Elizabeth Brim
Medias Used or Areas of Interest:
Sculpture
Metal
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"I grew up in a strong female dominated society. My mother and grandmother made frilly dresses for my sister and me and told us fairy tales. The things I make are all about being female and the expectations of women of my generation. I'm just playing dress-up, making a little fun of myself and having a real good time."
Elizabeth Brim, a blacksmith artist whose work looks more like fabric than metal. Some of the items Brim creates are feminine--aprons with ruffles, a disco top with fringe, pillows with buttons and lace, high-heeled shoes and
tiaras. Her latest creations involve inflating steel. To show us this technique she creates a (Sunday) hat. She begins by first sketching the pattern on scrap metal. Next she cuts it out using hand shears. She attaches two metal pieces at the brim, heats the metal form to a malleable state and then uses an air compressor to inflate the dome of the hat. Finally it's a matter of embellishing the hat with ribbons and flowers, etc.
Most of the items Elizabeth creates are girl things -aprons with ruffles, a disco top with fringe, pillows with buttons and lace, high heeled shoes, and a tiara -feminine but not frilly ). But what else would you expect from a lady blacksmith who wears pearls while she works? She told of the time she demonstrated her work and was surprised to read in a review that her work was a statement for feminism. She donned a curious look and said, "That's not what I had in mind; but if that's what someone wants to see in it, well I guess that's all Right." In fact, her high heels are for the Princesses. "I want them to be able to dance forever..." Her first pillow was made for her tiara. "You know how Miss America's tiara is carried out on a presentation pillow." Elizabeth actually sold the tiara before completing her first pillow but that doesn't seem to matter much to her. She happened on to something else she likes to create. It is a bonus that it makes for a popular demonstration. She collects photo of work by others who have been inspired by her techniques. She encourages folks to send her pictures. She teaches at Penland in North Carolina.
Pleated Naugahyde steel pillow by Elizabeth Brim
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