polarity by Sandra M. Farmer
Our incredibly talented stylist, Siddal (Sandra M. Farmer) will be debuting her brand new mixed media collection, Polarity at our West Seattle VAIN location on Thursday, December 10th from from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m for West Seattle's December Art Walk
Our incredibly talented stylist, Siddal (Sandra M. Farmer) will be debuting her brand new mixed media collection, Polarity at our West Seattle VAIN location on Thursday, December 10th from from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m for West Seattle's December Art Walk. Check out our exclusive interview with Siddal below for more information about her work, and make sure to stop by the opening reception!
Sandra M. Farmer earned her BFA in Crafts with a focus in Ceramics and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Pre-Art Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002. Farmer focuses on figurative ceramics and mixed media and has been teaching ceramics and art for the past 10 years at various studios and institutions including the Children’s Museum of Richmond in Virginia, and The Seattle Art Museum, The Children’s Museum in Seattle, Pottery Northwest, Kirkland Arts Center, Moisher Arts Center, North Seattle Community College and Redmond Clay Studio in Washington. She's been a licensed stylist and with us at VAIN Beauty World since 2012.
You've been working with mixed media and sculpture for a long while; is that your preferred medium? Will polarity include mostly sculpture and clay works, or are you exploring other mediums?
"Yes, I've been working with clay for almost 20 years! Clay is my chosen medium because of its dimensional honesty and tactile immediacy. I use mainly a coil/slab technique creating strength while allowing the figure to emerge accordingly. This show is all ceramic sculpture with some mixed media elements. Clay is definitely my favorite medium, but I have often added other materials like found objects, metal, glass, etc. depending on the piece. Sometimes I find something that speaks to me and build a piece around that, other times I need to search for that special something that will complete the piece."
What inspired this collection? Any themes we should be aware of? Do you have a general artist statement?
"I've been thinking of the word polarity and what it means; how you can feel more than one way at a time, seeing both sides of an issue, and opposites and the threads that connect them. My work for polarity questions and explores the role of nurturer and investigates themes like fear, identity, and choice. Figures reveal their uncomfortable introspection, mostly unsure of their roles while reluctantly accepting associated burdens. I use the figure for immediate recognition and to allow the viewer easier access. My goal is always to connect to the viewer and get a response."
Tell us a little bit about your pieces. Which ones were your favorite to create? How many pieces are you including in the show?
"I made nine hand-sized pieces I've just been calling "the girls;" those were fun and much smaller in size than I normally work with. Parts of those were made with a mold but each piece is very distinctive. There are also three almost life sized heads- "contradiction ," "separation," and "antithesis," a conversation piece called "antagonism," a larger piece called "the gift" and a piece that includes three smaller busts called "The Moirai."
To read more about Siddal at VAIN, check out her profile here and RSVP to polarity on Facebook!
Seattle Made!
Seattle Made Week at VAIN was a great success, and we have you to thank! We had a great time at our Meet the Maker events featuring JMCCORMICK Designs in Ballard, Coventry by Siddal downtown and Dolcetta Artisan Sweets in West Seattle. If you missed our Meet the Maker events, visit the artists online, and for more Coventry by Siddal designs, stop into our boutique at all three VAIN locations. Thank you for supporting VAIN and other local artists and businesses by shopping local, and thank you Seattle Made for providing an opportunity to celebrate our community and economy!
Seattle Made Friday: Coventry By Siddal at VAIN Downtown
Superstar stylist and dread master Siddal will be at VAIN Downtown on Friday, September 25th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. for our very own in-house Meet the Maker event!
Before becoming a stylist, Siddal studied ceramics and art therapy, spending much of her free time creating beautiful sculptures and handmade pieces from a variety of materials. Today, she teaches at the Seattle Art Museum and the Kirkland Arts Center and works on her own jewelry line, Coventry by Siddal, at her studio in Fremont.
Don't miss this opportunity to check out Siddal's work and talk with her about supporting local art.
Coventry By Siddal is available at VAIN Downtown and VAIN West Seattle.
Seattle Made Week at VAIN!
We're celebrating Seattle Made Week at all three of our VAIN locations and we couldn't be more excited!
We're celebrating Seattle Made Week at all three of our VAIN locations and we couldn't be more excited!
Seattle Made Week highlights the local makers and do'ers within our community and runs Saturday, September 19th to Saturday, September 26th, so be on the lookout for pop-up shops, Meet the Maker Events, and local goods and services in your favorite Seattle neighborhoods.
By supporting Seattle Made Week, you're also supporting a diverse local ecosystem of manufacturers and producers who strengthen our economy, employ Seattle residents, and help make the Seattle community unique. For more on Seattle Made events this week and beyond, check out the Seattle Made Calendar.
VAIN Maker Spotlight:
Belinda The Bold
Our master waxer and makeup extraordinaire, Belinda is not only an incredibly talented esthetician (brows beware! #belindabrows) -- she is also super creative. Stop into VAIN Downtown or VAIN West Seattle to see Belinda's lovely hand-crafted collection of banners and cake toppers that are sure to please any and all partygoers. Check out Belinda The Bold on Etsy and Instagram for more from your favorite sassy lady at VAIN!
Coventry By Siddal
Superstar stylist and dread master Siddal will be at VAIN Downtown Friday, September 25th from 5 p.m.- 8p.m. for our very own, in-house Meet the Maker event. When she's not at VAIN, Siddal teaches at the Seattle Art Museum and the Kirkland Arts Center and makes pieces for her jewelry line Coventry by Siddal, which is for sale at our Downtown and West Seattle boutiques. Stop in, check out Siddal's work, and talk with her about supporting local art.
How-To Hair Girl
Our beloved DIY product mogul, hair tutorial expert, Free Your Pits Co-Founder, and all around badass stylist Roxie Hunt will feature her handmade ShamPhree & Free Your Hair products from How-To Hair Girl at all three VAIN locations during Seattle Made Week. Come check out the best in handmade natural hair care products, and follow Roxie on Instagram for product details and styling ideas.
Local Maker Spotlight:
In addition to featuring VAIN stylists and staff members during Seattle Made Week, we're also teaming up with local businesses and artisans to feature handmade products from our community.
On Wednesday, September 23rd from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., stop by VAIN Ballard for our Meet the Maker Event featuring Julie McCormick from JMCCORMICK Designs.
On Sunday, September 27th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., check out our VAIN West Seattle Meet the Maker Event featuring Andrea Terrenzio of Dolcetta Chocolates.
Other Seattle-made goods featured at VAIN during Seattle Made Week include:
+Wild Things Skinny Dipped Almonds
Contests & Prizes:
This week, Seattle Made Week and Seattle Good Business are hosting an Instagram hashtag contest and VAIN is joining the fun.
Post a photo of a locally made product at your favorite VAIN location on Instagram with the tag #seattlemadecontest and you'll have a chance to win some great prizes! For a second chance to win, add #vainbeautyworld and #vainseattlemade to your post.