Staff Pick: Sculpture by Ken Reynolds

By Peter Laughlin, Folk Art Studio Supervisor

Photographs by Melanie Bernier

Ken Reynolds has produced lots of amazing artwork over the years, but recently, his sculpture career has taken a meteoric rise due to an exciting new series. For this body of work, which he simply refers to as “Sculpture,” Reynolds engulfs found objects with thousands of colorful glass beads strung on thin wire.

Part of what makes these works so amazing is the sheer volume of beads contrasted with their miniscule size. At 20 beads per inch of wire, this sculpture has more than 50,000 seed beads affixed to a repurposed armature. Laid end to end, the beaded wire would span the seventy yard line from one end-zone of a football field. This piece summons powerful insights on time and space as each bead, just a seed of a moment, is repeated in cycles at subtly varying scales.

It must be mentioned that Reynolds performs this intricate work persistently, but without ever seeing it.  He creates his sculptures entirely through the “sight” of his two sensitive hands.  The process is unimpeded and swift; Reynolds can produce about two meters of beaded string in a 60- minute sitting.  When he decides to create a new sculpture, Reynolds naturally selects looping objects, such as a primitive harp and scraps of a chair. 

A fascinating man in so many ways, Reynolds has acute attention to calendar time, even possessing the rare ability to forecast numbered dates with their corresponding weekday. Through his quiet persistence, he offers us work that can be enjoyed in hand and on display. The first work in this series was sold in Gateway Gallery’s winter show, 100 and Under, while another will be included in a spring exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum, titled Shine a Light.

The Art of Valentine's Day

Text and Photography by Melanie Bernier

Our Valentine's Day Tips will prep you for a divine February 14th. 

When it comes to all things charming, original, and sincere, Gateway artists are the authority. Their Valentine’s Day products wrap up sentiment and style in one remarkable package. So if you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day inspiration to get your engine revved, take a cue from Gateway’s Valentine’s Day Tips.

Tip #1: Carefully Select Your Valentine. The first and most basic Valentine’s Day tenant is: Give an authentic Valentine! Gateway artists spend all of January crafting original cards. These hand-drawn Valentines by Donna Esolen are small works of art: 

Four portraits by Ray Salter have been reproduced on cardstock, each featuring an American poet alongside a verse of poem. It turns out that Edgar Allen Poe, with all his morbidity, was quite the romantic: “. . . And this maiden she lived with no other thought/Than to love and be loved by me.”

Tip #2: Adorn Yourself, or Someone Else. Whether you wear it or gift it, V-Day is the occasion for statement jewelry. Multi-strand necklaces, sterling earrings with Swarovski, and beaded bracelets enhance any outfit and make fantastic gifts. Each hand-made piece is one of a kind, so no matter which you choose, your Valentine will never see it on anyone else.

This embroidered necklace by Valerie Walker is flirty and original:

. . . while this heart-stopping beaded lariat blows Tiffany’s out of the water.

Tip #3: Presentation is Everything.  On this day, wine shall not emerge from a brown bag. Place a fine bottle of red in a wine bag by HughCameron to make your sweetheart smile . . . 

. . .  or bind a gift box in hand-drawn wrapping paper. From left to right: Claude Fourel, Hugh Cameron, Francelia Brea, and David O'Toole. 

Any gift is sweeter if it comes in a Gateway gift bag. Here’s one by Debra Belsky:

Smell the Roses! The sentiment will linger on when your bouquet comes in a wheel-thrown vase that’s freshened every Valentine’s Day. Here are some great examples from Andrew Granger and Edgardo Vasquez:

Tip #4: Set the Mood. If you’re hosting, select visually interesting home accessories to create ambiance and stir up excitement. Loom-woven placemats by Joe Salonis brighten up the dining table for a home-made meal from Cook Your Arts Out.

Pillow talk, anyone?

A nude by Rebecca Bella Rich is mysterious and beautiful.

Tip #5: Take Advantage . . . of a sale, that is! All items in our Crafts Store, including the products above, are 20% off until February 28th. Clip the coupon here and you’re on your way to a romantic evening. Craft Store hours: M - F, 11am - 6pm. Sat, 12 - 5pm.