Diebenkorn Lived Here

Series of wearable sculptures
Limited Edition convertible pin/pendants, 2016

The abstract landscape paintings of Richard Diebenkorn, specifically the Bay Area influenced work made a significant impression on my young artistic eye when I first saw the retrospective of his work at SFMoMA in 1998, as I began planting roots here in SF fresh out of art school. Recently his influence resurfaced to my bench as I began to further work in abstraction with my art jewelry made from LEGO®, translating his paintings into small scale, wearable “sculptural paintings” that convert from pendant to pin to object. The composition of patterns and color ways from his Berkeley series especially caught my eye as lending well to LEGO® reinterpretation. After selecting a painting to work with, I sit with it for quite awhile, viewing from all orientations, honing in on a particular segment to translate into a piece of jewelry. 

Diebenkorn Lived Here 47
SFMoMA Exclusive convertible pin/pendant, © 2016 emiko oye
Inspired by “Berkeley #47” oil painting by Richard Diebenkorn, 1955
From The Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Repurposed LEGO®, Argentium silver, patinated sterling silver, recycled tin, steel pin
2 13/16” L x 2 3/16” W x 1 1/8” H.  25.25” chain

In Diebenkorn's “Berkeley 47” I was drawn to the top left section of the painting and liked it best turned upside down, using the green as earthy grounding.

the Table
Limited Edition convertible pin/pendant, 2015
Inspired by “The Table” oil painting by Richard Diebenkorn, 1957
From the Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collection, Iowa

Repurposed LEGO®, Argentium silver, patinated sterling silver, recycled tin, steel pin
3.0625” L x 2.5” W x 1.5” D. 25.25” chain

In Diebenkorn’s “The Table” I was drawn to the top left section of the painting and liked it best rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise, using the yellow table in the painting as a vertical element, deconstructing it into a more 3 dimensional object.

the Scape
Limited Edition convertible pin/pendant, 2016
Inspired by “Untitled Landscape” oil painting by Richard Diebenkorn, 1955

Repurposed LEGO®, Argentium silver, patinated sterling silver, recycled tin, steel pin
2.75”L x 1.875”W x 1.5”D. 25.25” chain

In Diebenkorn’s “Untitled Landscape” I was drawn to the bottom half of the painting and rotated it 90 degrees clockwise, using the yellow field as a bottom anchor, utilizing the bold diagonals as a way to break across the usual LEGO® grid.