Sailors' valentines were sentimental gifts originally brought home by sailors for their loved ones between 1830 and 1890. Artists created these tokens of affection by using small shells of different colors and shapes in generally octagonal frames.
Contrary to myth, sailors' valentines were not made by sailors in order to pass time at sea. They were usually assembled by female residents of Barbados and other Caribbean ports of call for New England whalers to purchase and bring back to their loved ones waiting at home.
There’s certain sadness and melancholic atmosphere to these pieces, as history evokes the images of sailors of at sea, away from the families for extended periods of time, some never to return.
Supply List:
- Sea Shells, Sea fans, and other nautical bits
- 2-3 pieces of driftwood
- Found objects: examples: old trays, clock parts, gears, typewriter parts, small figurines, dolls parts, game pieces, toys, household items, bits of fabric, length of old rope or chain, picture frames, etc.
- Ephemera and old paper, maps, sheet music, etc.
- Old photos: originals or good quality color copies.
- Old frame no larger than 12”
- Something to provide a backer for the frame: cigar box, old tray, etc.
- Old paint brushes
- Basic tools: pliers, hammer, scissors, etc
- Wire
- Screws, nails and other bits
Teacher will bring:
- Additional seashells, nautical bits and driftwood
- Additional found objects, frames, rusty bits, etc.
- Matte Gel Medium
- Adhesives
- Some additional paints: titanium white, mars black, van dyke brown
- Additional paper, images and ephemera
- Other tools: drill, dremel, etc.
- Additional hardware
A Little About ME
Her gift is in sifting through these disparate objects, finding the compatible bits and pieces of others’ lives and weaving their faint and ancient energies together until they sing together in one voice. Her assemblages not only speak to the sadness of these lost and forgotten things, but they remind us that their owners have been lost and forgotten as well. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she is a technical designer for Burton Snowboards by day and an artist by night. She has been showing her work and teaching her process on the east coast for over 6 years. Her work has been featured in Cloth Paper Scissors and Somerset Studio.
