Tuesday, November 23, 2010

December AMT Challenge - The Best Way to Know Where You Are Going is to Know Where You Are Coming From

First of all I want to thank each of you for your kind words about my challenge entry this month. I am so excited and honored to have one. I truly feel this is a major accomplishment in my learning my craft considering the competition that I had. This is such a talented group of artists that my winning our challenge this month when placed in league with the other entries really helps to boost my confidence in my skills and my craft. Thank you again for your support and kindness. Now to get down to business.

Throughout history one of the most common uses for precious stones, metals, jewels and eventually jewelry as we know it, has been to convey information about the owner or wearer. Typically this information was directly related to identification and status. The most obvious examples of this would of course be the jewel encrusted crowns worn by nobility throughout the ages. For instance consider images of the contemporary British monarchy that we are all probably most familiar with to the jewel adorned head dresses of ancient civilizations like Egypt, Sumaria, South America and the Orient.





When we see these items we immediately think of someone of great importance and high standing. However, pretty metal and stone adornments where not limited to the nobility alone. Take for example the lovely coats-of-arms used to represent family heritage in England or the gorgeous kilt pins fashioned by the Scotts. The design of ones kilt pin and the pattern and color of their kilts were traditionally the most obvious means of knowing the lineage and heritage of an individual. 






So with  that being said please don't kill me but you will need to do some homework for this challenge. Since we are an international group of artists and even those of us here in the states probably exemplify a diverse number of nationalities, I want you to design a 21st century representation of your pedigree. Show us who you are and where you come from using metal and stones. This piece doesn't have to be a piece of jewelry. You can make it a plaque or larger piece of wall or table art if you so choose. Its totally up to you. Do try to be historically accurate and use items in your piece that represent your origins. For example think celtic knots for Irish, Scottish, Welsh ancestories and choose color schemes that have been historically representative of a lineage or family surname (this is where the homework part comes in). Be sure to provide a key with your submission explaining what each item, color, stone, figure etc. represents. So as we begin a new year and most everyone else is working on their New Year's resolutions and trying to decide how to be a new you in the new year let us take the opportunity to discover the old us. Like I said in my post title afterall, "The Best Way to Know Where You Are Going is to Know Where You Are Coming From".
So that is it. I hope you all will have fun with it. Make sure to add your submission photos to the group flickr pool by Midnight EST  Jan. 14th with the tag "December AMT Challenge"
You have from now until the middle of Jan. so I hope to see alot of participants. I know this is a very busy time of year with all of the holiday activities but if you chose not to do anything until after Christmas you would still have nearly two weeks to get something completed. So put on those thinking caps boys and girls and get to designing. Good Luck.

12 comments:

  1. I love it! I love it! I love it!! this is gonna be fun!!!! now the real challenge is how to find time to make something!!

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  2. since i've studied my family tree, i have some interesting candidates: my Farhnam line famous for their stone wall fence in MI and my Tn Warden line that have been involved w/ working with wood since 1800 settling in Erin Tn area, I won't be making barrel staves or wood shingles though LOL

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  3. I am soooooo making a crown!!! Exciting, can't wait to get started!

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  4. Oh, how interesting! I'm such a mutt, I'll pick the origins that seem most likely for me. Of course, the first thing that came to mind is completely absurd - a be-jeweled joke book... lol (Polish roots ya know)

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  5. Wow - this is pretty cool - great theme Heather! I have to do some thinking on this, I too am a mutt and don't really know much about my families origins. Time to do a little sleuthing!

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  6. Oh great. Glad you guys like the theme. I thought it would be really neat to see what a 21st century psuedo coat of arms would look like. Can't wait to see some of the finished pieces.

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  7. Awesome Challenge Heather! I will have to think on this, as I am really more familiar with hubby's heritage than mine. I am all southern ;) I was just talking with my son Sam, and hubby the other night about doing a family crest that represents just the five of us in our immediate family. Awesome idea!

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  8. yes, this is really challenge^^ very interesting ides

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  9. Love this Heather! Such a good theme!!

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  10. cool theme- I'll try to participate this time. My mother has done some research, and is pretty sure we're primarily decened from scotch/irish imigrants that came too early to trace. there is also a family tradition about a chreoke ancestor that is also unprovable.

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  11. Ha! One that I might actually have the supplies for! This should be fun :)

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  12. I know a pretty fair amount about my maiden name, but what to do with that information? My maiden name, Rippingale, is a town in England that had an orphanage in it. Those who had Rippingale for a last name are descendents of an orphan in that orphanage. But of course, that leaves the history before the orphanage a big mystery...

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