Phyllis Wire Work

wire work by phylliswire work by phyllis

As a child I remember being fascinated by colors and movement. As a child I remember being fascinated by colors and movement. Seeing rainbows of color float along the walls all around me froSeeing rainbows of color float along the walls all around me from the m the stained glass window above me. In college I pursued art and desstained glass window above me. In college I pursued art and design, ign, which led to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in graphic which led to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in graphic design, industrial design and photography and have been working design, industrial design and photography and have been working as as a graphic designer for over 30 years. Working to express clientsa graphic designer for over 30 years. Working to express clients wants wants and needs in a 2 dimensional printed expression. I have always fand needs in a 2 dimensional printed expression. I have always felt my elt my design work was like a treasure huntdesign work was like a treasure hunt——the pieces were hiding and I had the pieces were hiding and I had to find them and put them together in a way that worked to creatto find them and put them together in a way that worked to create the e the collateral material that would do the job for the client. I havecollateral material that would do the job for the client. I have continued continued with activities related to creating and making things with activities related to creating and making things —— but always visual but always visual things never with the written word, only images, visuals, color,things never with the written word, only images, visuals, color, shapes shapes using many different materials.using many different materials.

All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire is sterling silver or gold filled .All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there All wire work is cold , there

is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used is no soldering. The only tools used are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.are pliers, a hammer and my hands.

yellow jadeyellow jade

rhodocrositerhodocrosite

sea shells & stonesea shells & stone

glass, raku, stoneglass, raku, stone

kianite & balikianite & bali

blue lace agateblue lace agate

karen ovington karen ovington glassglass

sher berman glasssher berman glass

mother of pearl, shells & pearlsmother of pearl, shells & pearls

mop earrings & mop earrings & necklacenecklace

mop earrings & mop earrings & necklacenecklace

horn & horn & sterling silver sterling silver

necklacenecklace

dichroic glass & swarovskidichroic glass & swarovski

dichroic glass & swarovskidichroic glass & swarovski

earthstone pendantearthstone pendant

earthstone pendant & pearlsearthstone pendant & pearls

basketbasket

tasseltassel

changeable changeable earringsearrings

labradorite labradorite pendantpendant

biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:biographical information:

Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant,Lynn Merchant, wireworkingwireworking: 1998, Beads 1 & Chain of Events; : 1998, Beads 1 & Chain of Events;

1999, Pins; 2001, Findings; 2002 Baskets & Tassels1999, Pins; 2001, Findings; 2002 Baskets & Tassels

ArlineArlineArlineArlineArlineArlineArlineArline FischFischFischFischFischFischFischFisch, , , , , , , , Knitting and Crochet in Wire, 2002Knitting and Crochet in Wire, 2002

Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie SersisichSersisichSersisichSersisichSersisichSersisichSersisichSersisich, , , , , , , , SpinySpiny--Knotted Bracelet, 2005 Knotted Bracelet, 2005

AtiAtiAtiAtiAtiAtiAtiAti Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, Johansen, The Joseph Albers Color Theory Workshop, 2000The Joseph Albers Color Theory Workshop, 2000

Robin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin AtkinsRobin Atkins, finger woven treasure necklace, Tibetan technique, 1996, finger woven treasure necklace, Tibetan technique, 1996

The LongsThe LongsThe LongsThe LongsThe LongsThe LongsThe LongsThe Longs, , wireworkingwireworking, 1995, 1995

Kansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art InstituteKansas City Art Institute, 1967, 1967--1970, BFA1970, BFA

Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University, 1965, 1965--19671967

Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller Buckminster Fuller left a lasting influenceleft a lasting influence

Highland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High SchoolHighland Park High School, 1961, 1961--19651965

Harriet Harriet Harriet Harriet Harriet Harriet Harriet Harriet DrisiegerDrisiegerDrisiegerDrisiegerDrisiegerDrisiegerDrisiegerDrisieger, enamel and silver jewelry classes, enamel and silver jewelry classes

gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: gallery affiliation: Gallery 60035, Highland Park, IL, 2005Gallery 60035, Highland Park, IL, 2005

Frederick Frederick PretePrete Ltd., Highland Park, IL, 1982Ltd., Highland Park, IL, 1982--1985 1985

selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:selected group exhibits:BSGC, Chicago, IL, Art of Beadwork, BSGC, Chicago, IL, Art of Beadwork,

1998 thru 2003, spring & fall 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20081998 thru 2003, spring & fall 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Gallery 60035, Highland Park, 2005Gallery 60035, Highland Park, 2005

Art On The Lawn, Rockford, IL, 2000, 2001Art On The Lawn, Rockford, IL, 2000, 2001

CuneoCuneo Museum, Libertyville, IL, Wearable Art and Jewelry, 1993, 1994 Museum, Libertyville, IL, Wearable Art and Jewelry, 1993, 1994

Temple Beth El, Northbrook, IL, Art Fest, 1985, 1993Temple Beth El, Northbrook, IL, Art Fest, 1985, 1993

Kemper Insurance, Summer Fest, 1985Kemper Insurance, Summer Fest, 1985

Temple Temple JudehaJudeha MitzpahMitzpah, Skokie, IL, 1985, Skokie, IL, 1985

technique:technique:technique:technique:technique:technique:technique:technique:At this time I am working with sterling silver and At this time I am working with sterling silver and gold filled wire to create intricate wirework gold filled wire to create intricate wirework components, jewelry and sculpture. I use pliers, components, jewelry and sculpture. I use pliers, mandrel and wire with my fingers to create beads mandrel and wire with my fingers to create beads of many forms. I do not solder my work, it is all of many forms. I do not solder my work, it is all cold worked to form and shape the various parts. cold worked to form and shape the various parts. I combine my wire work with glass and metal beads, I combine my wire work with glass and metal beads, semisemi--precious beads, natural materials (shells, precious beads, natural materials (shells, wood, glass) and lamp worked glass beads.wood, glass) and lamp worked glass beads.