Manifesto

Last year sometime I heard someone (and I honestly can't remember who) say slightly snidely "Well! You don't want finger prints in your polymer clay!" and that did it for me. I started working on beads that had my finger prints as their texture.

Lately I've been wrestling with the big ideas of copying and being authentic and how can any of us ever be sure we aren't unwittingly using too much of someone else's idea, what with the overwhelming number of visual images we have access to EVERY SINGLE DAY. Angst.

It seemed like the right time to finally complete and post this necklace. The white beads are made with my finger prints. No one can copy my fingerprints but if someone would copy the beads they will be forced to use THEIR OWN finger prints. I enjoy the irony.

And so...

...someone has copied some of my pieces. Its was unsettling to come upon their Etsy shop, a bit like seeing your own head on another body. My designs are simple so maybe this is an unfortunate but natural side effect.

They openly state in their shop that they are "inspired" by me. Now I've had people say that before, that is, they see something I did, they change the ideas, they make their own, they let me know they posted a picture on their blog or flickr and its humbling and kind ( and exciting). That is not wrong. We learn from each and then we can make the KNOWLEDGE, not the item, our own. And when everyone plays by the rules...it's actually great! Those with more knowledge have more of a "reserve" from which to share and the rest of us need to be respectful of that. (and to heighten the effect you can do what I do and stand in the Ford/Forlano booth at ACC and weep ;-)


No, inspiration is something completely different than copying. So where is the dividing line? MOST of us don't want to step over that line - me included!


Forging head with new rings, new necklaces, new earrings!