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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: long island

Inspiration Photo Friday: Falling in Love

06 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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autumn, cherry trees, earth, fall, falling in love, grass, harvest, heaven, home sweet home, long island, love, mother earth, nature, new york, overgrowth, pear trees, seasons, spring, summer, trees, weather

I have been in love with nature since I can remember. Always wanting to be surrounded by grass and trees and getting inspired by the beautiful varieties and colors of plants and flowers, Mother Nature will forever have my heart.

The spring and summer seasons are nice but fall is my favorite. It’s full of rustic hues and woodsy tones and sets up the stage for the Earth to shed its skin. Baring it all for us to see. How romantic is that? And through the whole process, we can experience the most beautiful weather filled with crisp air, refreshing winds, and just enough warmth from the sun. And although the trees will eventually let go of their leaves and flowers no longer bloom, the idea of harvest sets in. It’s time for a whole new world of color, flavor, and adventure.

I took this photo in our yard yesterday. Every now and then I take a walk to the very back and look around. From the cherry and pear trees to the overgrowth on the fence, there is just so much to love. The funny thing, we didn’t create any of it. All this beauty was here when we got here and has been part of the property for many years and I wouldn’t change a thing. Now we can experience history and the future in this little piece of heaven we call home.

I believe falling in love with people is not healthy because you should be uplifted when love is in your heart. But when it comes to the glorious Mother Nature, I fall in love more and more everyday. There is just something about the Earth that makes you want to fall into it and breathe it in. To climb a tree and be within its branches, to lay in the grass and feel it between your toes, to explore a woodsy trail and feel at peace when the forest consumes you….there is nothing in the world that can bring this much pleasure. And to experience this everyday in my own backyard, is the best gift of all.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Falling in Love

A Day at the Fair

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in News, Shop Gray Star Design

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animals, art, charity, crafts, design, fair, farm, garden of eve organic farm, long island, music, new york, riverhead, the forgotten friends of long island, vendor

This past Saturday I was a vendor at The Forgotten Friends of Long Island Spring Fair held at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm in Riverhead, NY. It was a beautiful day for sure. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, and the farm was filled with happy animals and lots of plants. My husband and I were there a little before 9 am to set up my table and tent, and then the event started an hour later. For my first event, I have to say I enjoyed it a lot.

There were many vendors there, both artists and food crafters, as well as live music acts. I met some people and passed along my card which is always a good thing. Although I didn’t expect to sell a lot of items, I did make some money. My intent was to support a great cause and get my work out there to more local people. I feel that was very successful.

It also made me smile that some of my family made it out to say hello and take a look around. Big thanks to my cousin Diana, aunt Deb, Grandmother, and in laws for visiting my first fair! It was really cool to have them all there. I feel I am now more prepared for the next event I am part of, as I thought of lots of ideas of how to present my items and attract more people to my table. It’s all about the presentation. And even though I felt my table was super cute, it will be much improved next time around.

Here are some photos I took of the day. Enjoy.

A Day at the Fair - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena A Day at the Fair - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena A Day at the Fair - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena A Day at the Fair - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp

20 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Featured Artists

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Tags

Adornment and Torment, art, Assad Mounser, Chloe Angelides, Chris Bernabeo, dark temptations, design, emotions, enchantment, england, Henry Mounser, history, jewelry, jewelry design, Kelly DeKenipp, long island, metalsmithing, new york, Pratt's Junior Jewelry Review, Sayville Advocates of the Visual Arts Fine Artist award, torture, torture chambers, whimsy

“This allows for an awareness of darkness to exist in light.” If this statement intrigues you, then so will Kelly DeKenipp’s work. Built through concepts of traumatic emotional experiences and dark temptations, her pieces translate the realities of uneasy and somber motifs into objects of everyday wear. “My jewelry is executed with a sense of enchantment, paired with whimsical elements,” explains the designer.

Born and raised on Long Island, DeKenipp was always inspired by emotional experiences and romantic ideas. As a child she loved creating with her hands and crafted various jewelry pieces as well as small objects from paper and fabrics. In high school she won the Sayville Advocates of the Visual Arts Fine Artist award as well as a local jewelry design contest. She was destined to pursue an education in fine arts and followed that path by attending Pratt Institute in New York. During the Spring of 2012, she was awarded second place at Pratt’s Junior Jewelry Review and is graduating this year with a BFA in Fine Arts with a concentration in jewelry design.

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp
Jewelry Designer, Kelly DeKenipp – Photo by Chris Bernabeo

For her thesis show, titled “Adornment and Torment” this April, she plans to unveil a collection that is highly influenced by objects of torture. Traveling to England a few years ago, Kelly was drawn to the deep secrets hidden inside the area’s castles, the historic torture chambers.

“Each object held a reflection of its past and was beautiful in form. I researched the romantic history of these objects and took notice of their physical forms and structures. The shadows left from the act of torture and the dramatic forms of various torture objects directly guided my design process.”

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp & Photograph by Henry Mounser
Photo by Henry Mounser

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp & Photograph by Henry Mounser
Photo by Henry Mounser

DeKenipp’s ability to turn the dark and fearful into something fresh, modern, and beautiful is effortlessly shown through her work. The idea of romance is also brilliantly expressed through the use of specific materials and whimsical elements. “Silver is used to construct the forms and gold leaf adds a perceived value to the pieces. The beautiful forms and choice of materials allow the work to be cherished and worn as a treasured object.”

The structural form of the artist’s pieces clearly represent her muse, and while objects of torture may seem scary and obtrusive, this collection oddly expresses wholeness, spunk and beauty. All the while, allowing hints of history to carry through so the original qualities aren’t lost but are remembered as remnants of the past.

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp & Photograph by Henry Mounser
Photo by Henry Mounser

Whenever one can strip away the outside layers of an object and see beyond its original intent, is remarkable in itself. Creating a new and unique experience for the object to be a part of and carrying on its essence in a totally different light, is a talent you rarely see. It’s pretty clear DeKenipp has embraced what life has thrown her way and developed a special vision from what she has experienced. The talent was always there, she just brought it to life for all to see.

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp & Photograph by Henry Mounser
Photo by Henry Mounser

I was excited to review pieces from this anticipated collection and have the opportunity to ask the artist a few questions to find out more.

(1) Are there any specific experiences in your life that have directly influenced your work?
All my work is inspired from personal experience. The designs of the jewelry in “Adornment and Torment” are inspired from a trip I took in 2009 to England. The concept derives from accepting bad energies that come into my life and being able to manipulate and transform them into positive energy.

(2) What artists/designers do you admire?
Louise Nevelson, Daniel Brush, and Alexander McQueen

(3) Are there any materials you strongly feel connected to, and if so, what role do they play in your work?
Most of my work is made in metal, especially in my current collection. It is what I am most comfortable working with. In the past I have used alternative materials such as human hair, dollhouse furniture, fur, and photographs.

(4) How do you feel school has prepared you for a career in jewelry design?
My education has prepared me to be a professional working artist. In my senior seminar class we learn to establish our own businesses. My program has also allowed for many connections to working artists and designers in my field to be made.

(5) The work you are presenting for “Adornment and Torment” are influenced by objects of torture. What has the process been like to create all these pieces?
I have had to separate myself from what the objects history are and their relationship to humanity. I focus mainly on the forms and remind myself that through this body of work I am giving these objects new meaning. I am taking a very dark concept and transforming it into something of delicacy and beauty.
Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp, Photograph by Chris Bernabeo
Photo by Chris Bernabeo

(6) What are your plans after you graduate?
After graduation, I plan to build my own studio space. This way I can continue to hand make jewelry. My work will continue to be inspired by the concepts of my current collection. I also plan to make jewelry using collage, directly inspired from memories and the emotions they evoke in a specific person.

(7) How do you think your design aesthetic influences your personal style? 
In fashion I am attracted to simpler styles with some edge to them. When designing, I look for dark and fantastical motifs to work with, I’d say I look for the same while shopping for clothes. I wear a lot of black.

(8) Since your work revolves around emotions and experience, what role do you feel it plays in society? 
I create a new way to look at emotional experiences. An actual emotion is transformed into something of substance that you can feel and wear. You can carry this emotion with you or leave it at home. The goal of my work is to capture a feeling and preserve it in a piece of jewelry.
Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp - © Kelly DeKenipp, Photograph by Chris Bernabeo
Photo by Chris Bernabeo

Featured Designer: Kelly DeKenipp

{The artist is currently working for New York based jewelry designer, Assad Mounser and living in Brooklyn. You can contact her through kellydekenipp.com}

Inspiration Photo Friday: Suburbia

18 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

american dream, brooklyn, earth, family, long island, nature, new jersey, new york, parks, peace, queens, quiet, suburbia, trees

Growing up in New Jersey, I was surrounded by trees, grass, parks and not much industrial exposure. What we all call Suburbia. Coming from Brooklyn, there was a very big difference in the environment. I really did love it though. I am a nature girl at heart so to be surrounded by the suburban backdrop made me happy. I also stayed with Aunt in Long Island almost every summer so that only enhanced my love for this type of atmosphere.

Now, this is not to say I didn’t like the city. Having family in Queens and Brooklyn and hanging out in NYC as a teen kept it alive for sure. But as I got older, my love grew more for the open spaces and cleaner air. The city like areas just felt congested, stuffy and loud. There is a special peace suburbia has to offer and its something I fell in love with more and more. What people call the American Dream, was very much on my mind. The house, the yard, having a family of my own, I would certainly make it happen one day. I am glad to say I did.

This photo was taken in a park on the island a few years ago while working for Patch. I think the parks here are gorgeous and most have so much to offer. As I looked up from where I was standing, it seemed so picturesque. Suburbia at its best. I captured the moment and to this day, I love this shot. In a way it feels like a painting to me, surreal and beautiful. The path so inviting, the trees so lush.

I am happy I placed my family and I in a space where I feel at home. I would never feel comfortable in a city like environment and am grateful I can live where my heart truly lies. I now have my peace and quiet. It’s funny to think about how I dreamed of living in Brooklyn or Queens when I was younger when I wouldn’t even consider it today. I guess that’s what happens when people grow up and change. Even though the one thing that has never changed is my love for the Earth. And now I can experience it everyday in my own backyard.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Suburbia - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

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