Nan Blair
Artist’s Statement:
My art has always been a reflection of nature and my environment. Inspiration has come from varied experiences: mountaineering- the sun, snow, mountains, rivers and lakes; diving- the sea and reflections; the city- skyscrapers, old buildings and fences. Shape, form and texture, reflecting these visual and physical experiences, are an important part of the design and execution of each piece of work.
Fine Arts Organizations:
COMA (Colorado Metalsmithing Association) www.coloradometalsmiths.org
COMA is an organization dedicated to bringing educational opportunities in metalsmithing to its members. It does this through its newsletter, workshops and its yearly conference.
Board of directors, 1996 thru 2000, 2006, 2007, 2008.
Publicity 3/96-1/98 - Chair 1/98-1/2000 - Treasurer 1/2000-12/2000
Salida Conference organizer 10/96, 6/97, 6/98, 8/99
Newsletter Editor, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths), member 1996 to 2005, 2007
SNAG Conference 5280/2002, June 2002 Co-Chair
SNAG Conference Gallery Show Director (15 galleries)
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo, CO, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Mobile Metal Program, (Sangre de Cristo Arts Center) Founding Member.
This program started in 2002 by Michael Boyd in conjunction with the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center takes metalsmithing to high schools that do not have the resources to offer a metals program.
Fine Art Experience & Background
My art experience started years ago in New York. Growing up, I took frequent visits to NYC’s great museums and art galleries. When I was quite young my mother gave me a set of pastels, later oils, and taught me the basics of color. I was introduced to sculpture at the Munson Proctor Williams Institute in Utica, NY. After high school came graduation from Green Mountain College and again later from the University of Colorado with a degree in business. However, all my elective courses were in printmaking. An interest in three-dimensional design led me to Travis Ogden’s metals class at Front Range Community College. After a semester at FRCC, I joined the Colorado Metalsmithing Association and continued my training through their workshops and conferences. I have taken workshops from well-known artists including Harold O’Connor, Marne Ryan, Andy Cooperman, Michael Boyd, Valentin Votkov and Ira Sherman. The conferences offer further exposure to different techniques and ideas.
In addition to showing my work in Galleries throughout the United States, I participate in five or six invitational shows each year. One of my most interesting experiences was showing my work in Takayama, Japan and having the opportunity of traveling through Japan. In 2004, I participated in a show in Barcelona, Spain with eight other artists. Other shows include “Buyers Market of American Craft”, Philadelphia, PA, “The Colorado Connection”, Denver International Airport, “Own Your Own”, Sangre de Cristo Art Center, “Colorado Metalsmiths”, Improv Gallery, Ft.Collins, “Steel City-Contemporary America in Metals”, Sangre de Cristo Art Center, Pueblo, CO “Print, Imprints”, Boulder Artists Co-Op, Boulder, CO, “Textured Images”, Breckenridge Goldsmith Gallery, “Women's Art”, Royce Bond Gallery, Boulder, CO, “Container In Art”, Kenosha Institute of Art, Kenosha, WI, “Western Vernacular”, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, and “Metal and Stone-Colorado Artists”, Ricco Gallery, Sheperdstown, WV.
Publications:
“Container In Art”, Kenosha Institute of Art, Kenosha, WI October 2000
“Lapidary Journal”, February 2004
“Colored Stone”, March 2004, Metal Meets Stone
“Arte Yjoya” May 2004, Nine American Artists in Barcelona
“Lapidary Journal” November 2004, Hot Ideas for Cold Connections
“Lapidary Journal” May 2005, My Favorite Tool
“Art Jewelry”, May 2008
“Jewelry Artist” May 2009