As both a metalsmith and a sculptor, the work shown in SEE represents two sides of the same coin. To me, jewelry is small scale sculpture and sculpture can be viewed as large scale jewelry. The moment jewelry is too large to adorn the body, it becomes sculpture to adorn the space in which it occupies. Narratives are always at play in my work and the way humans exist and move through the natural world is a common thread through both the jewelry and the sculpture.
The process of getting from point A to point B has been an interest of mine ever since I learned to sail on a reservoir high in the mountains of Colorado. Now, seventeen years and three boats later, the process of getting from point A to B is still as fascinating to me as it was then.
This theme has seeped into every aspect of my life and, as an artist, it has found its way into my work. The pieces shown here were created very much in the spirit of the adventure I find in sailing. The suspended sculptures resemble vessels that could be futuristic versions of sailing craft or possibly a throwback to the age of the dirigible. My jewelry is also inspired by movement, sometimes implied and sometimes quite literally. Construction methods are similar to the sculpture but scale, materials and processes are quite different. I am addicted to my materials and the infinite number of choices and methods for assembly.
Disco War Ship, 2014
Ash, Steel, Dacron, Polyester, Halogen Bulbs, Clock Motor, Disco Ball
Danny Saathoff, Instructor in Art
Danny Saathoff teaches metalsmithing which focuses on jewelry based design skills in fabrication and casting. He is both a jewelry designer and a sculptor. Because of this, his work ranges from the very small and intimate to the very large and substantial but always focusing on craftsmanship and detail. He is the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board grant for 2017 and he recently completed a major commission for the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Airport where he created 24 zeppelin style lightships that fly through the terminal. His jewelry has been exhibited nationally and sold in galleries across the country.