Ask an Artist: How do you create a successful collaboration?

Collaboration is a hot topic these days!  Just look at the success of such collaborative models as crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, curated content sites like Pinterest and countless indie craft shows where folks pool their resources and their audience base in order to grow their following.  There is no shortage of opportunities to team up and make things happen in today’s highly connective world.

But what about good, old-fashioned, artistic collaborations?  Projects that bring together great minds to create works that are more than the sum of their parts?  As creative folks, how can we leverage connectivity to help us create projects we had only dreamed about?  This is the subject of our next “Ask an Artist” post featuring our own Rebeca Mojica and fellow metals artist Sarah Chapman.  (See the product of their collaboration left, a micromaille chainmaille cuff with handmade clasp.)

Sarah Chapman | metalsmith

My work is inspired by architecture, by nature as architect, as well as by my desire to build. My newest series is based on the ideas of movement, the migrations of birds and insects, and also stems from my recent personal migration from Chicago to Minneapolis.  See more of Sarah’s work on her website: www.chapmanmetals.com.

Collaborations have worked well for me in the past because they have given me an excuse to work on a bigger project or experiment with different techniques and processes. My collaboration with Rebeca was no exception. I wanted to make some more complicated clasps and didn’t have the time to invest in the exploration, but this project gave me the excuse I needed. It was also fun to have discussions and to problem solve with someone whose work and working style I respect so much.

   

Rebeca Mojica | chainmaille jewelry artist

I have always been a tactile person, so it is not surprising that I was drawn to the ancient art of chainmaille. As soon as I made my first piece—a belt—I realized it was incredibly soothing to link together ring after ring and watch a pattern unfold. I am inspired by fractal mathematics, organic shapes and architecture. Where other people see flowers, trees and buildings, and I see a world where everything is made of interlocked circles.  My brain spends a lot of time thinking, “OK, how could I make that out of maille?”  See more of Rebeca’s work on her website: www.rebecamojica.com.

I enjoy collaboration because it gives me the chance to create something greater than what I could do alone.  It often forces me to push my boundaries and almost always causes me to look at things with a new perspective.  I’d wanted to collaborate with Sarah for a long time.  I’ve always been in awe of her talents.  Something that most folks don’t know is that I took my first wirework class ever from Sarah back in 2002. She is an amazing instructor and very encouraging and inspiring. It is in part due to her that I decided to pursue jewelry-making as a career.  And now, here we are a decade later, having made a beautiful piece together.

We’ll be accepting questions starting today and ending Friday, September 14th. Your questions will be passed along to Sarah and Rebeca and their responses will be posted right here on our blog near the end of the month. You can submit your questions to us by posting them in the comments below, writing them on our wall on Facebook or emailing them to us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to see what you have to ask (and to hear their advice on the subject!)