Sculptures

Sculptures

My current focus is on self-supported sculptures using improvisational techniques that are especially suited to developing organic, three-dimensional forms. The past several years, I have worked primarily with beads supported only by thread tension. In my latest body of work, I use inexpensive cotton rope, which I hand-stitch into sculptures. Regardless of medium, what excites me about working in three dimensions is exploring the relationship between negative and positive space. A tension develops between a hole and the physical material pressing against it. I am compelled to reveal this tension and transform commonplace materials into unexpected shapes by manipulating holes and their surroundings.

Please click on each thumbnail photograph below to view the piece up close.

	Red Orange and Vivid Violet (Crayola series) (and detail, 2008) 12” H x 11” W x 7.5” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads.
	Yellow Green and Razzle Dazzle Rose (Crayola series) (and detail, 2008) 13” H x 10” W x 9” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads.
	Turquoise Blue and Peach (Crayola series) (and detail, 2008) 12” H x 10” W x 6.5” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads.
	Alien Nest Egg #1 (and detail, 2008) 10.5” H x 13” W x 9.5” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads.
	22nd Valentine (and detail, 2008) 6.5” H x 10.5” W x 5.5” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads.
	Rain Forest (and detail, 2008) 9” H x 8” W x 8” D Hand-dyed cotton rope.
	Knots Decrease Working Loads by 50% (Ace Hardware rope series) (and detail, 2007) 10” H x 6” W x 7.5” D Cotton sash cord, glass beads. Handweavers Guild of America's River of Grass 2008 Exhibition
	Not Recommended for Use Where Personal Safety is Involved (Ace Hardware rope series) (and detail, 2007) 10½” H x 8” W x 8” D Cotton clothesline, glass beads, mirror.
	Use Only for Intended Purposes (Ace Hardware rope series) (and detail, 2007) 8½” H x 6” W x 4½” D Nylon rope, glass beads.
	Nana Iro (7 Colors) (2007) 6½” H x 7” W x 6” D Wool yarn hand-braided into rope. Handweavers Guild of America's River of Grass 2008 Exhibition
	Raspberry Tea (2007) 7” H x 10” W x 6” D Hand-dyed cotton rope, glass beads. Handweavers Guild of America's Small Expressions 2008 Exhibition
	Moebius No. 3: Ambiguity (2007) 4.5” H x 5.5” W x 3” D Glass beads.
	Shampoo/Set (2007) 20” L x 12” H x 14” W Plastic hair rollers and Venetian blinds cord.
	Egg Basket (and detail, 2007) 5” x 7” x 4½” Glass beads, genuine and plaster egg. Small Repetitive Motions Exhibition, 2007
	Hemorrhage (and detail, 2006) Glass beads. 4” x 6” x 4½” With most beadwork, I strive to avoid thread exposure. With “Hemorrhage,” I wove transparent beads with red thread, which passes through the beads like blood through arteries. Bead International 2008 Exhibition
	**Push-Up Purse (Thank God I’m an A-Cup or I Never Would Have Made the Deadline)** (2007) Purchased bras, glass beads. Beadwork magazine’s Beaded Bag exhibition, 2007
	Pink (Color Study Series) (2006) 6” x 4” x 3” Glass beads.
	Rhythm & Blues (Color Study Series) (2006) 6½” x 6½” x 4½” Glass beads.
	Black *(Color Study Series) (*2006) 7” x 2½” x 3” Glass beads.
	Ventricles (and detail, 2006) 3½” x 4” x 3” Glass beads. Handweavers Guild of America's Small Expressions 2007 Exhibition
	No. 1 in the Semolina Series: Ditalini (2005) 8” x 8” x 4” 100% durum wheat semolina pasta.
	No. 2 in the Semolina Series: Penne (2005) 10½” x 7½” x 3½” 100% durum wheat semolina pasta. Bead International 2006 Exhibition
	No. 3 in the Semolina Series: Rigatoni (2005) 4” x 10” x 8” 100% durum wheat semolina pasta. Stretching the Threads Exhibition, Atlantic Center for the Arts
	No. 4 in the Semolina Series: Linguini (2005) 7” x 8” x 8½” 100% durum wheat semolina pasta.
	No. 5 in the Semolina Series: Organic Rigatoni (front and back, 2005) 14” x 9” x 4” 100% organic durum wheat semolina pasta made with antique bronze dies.
	No. 6 in the Semolina Series: Ditalini and Penne (flat and dimensional views, 2006) 11½” x 12½” (flat) 100% durum wheat semolina pasta.
	No. 6 in the Semolina Series: Spaghetti Vase (2006) 4½” x 4½” x13” 100% organic durum wheat semolina pasta.
	Margarita (2 views, 2005) 3½” x 3” x 4” Glass seed beads.
	Raisins and Olives (2005) 7 ½” x 3” x 2 ¾” Glass seed beads.
	*Soft ‘n’ Stone* (2005) 4 ½” x 4” x 4” Glass seed beads, freshwater pearls, lacquered pearls, crocheted and felted wool yarn. (Collection of Ruth Offen) Soft 'n' Stone is part of a series of sculptural experiments combining beadwork with knitting and crochet.
	Rock with Delusions of Grandeur (2005) 5” x 2” x 3½” Glass seed beads.
	*Tribute to Andy Goldsworthy* (2005) 8” x 5” x 3” Glass seed beads, knitted and felted wool yarn. Andy Goldsworthy is one of my art heroes. His ability to spend many hours building a stone or leaf sculpture only to see it destroyed by tide or wind inspired me to make this piece. Many hours of beadwork are hidden within the folds of wool, never to be seen. The satisfaction is in the doing, not in the result.
	*Annette* (with detail, 2004) 9 ½” x 5” x 3” Freshwater pearls, glass beads, resin bead, seed beads, wire, lead fishing weights. Annette was named for a favorite quotation by Julia Cameron: “Leap and a net will appear.” Having wings and a tail, Annette can both fly and swim, neither of which I can do, which makes her well-equipped as my artistic guardian angel.
	*Transformer 1* (2004) 10” x 4” (flat) Ceramic focal bead, fossil beads, seed beads. The Transformer series of sculptural pieces are also jewelry. For a view of Transformer 1 in its bracelet form, please see Wearable Art - Bracelets.
	*Transformer 2* (2004) 6” x 3” (flat) Freshwater pearls, assorted glass beads, seed beads. Absolutely Beads 2004 Exhibition The Transformer series of sculptural pieces are also jewelry. For a view of Transformer 2 in its bracelet form, please see Wearable Art - Bracelets.
	*The Four Walls of Fear* (2003) 9” x 9” Cotton fabric, rubberstamping, seed beads. This small art quilt was inspired by a journal entry that prompted me to make a life-changing decision: leaving my corporate job to pursue the creative imperative. I wanted to preserve the entry with an art medium that was longer-lasting than paper. Published in Material Visions: A Gallery of Miniature Art Quilts, 2004
	*Web of My Evening* (2004) 8” x 4” x 1½” Assorted glass beads, freshwater pearls, seed beads, fabric lining. Second place, Puget Sound Bead Festival Beaded Inspirations 2004 Absolutely Beads 2004 Exhibition

e-mail: tina@tinakoyama.com