Helen Wyland-Malchow

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATES

ORIGINS OF MOKUME GANE AND CUSTOM CUT

Students will learn the origins of Mokume Gane from the original designs, Guribori Tsuba, Mokume Gane and Damascus steel. Examples from the Edo period and the artists who created them will be discussed. Connections will also be made to early Neriage and Nerikomi ceramics .Students will learn about classic patterns and relate them to the patterns we now make in Polymer. Students will learn how a billet is made,, how the metal is sintered out and unified into a solid block and then rolled out and the surface manipulated to make the Mokume Gane and damascene pattern. Japanese finishing techniques will be discussed and the patina it creates. Contemporary Mokume Gane and Damascene images will be shown. After the origins power point, I will talk about using your voice to create designs. I will use these designs to make custom cut plate both additive and subtractive in the Mokume Gane technique.

ABOUT HELEN

Helen Wyland-Malchow is a retired Fine Arts teacher with over 34 years’ experience in the field. She specialized in Pottery, metalsmithing and Foundations. She was head of the 3-D department for over 15 years.

Twelve years ago, she was searching for unique teapots to share with students and ran across Jeff Devers Wire and Polymer teapot. The rest is history, Helen had a new love.

She uses methods and techniques from her educational background and applies them to her Polymer Jewelry, Vessels, Boxes and Containers. She makes her own molds, plates and ceramic forms to make her visions come to life.

Helen is a Nationally and Internationally awarded Artist; she has published many how to articles for various magazines and continues to teach on the National level.

OBJECTIVE

Attendees will learn the origins of Mokume Gane and how to make their own additive and subtractive plates for Mokume Gane.