Neve Shaver

I influence each of the objects that I use: the clothes that I wear, the key that opens the door to my apartment, the mug that has been chipped jamming it into the dishwasher. How objects live, how they change in time and with use, interests me. As an object maker, I look to forms of function and vessels to create this cause-and-effect relationship. As I build forms, I give them definitions. I use them, manipulate them, nurture them into existence, simplify them, and at times, alter their functionality. As a metalsmith, I am intrigued by the intuitive nature of raising metal yet want to express the reciprocal relationship between the object and the possibilities and limitations inherent in the medium. The choice of materials, the development of form, the revisions, and mistakes are evidence of my thoughts and my hand. Starting from a copper or sterling silver disk, I angle raise bowls, vessels, and hollow objects, eventually leading to functional shapes. What these forms become is clearer with every strike. The metal responds to my mood; the objects embodies my emotion. In this way the metal comes alive. Its life is shaped through my hand. By modeling a metal disk into a vessel, it becomes an ornamented spout and handle. It develops into a teapot. The function of the form creates purpose for my objects. Through my work, I hope to convey a functional object that represents myself. As I create and manipulate these forms, they build a history and vocabulary. My emotions, my choices, and my experiences are funneled through them. In this way, I try to breathe life into my work, to allow my objects to live on their own.


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