BaaBaaZuZu Jackets at Smith Galleries on Hilton Head

BaaBaaZuZu Jackets at Smith Galleries, a photo by Smith Galleries on Flickr.

Smith Galleries on Hilton Head, SC, is the area's leading gallery for contemporary American hand-made clothing. BaaBaaZuZu is a new arrival in the gallery.

Inspiration comes in many forms. For Sue Burns, baabaazuzu founder and lead designer, inspiration came one winter day in the back of her clothes dryer. Had her husband not shrunk some of Sue’s favorite wool sweaters, it could very well be that baabaazuzu would not exist. But the fact is, he did. And out of the tragedy of Sue Burns’ too-small-to-wear, once-adored sweaters arose a multi-million dollar company.

Baabaazuzu came to be in late 1993 after Sue Burns, a gifted graphic designer, cut up the shrunken remains of her favorite sweaters, pieced the fragments together and made jackets with matching hats for her two young daughters.

The process behind baabaazuzu’s creations is an age-old process. Felting. Simply put, it’s taking wool sweaters or garments – and in baabaazuzu’s case, it’s taking items that are no longer wanted and could not sell at second-hand stores and are literally a step away from being thrown into landfills – and washing them in very hot water so as to shrink into a very dense, very strong wool “fabric.” Sue then takes the felted material, cuts them up and, with her eye-of-an-artist, purposefully pieces them back together into wearable works of art – hats, mittens, jackets, scarves, etc.

BaaBaaZuZu is available at Smith Galleries on Hilton Head, SC. Call 800.272.3870 for additional information. The gallery is located in the Village at Wexford at mile marker 10.5 on William Hilton Parkway. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday.

Clocks by "Art Thingys" Featured at Smith Galleries

     Smith Galleries on Hilton Head Island, SC, features the clocks of Paul Ocepek.

Trained as an industrial designer, Paul Ocepek (o-sep-ik) has been involved professionally in all phases of product development for the last 25 years. He’s designed everything from tvs and toys to telephones and trash cans. Motivated by a burning desire to design and produce unique, well-crafted, and locally made goods - Paul launched Art Thingys in 2010 followed by Popclox in 2012. Paul’s sense of humor, bold use of color and modern artistic sensibility form the backbone of his product lines. It’s modern home decor. For kids. Little and big. Sure to put a smile on your face and eyes on your walls. Produced in Mass., not mass produced.
Smith Galleries is a gallery of fine craft, art, picture framing, jewelry and creative toys for kids. The gallery is open 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 800.272.3870     

Leonie Lacouette Clocks Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries, a gallery of jewelry, fine craft, art, framing and toys, features the handmade clocks of American artist Leonie Lacouette.

"Wanda" Clock by
Leonie Lacouette

Leonie Lacouette manages to strike a balance between concepts and influences that otherwise might seem like polar opposites-her elegant clocks successfully reconcile the strict geometries of Minimalism with a warm, approachable palette of colored patinas on the copper and nickel that predominate her designs. Created from a basic language of circles, squares, ovals, and rectangles, the clocks are not only beautiful, but often playful as well. In one design, the otherwise hidden movement of the pendulum swings gently back and forth, revealed by a perfectly circular hole punched through the face of the piece to create a dynamic (and unexpected) game of 'hide-and-seek'.
Over 20 years ago, Lacouette started making clocks, as a practical way to make a living while using the aesthetic training she'd received in art school. It all began when she needed a clock for her studio, and noticed an ad in a magazine for a company selling clock mechanisms. Ordering five, she used one to make her own timepiece, and then made four more to sell. They sold out immediately, and she's been making clocks ever since.

Leonie at work in her studio.

Working from her rural studio in upstate New York, Lacouette contrasts her life today with her youth, spent growing up in mid-town Manhattan. "I like the simplicity of my current work's design. Coming from Manhattan, everything was go-go-go, always accumulating more stuff-stuff-stuff, having lots of things. It feels great to have something simple and beautiful, a style that I can call my own."



Home showcasing on of Leonie's clocks.

Beauty meets functionality in these clocks as Lacouette continues to create new designs that refine the perfection of both. "I'm a mechanic as well as an artist," she says, "these things need to function, after all." Continuing her dedication to creating clocks that are modernist but affable, fusing geometric abstraction with softened edges and organic warmth, she hopes to extend the work in the future to include a broader palette of exotic wood veneers. Ever the good-natured perfectionist, Lacouette insists that "the main problem will be to make sure that they come from sustainable sources."

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Gallery hours are 10 - 5 Monday through Saturday. 843.842.2280

Ed Branson Hand Blown Glass at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is featuring new works by master glassblower Ed Branson.

"Cresting Wave" by Ed Branson

Glass has had a constant presence in the life of Ed Branson has since 1982 . The relationship has been enhanced and explored with some of the world’s glass masters, but predominantly his knowledge of this magic material is built on day-to-day experience and practice in his studio. This path has led him to a fairly simple artistic approach; trust the glass, have fun, accept mistakes, study nature and search for beautiful forms and colors inherent in glass’ personality.

See a video of Ed Branson blowing glass here.

For further information, visit Smith Galleries on Hilton Head Island, SC. The gallery is located in suite J11 in The Village at Wexford at 1000 William Hilton Parkway. 800.272.3870

New Jewelry by Victoria Varga at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries has just received a new selection of jewelry by Victoria Varga. Victoria's jewelry has been a favorite at Smith Galleries for several years. It is admired for its uniqueness in design, perfection in craftsmanship and wearability. Instantly recognized for its timeless good looks, her jewelry delights both men and women with its innovative combination of unexpected materials and whimsical design.

See a slide show of the new arrivals here.

Victoria has perfected a process of combining sterling silver, 23 karat gold leaf, resin, crushed stone and common artist pigments to create her signature line of jewelry.

Victoria handcrafts jewelry that reflects in its clean design and bold graphics, the very best tenants of fine art while redefining the modern spirit.

Victoria received her BS in Fine Arts from Skidmore College in 1984. After completing her graduate studies in metals at Syracuse University, she, along with her husband, Daniel Brouder, co-founded the studio that bears her name.

Smith Galleries is located (see map) on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in the Village at Wexford and features the largest selection of American artisan jewelry in the state. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 843.842.2280

Joan Z. Horn's "Songs of Summer" Jewelry Exhibition at Smith Galleries

The jewelry of Joan Z. Horn has been a gallery favorite at Smith Galleries for more than twenty years. This special exhibit features the familiar style of Ms. Horn's while incorporating a new design focus on music. She is musically gifted and enjoys singing in a choir. Some of the pieces were influenced by certain well known songs such at Sealed With a Kiss featured here. A couple more are: Love Potion #9, and You've Got a Friend.

This special jewelry exhibition will be in the gallery from July 1 through September 30, 2012. If you read this beyond those dates, and see a piece you like, we may be able to get it for you.

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford at 1000 William Hilton Parkway, on Hilton Head Island, SC. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. Email us at info@smithgalleries.com or call 800.272.3870

Handblown Glass by Gary Zack at Smith Galleries

New to Smith Galleries is the handblown glass by vetran glass artist Gary Zack.

Gary has been involved with glass since 1978, as a successful commission stained artist and, more recently, as a blown glass artist. Hehas been involved with blown glass since 1994, and is mostly self-taught. His love of hot glass is founded on the immediacy and spontaneous nature of the material, as well as the interplay of color and light.

His work in blown glass involves rich, vibrant colors, and requires multiple layers of color in order to maintain the vivid contrast between exterior and interior surfaces. The application of contrasting lip-wrap finishes the pieces.

Seen above, is a spontaneous and fun loving piece, with freeform shapes and clown-like demeanor. The forms are topped with delicate applications of black and colored threads.

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 800.272.3870

"California Poppy" Necklace by Michael Michaud at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries has just received a new selection of jewelry by Michael Michaud.

The "California Poppy" necklace is hand patinaed bronze with gold plated petals and yellow fresh water pearls. It is adjustable from 16.5 to 18 inches. The artist collects flora from his travels around the world. The jewelry is cast from nature's own creation, capturing each natural detail of the original. There is no need to use a polishing cloth on any of Michael's designs, soap and water will do.

Handmade in the USA. Contact Smith Galleries to purchase. 800.272.3870

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island, SC. Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

Philippa Roberts Jewelry Exhibition at Smith Galleries

     Smith Galleries is presenting a one person exhibiton of jewelry by Philippa Roberts.
     Using silver as her main medium, Philippa creates necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings that can be worn formally or informally, with an appeal to all ages. “I love to hear from customers that mine is their favorite everyday jewelry, or that they have been wearing one of my pieces for the past ten years. It is my goal to make jewelry that is beautiful, simple, wearable, and most importantly, timeless.”
     Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island, SC. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 843.842.2280

Bree Richey Jewelry Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is featuring a jewelry exhibition by Bree Richey titled "Sunlight and Shadow." The exhibition opens on May 1, 2012 and continues through the end of May.

Bree Richey’s jewelry collection pulls directly from her love for Art Deco and modern architectural design. She often finds inspiration for her work in the clean lines of modern furniture, the fluid pattern of fabric, and the vibrant color of fine gems and pearls. All of these elements are apparent in her work, where metal forms and an array of colored gems are brought together seamlessly to create elegant and highly wearable jewelry.

Ms. Richey was recently named the winner of the inaugural Future of Design contest, a business incubator competition for jewelry designers created by Cindy Edelstein of the Jeweler’s Resource Bureau and Andrea Hill of StrategyWerx.

Richey comes from a family of jewelry designers but found her own passion for the craft when she attended the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts. Continuing her education at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco, Richey went on to apprentice with jewelers and focused on creating pieces that were affordable to the average jewelry consumer.

Smith Galleries is located in the Village at Wexford, Suite J11 (UPSTAIRS), on Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 843-842-2280

Golf Art by Linda Hartough and Diane Selby featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries is showing a large selection of golf art by Linda Hartough and Diane Selby. See the current selection here.

Pictured at left is "The 10th Hole, Camellia, at the Augusta National" by Linda Hartough.

Smith Galleries is located on Hilton Head Island (see map) in The Village at Wexford. The gallery is located on the second level in Suite J11. Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

New Mike Smith Watercolors at Smith Galleries

Sea Cat, a photo by Smith Galleries on Flickr.

Smith Galleries has just received five new watercolors from Mike Smith.

Pictured is the original watercolor painting by Mike Smith titled "Sea Cat" measuring 24 inches square. Call Smith Galleries at 800.272.3870 to order or visit Mike Smith on the web at www.smithgalleries.com/mikesmith.htm

Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

Sticks Plaques at Smith Galleries

We at Smith Galleries are excited about these new large plaques by Sticks. They are much larger than any plaques they have done before...measuring twenty four inches square.
Think of them as a substitute for a traditional painting in your decor. And don't forget that we can design one just for you.

See our Sticks currently in stock in the gallery. Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday.
843.842.2280

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