For immediate release
Contact: Lori Goldstein
720.203.3575
June 25, 2009
A STUDIO THAT NEVER SLEEPS
AURORA- Silversmith, jewelry designer, and community arts builder Kim Harrell is finding inspiration all around her. Continuing to invoke a minimalist aesthetic that speaks to form and function, Kim’s newest works focus a great deal of attention on the element of texture and forces the wearer to question, “What is this made of?” With the emergence of new collections, evolving older works, and the invitation to sell her work in venues from the Denver Art Museum to the National Ornamental Metal Museum of Memphis, Tennessee, Kim’s wearable art is reaching people in more ways than one.
Ironically fashioned from actual “barbie” doll shoes, the boldly sensual yet playful red shoe collection is the newest addition to the Harrell line. While the artist drew inspiration from the idea of post feminism in the twenty-first century, the final product is much less controversial. Smooth, red, and rubbery, the red shoe collection truly speaks to the minimalist aesthetic of beautiful simplicity.
Harrell’s minimalist jewelry collections, inspired by past artists, continue to remind the viewer of artistic movements and styles in which “less is more.” Increasingly relevant to the present time of environmental awareness and resourcefulness, her minimalist pieces are made from re-purposed and recycled industrial materials such as steel and rubber. Shaped into elegant forms of wearable art, Harrell states, “The essence of these materials represents qualities such as strength, sensuality and delicacy; the final work is a graceful expression of these qualities. The ordinary is elevated to the extraordinary and so is the wearer.”
While Harrell has been spending a great deal of time in her studio with these developing collections, she also continues to give back to the community by nurturing the creativity in each visitor to her beading workshops @jewelry bar. Paired with her constant involvement in the East End Arts District and her recent appointment to the Colorado Council on the Arts, Kim has been busy helping to foster the arts in both Aurora as well as the larger Colorado area.
Kim’s work, including her newest collection, red shoes, is currently available at the DAM museum store as well as East End Applied Arts and soon making its way to other venues locally and across the country. Stay up to date with information about Harrell and her work’s whereabouts by visiting www.eastendarts.com and kimharrell.blogspot.com
or visiting east end applied arts at 1556 Florence Street in Aurora open Thurs – Sat, noon-5.30 pm and by appointment. Contact the gallery at info@eastendarts.com or 720.203.3575 for more information.