Debra Dembowski

     The focus of my jewelry is predominately figurative. I hand fabricate my stylized people using small chasing and repousse tools to create arms, legs and other dimensional details. I fashion my faces from polymer clay using a hybrid molding / sculpting technique, then further define the details with washes of acrylic paints and chalks to achieve the doll like appearance that I desire.

     After polishing the metal and setting any necessary stones I then construct the beaded hair by sewing each and every strand. When completed I attach it to the metal using a technique that I developed and has become my signature look. I also include carved stone bases or frames with the more elaborate pieces because I view them as small-scale sculpture. I would like them to not only adorn the wearer but also the environment in which they reside.

Awards:

Award of Excellence, Suburban Fine Arts Festival of Fine Craft, Highland Park, IL, 2004

Honorable Mention, Morning Glory Craft Fair, Milwaukee WI, 2003

Best of Show, Deerfield Art Festival, Deerfield, IL, 2003

Award of Excellence, Morning Glory Art Fair, Milwaukee, WI, 2001

1st Place, Oakbrook Invitational, Oak Brook, IL, 2001

1st Place, Waukesha Art Fest, Waukesha, WI, 2000

Merit Award, Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN, 2000

Best in Category, Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts, Oconomowoc, WI, 2000

Award of Excellence, Morning Glory Art Fair, Milwaukee, WI, 2000

Featured Artist:

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 2005, Fish Creek, WI

 Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 2003, Fish Creek, WI

Eclectic Collector Gallery, 2001, Katonah, N.Y.

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 2001, Fish Creek, WI

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 1997, Fish Creek, WI

The Ole Moon Gallery, 1996, Dallas, TX

The Lindsey Gallery, 1996, Oak Park, IL

Art Resources Gallery, 1995, Edina, MN

Detroit Gallery of Contemporary Crafts, 1994, Detroit, MI

Theme Shows:

Treasures, Nov 2, 2002 - Jan 5, 2003, Artspace and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI - Kohler, WI - Milwaukee, WI

Beadworks, May 23 - Sep 13, 1998, The Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center, Athens, OH 

The Beaded Object, Traveling schedule: Jan 1998 - Feb 1998, Florida Craftsmen Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL - Oct 1997 - Jan 1998, William King Regional Art Center, Abingdon, VA 

The Beaded Object, Oct 1996 - Jan 1997, Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center, Ashville, N.C.