Laritza Garcia - Society of North American Goldsmiths

Painted Flowers Earrings by Laritza Garcia

Double Drop brooch.jpg by Laritza Garcia

Garabato Picados and Tinkered pins by Laritza Garcia

My personal development and professional training have led me to believe that playful attitudes help people cope, problem-solve and can offer emotional lightness. My jewelry pieces present familiar childhood imagery in efforts to drive forth the restorative nature of imaginative behavior. Gestural objects in vibrant colors materialize as graphic triggers that reconnect people with regenerative powers of playfulness. My approach encompasses a dual investigation of gestural drawing and traditional metalworking practices. I use inks and calligraphy brushes to make linear illustrations that are the base from which ideas are developed into refined pieces of adornment. The intent of this body of work is to infuse wardrobes and activate walls with whimsical pieces that bring levity to the forefront.

Laritza Garcia is a jewelry artist and educator living in Austin, Texas. Painting, illustration, and involvement with youth outreach are meaningful influences in the direction of her jewelry designs. She received her BFA from Texas State University and her MFA in Metal Design at East Carolina University. In 2011 and 2012 Laritza co-chaired Materials Topics, ECU's annual Metals Symposium. In 2015, she presented at the 36th annual Yuma Arts Symposium and participated as an invited exhibitor at the American Craft Council Show, St. Paul MN, a juried marketplace. Her jewelry is part of the permanent collection of Contemporary Art Jewelry at the Racine Art Museum and can be found in numerous private collections. In print, her jewelry can be found in 500 Necklaces by Lark Books, New Earrings: 500 Designs from Around the World and Metalsmith magazine. Laritza also maintains a busy visiting artist workshop schedule that has included, Pocosin Arts Center, MindPOP, Humboldt Metals and Creative Side Jewelry Academy. Currently she teaches at the School of Art and Design at Texas State University.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Master of Fine Arts

East Carolina University 2012

Greenville, NC

Bachelor of Fine Arts 2008

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Lecturer Texas State University 2013-Current

School of Art and Design

San Marcos, TX

Teaching Artist Dougherty Arts School 2013-Current

Austin, TX

Youth Arts Instructor Dougherty Arts School, Austin TX 2013

Carver Museum, Austin TX

Co-Chair Material Topics Metals Symposium 2011-2012

East Carolina University

Instructor of Record ECU School of Art & Design 2010-2012

Greenville. NC

Metals Studio Tech East Carolina University 2010-2012

Greenville, NC

Public Arts Instructor P.C.C.A. at Emerge 2010-2011

Greenville. NC

Youth Arts Counselor City of Decatur PARD 2009

Decatur, GA

Bronze Casting Assistant Beverly Penn 2008

San Marcos

Arts Outreach Instructor City of Austin PARD 2008-2006

Austin, TX

COURSES TAUGHT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Advanced Metals Fall 2015

3D Design Foundation

Design Graphic

2D Design Foundations

Metals 1 Art Studio Summer 2015

3-D Design Art Foundations

Intro to Metal Design Art Studio Summer 2015

3-D Design Art Foundations Spring 2015

Fibers 1 Art Studio Fall 2014

3-D Design Art Foundations

Intro to Metal Design Art Studio Summer 2014

3-D Design Art Foundations

3-D Design Art Foundations Spring 2014

Metals 1 Art Studio Summer 2013

Metals II-V Advanced Art Studio

COURSES TAUGHT PRIOR TO TEXAS STATE EMPLOYMENT AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Mixed Media Art Studio Fall 2012

Design 2 Art Foundations Summer 2012

Design 1 Art Foundations Spring 2012

Design 2 Art Foundations Fall 2011

Intro Metal Design Art Studio Spring 2011

GRADUATE THESES COMMITTEE

Metals Thesis Advisor Angela Arteritano Summer, Fall 2014

Metals Thesis Advisor Breanna Batson Fall 2014

COURSES PREPARED AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Advanced Metal Design ARTS 3345 Summer 2013

Advanced course explores the relationship of constructed 3-dimensional forms with their

2-dimensional surfaces. Historical precedents and contemporary examples of enameling

and mixed media design serve as points of departure for the conceptually based

assignments. Emphasis is placed on developing a personal conceptual direction in

conjunction with formal and technical problem solving.

WORKSHOPS

Powder Coat Pocosin Arts Center NC 2015

Drawing in Space MIND POP Austin TX

Powder Coat Metal Humboldt State University

Material Manipulation Arizona Western College

Exquisite Corpse Yuma Art Symposium

Emerging Teaching Artist Dougherty Arts Center

Fabrication and Surface Creative Side Jewelry Academy

Powder Coat for Jewelry Creative Side Jewelry Academy 2014

Powder Coat for Jewelry Metals Department, UT Austin 2013

INVITED TALKS, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS

Outreach, Methods and Pedagogy, lecturer 2015

Humboldt State University, CA

Connecting Outreach and Methods, presenter

Yuma Art Symposium, AZ 2015

Thinking with your Hands, presenter

Western Arizona College

Artist Process, invited talk

Creative Side Jewelry Academy, Austin TX 2014

On Color, invited lecture

University of Texas at Austin, Metals Department 2013

EXHIBITION

Ghostprint Gallery Opening Showcase 2015

Earrings Galore

Heidi Lowe Gallery and Society of North American Goldsmiths

Traveling, DE, MA, Group, Curated-Heidi Lowe, National

American Craft Council Show

St. Paul RiverCentre, MN

Juried Market Place, Group, Invited-Lindsay Noble, National

New Acquisitions: Contemporary Art Jewelry

Racine Art Museum

Racine, WI, Group, Curated-Lina Vigna, National

Yuma Symposium Presenter Exhibition, Yuma, AZ

Yuma Art Center, Group, Curated- David Woodward, National

Texas State Faculty Exhibition, San Marcos, TX

Gallery I&II TSU, Group, Invitational-Mary Mikel Stump, Regional

Jewelry Edition, ECU Symposium, Greenville, NC