Les trois dames chinois

For me, marquetry is a living art, a real means of expression, far beyond mere technical skills. Yet, even nowadays, marquetry is perceived by most as a fixed and faded reflection, an image of a somewhat outdated and antiquated craft. But many of us around the world still practice it into the present time. We combine timbers, raw materials, lines, colors, textures, reflects, camaïeux and contrasts. We invent our own style and express our dreams through our creations. We influence and inspire wall art, design furniture, indoor decoration, small objects, parquetry, frames, jewelry… We reveal sensuality, beauty, delicacy or our perception when we create our artwork. We play on all levels: rhythm, volume, graphic art, expressive or abstract pattern, materials, diversity… We offer our enthusiasm, fervor, and our perception of harmony.

Time has come to share our passion!

The Matières et Sens exhibition offers an ideal and unique showcase to present our designers universe to the public. This exhibition is organized by Le Génie de la Marqueterie Contemporaine [GEMAC] Society. For our Society, “open-mindedness” is our adage and we are convinced and dedicated to bring back marquetry to the foreground (where it belongs). And this is possible of course with the help of extraordinary creators and artists who keep exploring new techniques and materials making marquetry evolve everyday.

The  Matières et Sens exhibition will take place next November from the 16th – 25th, 2012. Its aim is to gather the very best of international actual creation in marquetry, to inform our audience – supporters, creators, public and private companies, media – about the infinite wealth and modernity of this form of art expression.

If you wish to present your artwork at this exhibition, please have a look at our website:  http://www.asso-gemac.com/society.php

and download the 2012 call for entry form:

http://www.asso-gemac.com/2012-09-02-dossier-inscription-gb.pd

If you require any further information, feel free to contact me at: + 33 (0)1 48 04 50 22.

See you soon and best regards,

Carole Szwarc

President of Le Génie de la Marqueterie Contemporaine Society

Les trois dames chinois

La marqueterie est pour moi, un art vivant, un véritable mode d’expression, bien au delà d’une simple technique. Or, en ce début du XXIe siècle, l’image qu’en perçoit la majorité du public n’est qu’un reflet figé et défraîchi, l’image d’une tradition un peu désuète et jaunissante. Pourtant, nous sommes nombreux à travers le monde à conjuguer la marqueterie au présent. Nous jonglons avec les matériaux, les lignes, les couleurs, les textures, les reflets, les camaïeux, les contrastes… Nous affirmons nos propres styles. Nous exprimons nos rêves au travers de nos créations. Nous pénétrons l’art mural, le mobilier design, l’agencement ou la décoration d’intérieur, la tabletterie, la parqueterie, l’encadrement, les bijoux… Nous révélons la sensualité, la beauté, la délicatesse ou la prestance par notre interprétation de la marqueterie, en jouant sur tous ses registres et ses partitions : rythme, volume, art graphique, dessin expressif ou abstrait, richesse des matériaux … Nous exposons notre fougue, nos délires, ou notre perception de l’harmonie.

Il est grand temps de le faire savoir!

Le salon “Matières et Sens,”  organisé par l’association Le Génie de la Marqueterie Contemporaine, offre une vitrine idéale et unique pour présenter au public notre univers de créateur, si particulier. L’Ouverture constitue le maître-mot de cette manifestation.  Elle doit installer durablement la marqueterie au premier plan des arts, grâce au formidable potentiel des créateurs qui en ont fait leur mode d’expression artistique quotidien et qui la font évoluer en explorant de nouvelles pistes techniques, esthétiques, ou en utilisant de nouveaux matériaux.

Le salon “Matières et Sens” se déroulera à Paris du 16 au 25 novembre 2012. Il a pour ambition de réunir la quintessence internationale de la création contemporaine en marqueterie afin de dévoiler au public, amateurs, collectionneurs, professionnels … l’infinie richesse et la modernité de ce mode d’expression.

Dans la mesure où vous souhaitez présenter vos créations à cette manifestation, je vous invite à consulterle site du projet : http://asso-gemac.com/association.php

Vous pourrez même télécharger, si vous le souhaitez, un dossier de participation.

http://asso-gemac.com/2012-08-12-dossier-inscription-fr.pdf

Marquetry rooster

Je me tiens aussi à votre disposition pour vous communiquer toutes les informations dont vous pourriez avoir besoin. N’hésitez pas à me contacter au :  +33 (0)1 48 04 50 22.

Avec mes cordiales salutations,

Carole SZWARC

Présidente de l’association : Le Génie de la Marqueterie Contemporaine.

Le Génie de la Marqueterie Contemporaine

14 rue de la Corderie

75 003 Paris

01 48 04 50 22

contact@asso-gemac.com

www.asso-gemac.com

Summer Straw Oak Leaf

As Summer comes to are world heat will soon be a factor and many people will be searching for a nice shady oak to rest under for shade. So here is a fun simple project that anyone can do. First make several splints of straw about 3/16 wide. Place five of them at a vertical tilt in keeping with the picture of one side of leaf above. Next thread several pieces at a flat horizontal point until you have about one inch of straws combined in a basket weave effect. Do the same for the opposite half of the leaf. Glue the horizontal and vertical splints of straw to the one they are are on top or bottom so that your basketweave does not slip.

Now glue a wider strip underneath the leaf so that both halves are combined into one. Take an oak leaf paper punch and center the basketweave in the center of the leaf pattern and punch it out. The leaf that comes out will have a nice plaited look and be a real lovely leaf for a lot of your fun projects.

In the years between 1756 and 1815 thousands of French and Dutch prisoners were held in prisons from Cornwall to Scotland. So large were their numbers that some were held temporarily aboard ships docked at harbors. Each prison had a market day within their gates so that local farmers and tradesmen could sell goods to the high-ranking soldiers that had money sent to them by friends. N.C.O’s and the lower ranks had no income at all. Because of the long period of war little was agreed upon as to who should pay for the prisoners meals. A very small ration of food by the British Government supplied barely enough to live on. No clothes or medicine for wounds were given.  As a result these Market Days came to include work that had been done by prisoners. Straw bonnet making and straw marquetry were among the most popular for the inmates to create and sell to town’s folk.

These represented some problems with local industry and soon straw plait and bonnet making was forbidden. Nevertheless many inmates smuggled out fine straw bonnets by bribing the prison guards and it was never, therefore, fully stopped.

A Powder Compact from the Napoleonic Prisoners of War 1756-1815

One of the most popular and long lived commodity that the prisoners created were straw boxes, cigar holders, playing card boxes, chests and other items of everyday use.  According to Thomas James Walker in his book Prisoners-of-War at Norman Cross: The Inmates, dyes and tools were bought by prisoners from outside tradesmen. According to Walker prisoners would take straw out of their bedding and boil colored rags to dye the straw. Though this was probably true in the beginning, according to Jane Troller in her book Prisoners-of-War Work, outside straw and dye must certainly have been provided to the inmates at Market Day. So vast were the many objects created that no prison of straw beds could have possibly been enough to supply material for the great output that was to follow.

The Powder Compact in the picture above is an example of the prison work that is in the collection of the American Museum of Straw Art. Owing to its design, color and shape it is likely early in that period.  The picture that shows the open compact displays the mirror and the compartment where rice powder was likely kept. Though it is clear that this compact was never used, it does represent some of a vast amount of straw work that was popular in Europe from the 17^th century and beyond.