Drawing inspiration from Pittsburgh’s industrial landscape and the beauty of nature, artist Tammy Schweinhagen creates work that perfectly captures the juxtaposition of these ideals. Both bold and delicate, her pieces challenge the viewer’s ideas of beauty and push the boundaries of the wearable and the decorative.
Tammy has been selected as this quarter’s featured artist for the Janet Krieger Artist Spotlight.
Read on to learn more about Tammy and her creative practice.
What is your artistic background?
I loved drawing as a child. As a young adult I would draw portraits of my favorites from Teen Beat magazine. Shawn and David Cassidy were a few of the celebrities I butchered. I also have a BFA from Ohio State University and have enjoyed taking numerous workshops at art organizations. Joining the Allegheny Metalsmith Collective here in Pittsburgh has been wonderful for me, exposing me to numerous fabulous artists and new techniques.
What are your favorite materials to work with/types of things to make?
My jewelry is predominantly made from glass and metal beads using off-loom bead weaving stitches. I also create sculptures using animal bones, found objects, and a variety of other materials, sometimes incorporating bead weaving and utilizing metalsmithing techniques.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
The industrial landscape of Pittsburgh is an endless inspiration with its forgotten factories, peeling paint, rust, and weathered surfaces. Nature is also fascinating to me. It’s hard to do better than the designs nature provides us – leaves, flowers, insects, animal skulls, and bones. The closer you look. The more beauty you see.
How would you describe your work?
My jewelry tends to be clean and contemporary. I create original designs using muted color combinations and subtle patterns. I tend to use smaller beads, which means a bracelet or necklace can take 10-20 hours to complete. My sculptural work consists mostly of small-scale pieces constructed from animal skulls, bones, and found objects, often incorporated into hand-embellished boxes using beading and metalsmithing techniques. The reliquary-like settings make them eerie and strangely elegant at the same time. The items within the boxes are often wearable jewelry pieces.
What is your creative process like?
When I start on a project, I usually have an endpoint in mind but things rarely turn out as expected. I tend to let the materials guide me in the direction they want to go.
What is the most rewarding thing about your practice?
Seeing someone ‘get’ my work.
And what challenges do you face as an artist?
I would say, self-doubt is the biggest challenge for me to overcome.
Outside of your practice, do you do any other creative activities/what are your interests?
I enjoy cooking and travelling. Most recently we travelled to Madrid to see our nephew who is studying abroad.
What role does the artist have in society?
I think it’s up to each artist to decide what role is comfortable for him/her/them.
What is art/craft to you?
Therapy.
Tell us about your favorite artist or artists that inspire you?
Olga Mihaylova has always been my main beading inspiration. She is a beading rockstar! Her designs and color combinations are just amazing. Keith Lo Bue and Daniel Essig inspire my sculptural work. Their pieces are truly otherworldly.
You can find a selection of Tammy’s work in our Store and online. You can also often find Tammy volunteering at CC, where she is a total rockstar!
