FEATURED ARTISTS

Alisha Boyd

Prior to her Jewelery/Metalsmithing degree at The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Alisha completed both a BFA and MFA in painting and studio arts. Approaching metal from a painting background, colour is the starting point and inspiration of her work, motivating her choice of materials and in turn the techniques she employs. Her Experimental Vessel Series is currently on display at Harbourfront Centre as part of It’s a Big Deal until April 4, 2010. Most recent exhibitions include the Toronto Outdoor Exhibition 2009’, Faux, Influx Gallery’s Annual Juried Exhibition (where Alisha’s work was awarded Best in Show), and Connections, Zilberschmuck’s Annual Juried Exhibition (where she was awarded Best Use of Pearls). Alisha’s hollowware has also been featured in Lark Books 500 metal vessels, and 500 Enameled Objects.

Find more photos like this on Metal Arts Guild of Canada

You recently moved to Toronto from Halifax, has the change in setting changed your work in any way? That’s a tough one to answer in that my move to Toronto coincides with transitioning from school to a studio setting. My most recent series of vessels takes a looser more experimental approach than I have employed in past work, partially influenced, definitely supported by my community at Harbourfront Centre.

Working with enamel, there are so many variables that can affect the outcome, how do you plan for them, or do you? If a piece represents considerable labour prior to the enamelling stage I will always create various samples testing the layering of colours, over firing etc. Designs that are simple in terms of fabrication allow for more playfulness and freedom in terms of application, often resulting in happy accidents. The longer I work with enamels the more I am able to harness the attributes of specific colours. A colour that changes or burns out easily when over fired might be too risky to pair against a matching stone but that same over fired colour change can be harnessed as a gradation on a vessel for a really nice effect.

What are your influences/inspirations? As I am currently working on vessels I will answer your question in terms of hollowware. Vessels represent a larger surface area than jewellery and I find they satisfy a need to connect to my painting background. While my enamelling application techniques are not necessarily “painterly” I do see each vessel in terms of a colourful surface created from a texture or series of lines/gestures. My hollowware is also driven by and often borne out of a need to explore process. Trying to figure out methods in which to create larger pieces in untraditional ways, from a problem solving mindset. What is available to me? And, how can I push that? Outside influences exist but are limited as many of the forms and colours that inspire me would not be feasible in terms of my current approach and materials. There are so many limitations involved in what I am trying to do that the inspiration has to come out of the process itself.
This in essence was the inspiration behind my Experimental Vessel Series - using the limitations of my current studio as an opportunity to rethink new methods and identify resources I wouldn’t normally have access to.

Your most recently exhibited work at the Harbourfront Center consisted of delicate open vessels held together by the applied enamel. Truly beautiful if not exactly functional, how do you envision expanding on this process? Or do you? I most definitely plan to expand on this process/body of work. The pieces on display are still essentially three-dimensional sketches. They explore various forms, patterns, and approaches to creating a vessel out of fused enamelled elements. At this stage they aren’t intended to be functional (even in a decorative sense) but rather a hashing out of possibilities. The process has been amazing. I am used to having to think through every aspect before even starting. Just going for it and trying different things really helped me to get a quick grasp of the possibilities and limitations of what I am trying to do. The next step will entail trying out different methods to enamel the exterior surface in order to create a more viable piece.

Visit Alisha's Metal Arts Guild of Canada portfolio page Visit her website at www.alishamarieboyd.com

Find out how to become a Featured Artist on our website

Most recently uploaded Photos from our website members

The Metal Arts Guild

• an interactive website for displaying members' portfolios, sharing information and networking
• National juried exhibitions
• Monthly email newsletter about upcoming events
• Annual events at Nuit Blanche
• Technical workshops and makers' symposium
• MAGazine in full colour

We will be setting goals for the next three to five years.  While the Board of Directors will ultimately have to decide where to focus our resources, hearing the many voices of our membership is vital.  Please give us your perspective and join the

discussion

1. What do you like best about the Metal Arts Guild?
2. How does MAG help you personally?
3. How can you see yourself contributing to MAG's future success?