Jean Genie 50 on Ornament Magazine's 50th Anniversary cover

What a thrill to have my Jean Genie 50 Bolo Tie pictured on the cover of Ornament Magazine’s 50th Anniversary edition, Vol 44 No. 4. Extra bonus that I’m also celebrating my 50th year, 1974 was a winner!

The cover’s feature article, Everybody’s Bolos: Quintessentially Western, by Ashley Callahan gives a great overview of the exhibition, which my Bowie Bolo tie is in - Everybody’s Bolos: Inclusion Through Craft Exhibition, co-curated by Ana M. Lopez (professor of Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry, University North Texas), Brian Fleetwood (assistant professor of Studio Art at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM) and Hannah Reynoso Toussaint (M.F.A. candidate at the University of Georgia). She touches on the history of the Bolo Tie, and delves deeper into a selection of pieces by both contemporary art jewelers and Native American artists.

This stunning photo was taken by Dasha Wright, who also shot all the images for the exhibition’s catalog.

Material Revelation Exhibition

WHERE: Cabarrus Arts Council @cabarrusartscouncil
65 Union St S, Concord, NC

EXHIBITION DATES: April 25 - July 7, 2024
OPENING RECEPTION: April 25th, 5-7pm

Material Revelation explores the work of 20 Contemporary Art Jewelers using an array of non-traditional materials such as textiles, dirt, recycled plastic, tin cans, etc. Raising questions such as, "What is Jewelry?" and "What is it made of?"

As a wearable work of art, each of the art jewelry pieces featured in Material Revelation questions preciousness, wearability, form, and style while exploring social and environmental issues through experimentation, and storytelling. Contemporary Art Jewelry as a form of communication takes the viewer and wearer to a new perspective of what jewelry can be.

Sponsored by the Hilliard Family Foundation.

Participating Artists:

Julie Barello
Sulo Bee @sparkle_filth
Raquel Bessudo @raquelbessudo_jewelryartist
Kate Cusack @instakatecusack
Motoko Furuhashi @motokofuruhashi
Fabiana Gadano @fabiana_gadano
Renee Holliday @reneehollidayjewelry
Lorena Lazard @lorenalazard
Andy Lowrie @starbreakr
Rosa Murillo @murojewelry
emiko oye @emikooreware
Nanette Pengelley @hewjewelry
Louise Perrone @louise.perrone
Vania Ruiz @casakiro
Liz Steiner @lrsteiner7
Anna Talbot @annatalbotjewellery
James Thurman @jamesathurman
Jessica Tolbert @jessietolb
Marlene True @marelenetrue
Dongyi Wu @dongyi.w

Opening of InterFusion Art Gallery

Excited to have representation of my work in the Southwest with a NEW art jewelry and sculpture gallery, InterFusion Art which opened August 5th in Santa Fe, New Mexico!

Owners Brenda and Glenn Renner specifically curated a collection of jewelry, sculpture and textiles to show the interplay between each art form, the use of unique materials and techniques with designs that demonstrate concepts of support and structure.

I’m grateful to be included with other fellow talented jewelers such as: Luana Coonen, Meghan Patrice Riley, Mia Hebib, Nikki Couppee, Christy Klug, Diana Badalament, Elisa Bongfeldt, Didi Suydam, Kate Cusak, Erica Rosenfeld, Reiko Ishiyama, and many more!

If you find yourself in Santa Fe, you’ll want to make time to stop in and visit!

INTERFUSION ART
150 Washington Ave, Ste 103
Santa Fe, NM 87501

505-467-8081

HOURS:
Mon & Wed - Sat, 11am-5pm
Sunday, 11am-4pm

Wellness for Makers Podcast: Tools for Resilience with emiko oye

TOOLS FOR RESILIENCE with emiko oye
Podcast Episode aired April 20, 2021 
LISTEN

I'm excited to be this week's guest on the Wellness for Makers Podcast with Missy Graff Ballone, talking about my wellness journey and how it has helped balance my artistic career. I've done a lot of interviews over the years, and this is the first one to weave together my passions for art and self-care. I appreciate that she uses this platform to ask me how people can support the AAPI community at this time. Plus I get to plug our upcoming Well-Being event and AAPI Fundraiser!

Missy’s podcast is not only a delight to be a guest on, but I’ve listened to most all of her guest episodes (she started it during the pandemic), which covers a wide swath of wellness - mental, physical movement and pain management, emotional, ergonomic, as well as resources for artists. Not to mention her quickie episodes sharing simple movement tips and musings. 

Looking back at One World Exhibition - Gallery Loupe

My favorite exhibition that I was invited to participate in 2020, and what will forever encapsule how the pandemic has affected artists globally was Gallery Loupe’s One World: 40 Artists Respond to Covid-19.

Our world as we knew it shut down early March 2020, and Patti Bleicher of Gallery Loupe responded by contacting the gallery’s many artists and inviting us to create pendants to reflect what we were experiencing, how we saw this global crisis. Within a few weeks she and her team pulled this together as an online exhibition and a gorgeous, accompanying book.

I certainly did not make much artwork or jewelry in 2020, but this call got me back in to the studio to create my SUNDAY Pendant and inspired a new offshoot series of work for me that year.

Read this EXHIBITION REVIEW by Makiko Akiyama of Japan for Klimt02.net (I have a lovely feature in it).

ONE WORLD: 40 Artists Respond to COVID-19
Online Exhibition, Gallery Loupe
April 30 - Aug 30, 2020

EXCERPT FROM GALLERY LOUPE’S WEBSITE:

Throughout history, jewelry has often served as touchstones for health and well-being, charms for good luck, or symbols of faith in a better future. The novel coronavirus, with its fearsome implications and daily inconveniences, has brought the international community to a standstill, confronting us all with a common peril, and thereby illustrating just how interconnected we truly are, and unified we must continually be, to fight this existential threat together.

All of the works in Gallery Loupe’s virtual exhibition were priced at $750 or less, with most of the proceeds going to the artists to help them in their time of need.

A gorgeous E-Book Catalog showcases all of the pieces in the show, including artist statements and video clips.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:

Annamaria Zanella, Attai Chen, Barbara Seidenath, Biba Schutz, Caroline Gore, Deganit Stern, Schocken, emiko oye, Esther Knobel, Eva Eisler, Evert Nijland, Florian Milker, Georg Dobler, Jess Tolbert, Karin Roy Andersson, Kiff Slemmons, Klaus Burgel, Lané Vorster, Luci Jockel, Lynn Batchelder, Margit Jäschke, Matt Lambert, Millie Behrens, Missy Graff Ballone, Naama Bergman, Noam Elyashiv, Peter Bauhuis, Reiko Ishiyama, Renzo Pasquale, Rian de Jong, Robert Baines, Sandra Enterline, Seung-Hea Lee, Shachar Cohen, Stephen Gordon Holman, Thomas Gentille, Tim Veske McMahon, Uli Rapp, Urmas Lüüs, Vered Kaminski, Yutaka Minegish

Art & Savasana with emiko-o - NYCJW20 Event

This Program is part of New York City Jewelry Week 2020 “Mind Body Soul”
Art & Savasana with emiko-o: Yoga for Calming the Creative Mind

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020 1:30-2:30pm PST
LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP via Zoom
FREE EVENT
REGISTER HERE

Experience inner calm and spaciousness firsthand in this luxurious Restorative Yoga practice led by certified Yoga Teacher and artist emiko oye. Known for her jewelry made from LEGO®, she will begin this hour-long session with a brief look into the latest jewelry from her empathic series, 2 Be Seen. 

You will be guided through a grounding meditation and a few simple Restorative poses with breathing techniques to bring you into ease. Wear comfortable clothing to keep you warm as you lie on the floor. All are welcome.

PROPS TO HAVE FOR THE PRACTICE:
4-5 Blankets/Large Towels
2 Large Pillows/Cushions or Bolster
2 Hand Towels
Eye covering
Yoga Mat or carpet

RESTORATIVE YOGA is an inward and quiet practice using props to support the body in positions of comfort and ease, held low to the ground in stillness for periods of time. In this deep resting state, your nervous system comes into balance, tension in the body releases, and your brain can rest and repair. It has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety and improve sleep. When you are rested, everything is better!

NEW YORK CITY JEWELRY WEEK is the first and only week in the United States dedicated to promoting and celebrating the world of jewelry through educational and innovative focused programming.

NYCJW welcome arts and culture enthusiasts from around the globe to explore the multifaceted jewelry industry through ground-breaking exhibitions, forward-thinking panel discussions led by industry experts, exclusive workshop visits, heritage-house and independent studio tours, innovative retail collaborations, and other unforgettable one-of-a-kind programming created by the best and brightest in the industry across the world. 

Headed into its third year, NYC Jewelry Week 2020 presents the first virtual global jewelry week featuring over 80 events across 5 digital platforms for 7 days. The 2020 programming roster will enlighten, delight and educate an eager audience of jewelry consumers and  enthusiasts. Join us November 16 – 22, 2020 for a week of jewelry programming like no other. 

My LEGO® FRIENDS Music Video Debut!

https://youtu.be/0LaXc7bVNUU

Music Video shoot BTS

Jewelry I brought for the shoot

This past fall when I was in Los Angeles for the opening of Beyond Bling at LACMA, I had the most serendipitous opportunity of a lifetime! My husband and I randomly selected a quiet Italian restaurant to celebrate the LACMA opening, and it just so happens we were seated next to two lovely people from LEGO® Headquarters, Denmark. I was decked out in my Winter's Brush statement necklace and soon a conversation sparked about my LEGO® jewelry. Did I have more jewelry with me, they inquired, and what was I doing the next day? Would I be interested in having my jewelry styled on the girl band L2M for a music video whom they were collaborating for the 5th anniversary of the LEGO® Friends brand with an original song, "Living for the Rhythm".

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!! "Is this really happening? - THIS is the magic of L.A.!" is what continuously ran through my head that entire weekend. 

Yes, friends, I did have quite a bit of my newest limited edition pieces with me this trip and I did get to see the girls of L2M get styled out in many of my pieces, getting to witness behind-the-scenes the making of a music video. It takes a village, that's for certain, and I was blown away by the talents of Directors Coco & Breezy, twin prodigies from Brooklyn, NY of all that is hip and stylish, as they brought the best out of the band. Such talent abound!

Chatting with Producer Mads Munk revealed to me "this wouldn't have happened if you had TRIED to go through the appropriate channels at LEGO®, it could have only happened this way". Driving home the fact that sometimes it's all about being at the right place at the right time and GOING FOR IT! 

Watch the "Living For the Rhythm" music video for yourself, both the LEGO® Friends cut and L2M's cut. I get chills every time I watch it and LOVE how they credited me on YouTube - "L2M are wearing awesome LEGO® Jewelry created by Emiko Oye." Make sure to check out L2M's Channel, they are stars on the rise!

My Feature on Sticky Sundays!

I was recently featured on ADHESIVE&CO's blog, featuring creatives from all disciplines! If you're in a creative field and live in San Francisco, New York City, or Boston, and are inspired by meeting others who do what they love, you can experience the magic of an ADHESIVE&CO event firsthand. Check out the interview HERE. 

Huge props to their co-founder Brian Bergeron for the opportunity to expand my world (plus produce fantastic new headshots!)