Precious Little: Poetics of the Found-Object
a workshop of creativity, exploration and construction

The materials we use for creative expression can be found literally at our feet.
Join noted American art jeweller Keith Lo Bue on an energetic exploration of unusual and unexpected materials in jewelry making. Through hands-on projects and thought-provoking instruction, students will learn the varied methods of selection and assembly this limitless palette demands. No previous jewellery experience is required; all that’s needed is enthusiasm and the desire to work with your hands. Whatever your present focus or skill level, you will come away with new insights into the possibilities of your surroundings.

AUSTRALIAN Supply list

New: Precious Little KIT!
For my Australian workshops, I'm offering, for the first time ever, a 'starter-pack' kit that will include many of the essential tools and materials listed below in the 'required tools' section, to get you up and running with your found materials!

If purchased separately off my site, this package would cost more than $US250.

COST for Participants: $AU240 + $20 shipping

Included in the kit:
• Large Linesman plier
• Mini Linesman plier
• Large Round Nose plier
• Extra-wide handmade bench pin
• Memory-Wire Shear Cutter
• Slim-line Centre-punch
• Special Capped Glue Syringe filled with Fuller Ultra-Clear
• Roll of 1.57mm Tie Wire
• Roll of 1mm tie wire
• Roll of .8mm tie wire
• Vintage Paper Pack (19th-century - and earlier - misc paper)
• 3M Polishing Paper Set

Email me to order <here>

REQUIRED TOOLS:

The tools below are things you will be certainly using in the workshop, and to avoid having to wait for a communal tool to become available, you should plan on getting them for the class:

• roll of 'reo tie wire' (found for under $10 in hardware stores in the construction materials section, near the cinder block and chain-link fencing. IMPORTANT: make sure it is steel or iron wire, NOT galvanized!...it should be dark grey-black) If met with blank stares, tell them it's for tying reo-rod together. NOTE: You won't need to haul the whole roll, as it's quite heavy - bring 1/4 of it with you and you'll have plenty!
• Cordless hand drill -If you have a variable-speed hand drill already, you won't need a cordless, but if you don't own a power drill yet, this is a great example and an excellent value.
• Lightweight matte acrylic varnish <here>
• Lightweight Gloss acrylic varnish <here>
• Special Capped Glue Syringe filled with Fuller Ultra-Clear <here>
• Memory wire cutters (this makes cutting the re-bar wire a cinch): <Here>
• automatic centre punch <here>
• foam ear plugs, if you're sensitive to hammering (we'll keep the noise down as much as possible, but there will be some, so just to be safe....
• Work gloves (to protect hands while working the wire - look for a close-fitting kind, rather than a big gardening-glove type)
• A small ball-pein hammer - Perfect size (and inexpensive) one - here
• a regular pair of utility or linesman pliers (you can buy the bees-knees ones here - also can be found at Bunnings or Mitre 10)
• round-nose pliers: I will have these for sale in class.
• Bench Pin <here>
• One 150mm bar clamp <Here> The little 115mm one is VERY handy as well - <here>. Get one of each if you can, you'll use them all the time.
• small file (any fine-tooth file will do)
• drill bits (any standard hardware-store set)
• extra 1/16" drill bit
• piece of scrap wood to drill into
• fine steel wool (find it in a paint-supply section of a hardware store)
• 3M Polishing Paper Set - quite simply some of the coolest polishing equipment money can buy <Here>

IDEAS FOR FOUND OBJECTS / RAW MATERIAL TO BRING:

glass scraps
acrylic paint
wire
sheet metal stock
tin cans
medicine tins
eating utensils
electronics / machine parts
broken cameras or appliances
small scraps of wood or small readymade found boxes
books to use for collaging (bring a few really old ones: pre-1910 - if you've got them, as I'll demonstrate some great things to do with them)
personal effects or memorabilia
letters
documents
postcards
maps
photos
stamps
fabrics
buttons
keys
record albums
audio cassettes
eyeglasses or magnifying glasses
medical tools
dental tools
interesting old pencils or pens
toys
dominoes
dice
game pieces
artifacts: religious or secular
bones
feathers
leaves
acorns
insects
straw
stones
eggshell
bark
teeth
fossils
pressed flowers
screws
washers
hinges
hooks
nails
x-rays
keys
ETC.
ETC.
ETC.
ETC.
ETC.
Get the picture?
The list could go on forever, because nothing you bring CAN'T be used!

It's really a list to perhaps spark some inspiration on your end for what to pack. Any small objects that you find interesting for any ole reason should be brought.

 

RESOURCES FOR OBJECTS:

thrift / junk / antique shops
scrap metal yards
flea markets
garage sales
auctions
antique / ephemera fairs
hardware stores
art / craft supply stores

FREESOURCES FOR OBJECTS:

roadsides
parking lots
beaches
woods (bush to the Commonwealthers!)
abandoned buildings
dumps
dumpsters (only for the strong-stomached)
caves
eaves
attics
neighbors' attics
friends' eaves...

 

OPTIONAL TOOLS:

The tools below are not required for the class; they're helpful, so don't run out and buy them all. They would facilitate you to go in many directions with your work. Bring what you have, and call the workshop venue to check and see if they have some of these things on hand. Some studios are very well equipped, and some rely on students bringing what they need.

screwdrivers
tin-snips or metal shears
scribe
hacksaw
circle / geometric templates
masking / sticky / scotch tape
sandpaper
paint brushes

And any tools particular to a media you are conversant in...if you're a book artist, bring materials for binding, etc., painters bring your paints and sketchbooks...and those who've never ventured out into creative waters bring some junk and an open mind!

I look forward to a wild ride of exchange and creation with you all. As we share these days together, I ask each of you to bring slides and/or actual examples of your own work to share with each other, if you have them...this exchange heightens the creative energy and will enable you and I to personalize your own approach to the found material arena.

Please email me with any questions you might have that this page didn't address.

See you there! Keith