourself.
I’m a retired nursing educator from Kansas and enjoy silversmithing jewelry and watercolor painting in my rural studio outside of Florence, Colorado. I was inspired in my early years by my father, who was an artist in Native Americans and animals in high-relief woodcarving, which he oil painted. I have been an oil and watercolor artist most of my life but began silversmithing after moving to Colorado in 2006. Working in my mother’s jewelry store cultivated my interest in jewelry, but the stones and designs of Colorado and the Southwest inspire my silversmithing today.
 
What does making art mean to you?
I call my artwork ”my therapy”! Not only is art therapeutic for my soul, but also therapeutic for my arthritic hands! If you don’t want to lose it, use it! As a nurse, I’ve studied the brain and realize that while creating, I’m in an alpha rhythm (slower brain waves compared to beta rhythm, which is more rapid and somewhat chaotic). Others have called this creative state “the Zone” or “the Flow”. Thus, the meaning of art to me is a positive, therapeutic, and enjoyable state in which time flies!
 
What has inspired you for this show? What is your favorite piece for sale at this event?
My inspiration for this show is creating different designs for turquoise. Although there will be other semi-precious stones featured, turquoise holds warm feelings and special meaning from my childhood. My parents bought me my first ring as a little girl while on vacation in Colorado—five small turquoise set in sterling silver in the traditional Native American style. I hope to express those warm feelings and special meaning in my turquoise pieces.

Suzi Popkess preparing to solder

For this show specifically, tell us about your process. Walk us through the steps of your flowing creativity to achieve one of your works.
My silversmithing process begins with the stone; I look at in the mirror as a pendant or on my wrist as a bracelet. The shape of the stone usually directs which it becomes. Before I start silversmithing, I look for other stones and silver beads to complement the main stone. The process of silversmithing includes cutting/sawing, soldering, filing, and polishing the silver plate upon which the silver bezel is soldered. To the finished plate, bracelet wires are soldered for bracelets or a silver tube bale is soldered for pendants. A blackening solution is usually added to the crevices to accent the sterling. Finally, the stone is set into the bezel by folding it snuggly around the stone. The process for each piece usually takes one or two days; more complex pieces may take several days to finish.
 
What emotions/reactions/thoughts do you want to create on the public looking at your artwork?
I believe that art is truly in the eye of the beholder; thus I find it difficult to predict the public’s reactions to my jewelry. Instead, I shape sterling silver around semi-precious stones to enhance their natural beauty. My silver pendants, bracelets, and earrings are of a Southwest style with stones of native turquoise, lapis, malachite, onyx, and other semi-precious stones. I add matching beadwork to finish the silver pendants.

Suzi Popkess' silversmithing studio

Where can we find your work?
My website is: suzipopkessartdesigns.bigcartel.com.
My jewelry is displayed at:
the Blue Spruce and
Blue Heron Galleries in Florence, Colorado,
The Artists' Gallery in Canon City, Colorado, and
the Avenue Gallery in Pueblo, Colorado.