ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Artists Steven Ford and David Forlano combine their disparate artistic sensibilities to create some of the most interesting work being done in polymer clay jewelry today. Typically, David will mix colors and arrange a palette, while Steven will fabricate the first stages of the canes. David then gathers several canes together and Steven cuts them and makes the final assembly. While each partner specializes, one will occasionally work in the other’s role and much of their innovation comes from trading jobs back and forth. They collaborate with a natural ease, having worked side by side since their days at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia.

ABOUT THE WORK

David and Steven’s early work was inspired by the glass technique of caning, in which threads of color are gathered into a single stick, sliced into wafers and reassembled. Currently, work is focused on miniature mosaics; granite like textures and what looks like miniature modern art, reminiscent of the layered paintings which David did in art school.

The current series of brooches blend aspects of caning with a more textural ‘painterly’ approach. Details of design are carried through to the sterling silver bezels, which frame the work.

SELECTED AWARDS

2005 Artistic Expression Award, American Craft Exposition, San Francisco
2004 Gold Award, Smithsonian Craft Show
2002 Best of Show, Philadelphia Craft Show
2001, First Prize, Baltimore Winter Craft Show, ACC
2000, First Prize, Westchester Craft Show
1999, Mid-Atlantic Arts Grant, Interdisciplinary Arts.
1999, Award of Excellence, ACC/Baltimore.