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Rachel Nelson-Smith PO Box 8331, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8331 831-427-1227 studio 480-393-4576 fax appointments by arrangement
Artist's Statement Time is all I have. These are my interpretations of time passing, manifestations lasting long after I expire.
Exhibition Santa Cruz Open Studios, Santa Cruz, CA (2009) group show, "2009 Bead Invitational", Pismo Art Glass, Denver, CO (2009) group show, "Convergence: Contemporary Jewelry Design with Art Glass Beads", Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts Gallery, Miami, FL (2009) group show, "Convergence: Contemporary Jewelry Design with Art Glass Beads", Bead & Button Show, Milwaukee, WI (2009) group show, "Convergence: Contemporary Jewelry Design with Art Glass Beads", Ohio Glass Museum, OH (2009) group show, Santa Cruz County Building, Santa Cruz, CA (2009) Bead Invitational, Lux Center for the Arts, Lincoln, NE (2008) group show, Milpitas Museum, Milpitas, CA (2003) group show, Santa Cruz Metro Center, Santa Cruz, CA (2003)
Publications author, Seed Bead Fusion, Rachel Nelson-Smith (2009) gallery, Beaded Opulence, Marcia DeCoster (2009) gallery & project, TBA (wire), Sharilyn Miller (2009) profile, Masters: Beadweaving, Carol Wilcox Wells. (2008) projects, Not Your Mama’s Beading, Kate Shoup-Welsh. (2006) project, Bead Bugle (2006) projects, Bead & Button Magazine (2004—2006) projects, Bead Style Magazine (2006)
Speaking Bead Society of Northern Virginia (2008) Santa Cruz Bead Society (2008) Bead Society of Greater New York (2008) Northern California Bead Society (2008) Central Coast Textile Association (2008) South Bay Bead Art Guild (2008) San Diego Bead Society (2008) The Beading Frenzy, San Mateo, CA (2007)
Design Delisch, Santa Cruz, CA (2006) Zia Jewelry, Santa Barbara, CA (2005-2007)
Teaching Retail Locations The Beading Frenzy, San Mateo, CA (2002—present) Beads by Blanche, Bergenfield, NJ (2008) Beads R Us, Alexandria, LA (2008) Creative Castle, Newbury Park, CA (2008) Bead Haven, Frankenmuth, MI (2007) San Gabriel Bead Company, Arcadia, CA (2007) Beads Plus, Stockton, CA (2004) Forbeadin’, San Francisco, CA (2003) Sew Beadazzled, San Jose, CA (2003) Baubles & Beads, Berkeley/San Rafael, CA (2001—2003) Peninsula Bead Supply, San Jose, CA (1999—2001) Bead It, Santa Cruz, CA (1999—2001) The Place to Bead, San Ramon, CA (1999—2000) The Bead Shoppe, Sacramento, CA (2000) Beaded Bungalow, Nashville, TN (2000) Bead Hive, Scotts Valley, CA (1999) 3 Beads & a Button, Cupertino, CA (1996—1998)
City Programs Capitola Parks & Recreation (2003—present) Scotts Valley Recreation (2006 to 2008) Redwood City Parks & Recreation (2003—2007) Cupertino Parks & Recreation (2003—2007) Palo Alto Adult School (2003—2007) Monterey Parks & Recreation (2005—2007) Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation (2003—2006) Stockton Parks & Recreation (2003—2006) Los Altos Parks & Recreation (2003—2004) City of Morgan Hill (2003—2004) Milpitas Parks & Recreation (2003—2004) First Night Santa Cruz (2003) Societies & Guilds Central California Bead Society (2009) Bead Society or Northern Virginia (2008) Wild West Bead Society, Fort Worth, Texas (2008) Bead Society of Greater New York (2008) Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild (2008) San Francisco Embroiderers Guild (2007) South Bay Bead Art Guild (1998)
National Shows Bead & Button Show. Milwaukee, WI (2005—2009) Lapidary Journal’s Bead Fest, Philadelphia, PA (2005, 2009) Puget Sound Bead Festival, Tacoma (2006– 2007, 2009) Bead Cruise, Mexico & Jamaica (2007—2008) Hooked on Wire Retreat, San Francisco, CA (2005-2008) Swarovski, Tucson, AZ (2006—2007) Bead Expo, Charleston, NC (2006) Bead Fest Atlanta, Atlanta, GA (2006)
Art Schools & Private Groups Altos de Chavon School of Design, La Romana, Dominican Republic (2004) Camp Gan Israel, Sunnyvale, CA (2005-2006) private lessons (1998 – present)
Short Bio Rachel Nelson-Smith, author of Seed Bead Fusion, is a master beadweaver whose work is infused with her unique combination of fabrication techniques. With a wealth of knowledge and fearless adventure, needle and tools shape bold and vibrant works alive with enormous energy and dynamism. Finding inspiration in surrounding nature, pure color, and beads themselves, Rachel creates pieces reflecting the world she sees around her.
Coloring outside the lines, an approach based in freedom allows her to extemporaneously express thoughts as they happen--with wide use of color and energy, physical manifestations are created in beads and wire.
Examples of her dynamic finished work have appeared in Masters: Beadweaving (Carol Wilcox Wells, 2008, Lark Books) where she was featured along with other modern beadweaving masters in 2008 as well as seven projects in Kate Shoup Welsh’s Not Your Mama’s Beading (2006, Wiley Publishing) and instructional jewelry-making books by Marcia DeCoster (2009) and Sharilyn Miller (2009). Rachel’s Seed Bead Fusion (Interweave Press) will release in September2009.
Rachel works a dual focus of pushing the boundaries of improvisational beadweaving combinations and wire techniques and to amaze the viewer. Since 1996, Rachel has offered basic to advanced classes in the California Bay Area for the South Bay Bead Art Guild, bead stores, park & recreation programs, and privately. Since 2005, her designs have been offered at national bead shows like Bead & Button and Puget Sound Bead Festival and around the US in bead stores and for bead societies. She hopes to teach in Japan and Europe and write a series of books.
Residing in beautiful Santa Cruz, CA with husband Colin, Rachel endeavors to spread peace and inspiration through her peerless achievements.
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2009 glass, nylon, silver
15" (38.1cm) x 8" (20.3cm) x 1" (2.4cm)
created in collaboration with lampwork bead artist Patty Lakinsmith
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2009 glass, leather, crystal, nylon, sterling
11" (27.9cm) x 10" (25.4cm)
created in collaboration with lampwork bead artist Ronit Dagan (Herzdia, Israel)
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Meditation on Life, Death, and Beads 2009 glass, nylon
8" (20.3cm) wide x 10.5" (26.7cm) tall |
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2009 glass, silk, nylon
8" (20.3cm) x 20" (50.8cm) x 1.5" (3.8cm) Necklace Length, 20" (50.8cm)
created in collaboration with lampwork bead artist Ronit Dagan (Herzdia, Israel) |
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2009 glass, willow, nylon
24" (61cm) x 10" (25.4cm) x 10" (25.4cm)
created in collaboration with lampwork bead artist Ronit Dagan (Herzdia, Israel) |
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Life's a Circus Cuff 2009 glass, crystal, nylon, velvet, metal
5" (12.7cm) x 3" (7.6cm) x 2" (5.1cm) |
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Live Green Every Day 2009 glass, leather, nylon, crystal
3" (7.6cm) x 3" (7.6cm) x 3" (7.6cm) Cuff Length, 8" (20.3cm)
collection of Anne Della Cort |
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2009 glass, crystal, nylon, sterling
8" (20.3cm) x 2" (5.1cm) x 1" (2.54cm) Bracelet Length, 8" (20.3cm) |
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Florid Splendor 2009 glass, crystal, nylon
10" (25.4cm) x 6" (15.2cm) x .75" (1.9cm) Necklace Length, 19" (48.3cm) |
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O. Bersten Component Specimen Necklace 2008 crystal, glass, gold
22" (55.9cm) x 10" (25.4cm) x .75" (1.9cm) Necklace Length, 19" (48.3cm)
completed with assistance from Liz Penn |
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2008 glass, pearl, crystal, sterling, coral, nylon
18" (45.7cm) x 9" (22.9cm) x 1" (2.54cm) Necklace Length, 20" (50.8cm)
created in collaboration with lampwork bead artist Wayne Robbins |
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Beon Freo Cuff 2007 glass, crystal, sterling, nylon
8" (20.3cm) x 2.5" (6.4cm) x 1" (2.54cm) |
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Ode to Aunt Suzie 2006 glass, polyetholine, silver, vintage crystal
18" (45.7cm) x 16" (40.6cm) x 1.25" (3.2cm) |
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Nashville Topple 2000 glass, various materials, nylon
10" (25.4cm) x 10" (25.4cm) x .75" (1.9cm) Necklace Length, 16" (40.6cm) |
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Monterey Bay 2000 glass, nylon
10" (25.4cm) x 10" (25.4cm) x .25" (0.6cm) Necklace Length, 18" (45.7cm) |
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