Derry Graves is the featured artist in the Glass Case Gallery at the Spring Green Library in January. Born and raised in Baraboo, WI, Graves is described as: “ Of Irish immigrant farmers and German circus people running the gamut of advance man, barker, bookkeeper, waxy (harness maker) and water carrier.”
She tells her story: “Some of my children and I inherited what we call ‘the craft gene.’ This comes from my mother and my aunt, who as young women of the Great Depression learned that if they wanted something for their home, their wardrobe or their children they would have to make it themselves. As it turns out, they were good at it. They worked as bookkeeper, waitress, dental assistant, switch board operator, canning factory (peas and corn), Badger Ordinance and union representative and then found time to decorate their homes with wall papering, drapery making, upholstery, sewing family clothing and making dolls and toys and whatever it took to provide these extras for their homes and families. This was not called crafting. I am not sure what that word meant back in the day. Crafting today as I know it is a way to express your creativity and have fun doing it. I think now we have changed the word…instead of crafter we use the word maker.”
Graves continues: “About my Barbie doll head jewelry. I did not originate this idea. When my daughter Alison was driving back to Spring Green from San Diego, coming to live here, her car broke down in Denver where we have relatives who hosted her while car was being repaired. She was taken to an antique/art mall and there she saw a rendition of a Barbie doll head necklace, took a photo and shared it with me. This is where the family mantra of ‘I can make that’ kicks in. Generally we have found that ‘I can make this!’ is not true and we cannot ‘make this!’, but we continue to say it when we see something we like. So the Barbie doll head clicked with me and I started to put them together. It seemed suited to me and my abilities and probably more important came at a time in my life when I needed an outlet. Others, at times like this, will go for daily walks, jog, join groups or other activities….I started decapitating dolls.”
“I continue to like making them. They are basically all the same, but yet each different, pending on what pieces of used jewelry are at hand. Only used/thrift store jewelry is used with occasional purchased small beads used as fillers. I am learning a lot about glues. I like spending time shopping at thrift stores. I spend more time cleaning up the messes I create than I do making these pieces. Friends have been so generous in giving me old pieces, parts of pieces, damaged pieces. Lots of single earrings show up.”
“I also like to work with paper and I like to sew…both at the novice level, but do enjoy paper and fabric. I seem to collect these.”
Graves’ jewelry is available for viewing during regular library hours.
