I have been doing research on the mechanic of tripod in order to build a tripod. It is not easy to find the information I really need. I have been thinking about checking out the tube light kit from Film equipment because they do have the specific tripod I want to reconstruct with my own designs. Here is the image of the specific tripod I want to study...



While I was researching, I came across various of interesting ways to make tripods. I found a website on how to make tripod for telescope out of crutches. Here is the link http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/reflections/2003/dnelle.1.html

Big Changes in my Life

I have made some major changes in my academic career at UWM. I hate to say I left Metalsmith program to focus on my second degree in Films. My life goal is to attend graduate school at NYU for film. In order to do that, I want to be able to develop better work, than just trying to complete many courses and many majors (I used to technically have 4 majors and I need to set limit to myself).

I am staying in Frankie's class this semester but left Stacey's class. I know some of you might be upset with me but it is for the best for me.

I am going to make the arm rester for the deaf blind. I have thought about small things such as what kind of tripod I want to make and the attachments (various to fit with one's comfort) and carry bag. I will try to figure out how to work with my scanner at home and post some of the sketches I have for this project.

Artist Jennifer Crupi

I researched about this artist in the past and learned how Jennifer decides to work with certain body movements (gestures) and make a body sculpture. This is a simple idea and at the same time strong idea. I am still working on my arm rester for the deaf blind idea. I really want to make one for Frankie's class. I came up with this idea last semester and want to see this happen.

Here is the website to Jennifer Crupi's work.

Friggin' Sweet Craft Fair in Chicago

This craft fair I attended in Chicago was really AMAZING! I have been to SOFA before when I attended high school but this craft fair is so awesome. If you didnt go, you are MISSING out big time. The fair gave me a lot of inspirations and constant reminder to be simple. I do try to be simple with my works but I always think too hard and start to get over frustrated with myself.

Few things I learned from the fair...the most important thing for myself is to BE SIMPLE. There were so many beautiful objects for sale that are so simple and can be produced several times in variety ways. It made me feel so dumb for thinking too hard.

Other thing I learned from this fair is the most common theme throughout the art world today is organic, recycleable materials, "go green". I think that is interesting for me because I always want to be able to reuse the materials I find in my house to create something else with it than just to discharge.

I really like how simple and the set ups are for their display. It made me feel like our object sale from last year was ugly and boring. It did not feel very appealing to me when I was trying to convince the potiential buyers. With the display at the fair, they were able to capture my attention and make me want to go closer to see what is going on there. One display used simple poreclain vases and bowls and made their jewelry really elegant even if they are not that elegant but I think display do make a strong impression with your work. Frankie and Stacey is right that we need to improve our display for our sale this year.

My personal experience, I have been struggling to come up with ideas of using my own photographs and combing them with metals like jewelry. At the fair, I saw several simple ideas that I didnt think of myself. I bought 3 necklaces with photo attached to them (I will attach the photo of the necklace later when I have time, and bring it to class on monday sept 14). It made me feel like eureka! and at the same time, DUH!

The last thing I found interesting is the materials they used. They used felt, paper, fabric, vinyl, plastic, rubber, brass, silver, and many more. Some of them even made soaps! One artist made soaps that have theme inside like some kind of landscape or toys inside the soap. I thought that was interesting variety of the materials being used. In metals studio at UWM, I am constantly feeling that I am being forced to use specific materials all of time. I feel like that I should be able to learn how to use other materials but havent had the chance to do so. I wonder if I can try to step outside the box this year and create some kind of sweet work with other materials than just fine metals.

Hello I am CATIE ELLER!

Greetings! I am currently Super-Senior at UWM (yes, I have been here that long...5 years). I major in Visual Arts Photography and Metalsmith AND Film production and photography. I hailed from Madison, WI. I was born and raised there and moved to Milwaukee for school. Not much of exciting moving in my life. I enjoy traveling very much. I recently went to Seattle/Seabeck for 10 days to volunteer at deaf blind camp and loved it there very much. This past summer I decided to take interpreter test and passed! I also got crowned as Miss Deaf Wisconsin 2009-2011.

My life plans....that is tough because it is constantly changing. I want to graduate from UWM for sure. I hope to be a full time artist and part time interpreter for the deaf blind community in west coast. Maybe going to graduate school for Film.

I enjoy reading, photography, sleep, trying bunch of beer out there, traveling, working on some personal art projects and pretty much a lot of other things too.

I hope to get to know you as well! Please feel free to ask me anything about myself or my work :)