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Playing games with art
Published July 14,
2007
GALVESTON — One
of Sandy Forrest-Hartman’s childhood
memories growing up in San Antonio in
the early 1960s is of playing dominoes
with her grandmother.
Decades later, she retains that
fascination while transforming the
smooth, rectangular playing pieces into
jewelry.
Forrest-Hartman had tried needlepoint
and had taught some calligraphy classes
in the 1980s, but didn’t dabble in
jewelry art until 2000 when she tried
her hand at wire sculpting. Two years
later, a boutique-owner in Rosenberg
showed her some domino jewelry pieces.
“It was very nostalgic for me,” recalled
Forrest-Hartman. “My grandmother had a
beautiful set of dominoes.”
After much trial and error, she found
the right kind of paint and glaze to
color the blank side of the domino
pieces.
Some have a faux stained glass or
antique gold crackle finish, upon which
an image is imprinted using a custom
stamp and permanent alcohol-based ink,
followed finally by a spray-on fixative.
“I know I’ve improved my technique since
I first started, finding the right kinds
of inks that wouldn’t fade,” she said.
Forrest-Hartman, who now lives in
Houston, uses copper wire to affix beads
and crystals to the finished broaches,
pendants and bracelets. She will be in
Galveston on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9
p.m. to display her work at the ArtWalk
festival, along with 10 other artists at
Simply Art Gallery, 2425 Strand.
“When I first started off, I used the
plain dominoes from the dollar store,
but the last six months I’ve found some
vintage Bakelite dominoes and some
antique Chinese dominoes,” said
Forrest-Hartman. “At first I kind of
felt bad about altering them.”
Of course, the ornamental jewelry using
the hard-to-find dominoes fetches a
higher price than the regular variety.
Forrest-Hartman sells most of her pieces
for between $25 and $50, though a
bracelet using the Chinese dominoes
sells for as much as $90. She has also
done some work using Mahjong tiles.
Forrest-Hartman recently opened her home
studio to TV cameras for an upcoming
segment on “That’s Clever,” a Home &
Garden Television program that features
artisans from around the country.
Her most valued set of dominoes is the
set passed down to her by her
grandmother, Johanna Kraft. When asked
if she might ever turn some into jewelry
pieces, Forrest-Hartman concedes she has
been tempted.
“She was always so industrious and
resourceful,” said Forrest-Hartman. “You
know, I think she might approve if I did
it.”
Visit Ms. Forrest-Hartman's sites at:
www.MysticAngelCreations.com &
www.ArtToWearJewelry.com
ArtWalk Participants
Here is a listing of official
participating galleries and other spaces
taking part in Saturday’s Galveston
ArtWalk, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. For details
about each exhibit, visit:
http://galvestonartscenter.org
Galleries
• Anne Zaring Gallery, 2417 Strand
• Barbin Studio, 2521 Mechanic
• Buchanan Gallery, 2120 Postoffice
• Designworks, 2119 Postoffice
• Galveston Art League Gallery, 2117A
Postoffice
• Galveston Arts Center, 2127 Strand
• Nonus III Gallery, 202 Rosenberg,
Suite 101
• 2411 Strand Gallery, 2411 Strand
• The Market, 2510 Market
• The Water’s Edge Studio & Gallery,
1302 21st St.
Other Spaces
• Dark at Heart, 2415 Market
• Mosquito Café, 628 14th St.
• Nest, 2427 Market (fashion show at
7:30 p.m.)
• Old Galveston Square Artists’ Lofts,
2211 Strand, 2nd floor
• The Front Parlor, 2111 Strand
• The Tremont House, 2300 Ship
Mechanic’s Row
• 1861 U.S. Custom House, 502 20th St.
• Moody Mansion, 2618 Broadway
• Studio 22, 424 22nd St.
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