Thursday, July 26, 2012

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 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 843.842.2280

Saturday, July 21, 2012

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

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

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