AJF LIVE: In Conversation with emiko oye & Nikki Couppee

Join me and fellow art jeweler, Nikki Couppee for a conversation from inside our Bay Area studios, talking about our work and what we’ve been up to during these times of COVID and Shelter-In-Place. This is a free, live-streaming Zoom meeting hosted by the Art Jewelry Forum (AJF) and moderated by AJF President, Yvonne Montoya. We’ll be taking live questions from the audience, so please tune in!

Studio visits are a favorite event among AJF members. Who isn’t intrigued by peeking behind the curtain? As more of us are now settling into “shelter in place” mode, AJF would still like to continue its tradition of bringing you up-close and personal with visits to artists’ studios and the jewelry we love. We can do it together, virtually—and we’re opening it up to members and nonmembers alike!

WHEN: Thursday, June 18th, 9-10am PST

Listen to the recording here:  https://artjewelryforum.org/ajf-live-with-nikki-couppee-emiko-oye-0

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Nikki Couppee is originally from Pensacola Beach, Florida and is currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She received an M.F.A. from Kent State University, Jewelry/Metals, Kent, Ohio, 2011 and a B.F.A. from the University of Georgia, Athens Georgia, Jewelry/Metals, 2007.  Her work has been featured in publications including American Craft, Allure Australia, Marie Claire Australia, Metalsmith Magazine, Modern Magazine, Vogue Brazil, Dailycandy and Lark Book’s 500 Enameled Objects. She shows her work nationally and internationally through exhibitions, gallery representation, fairs and recent collaboration for Paris Fashion Week with the Australian designers, Romance was Born.  Her work was selected for SCHMUCK 2018 in Munich, LOOT at the Museum of Art and Design in NYC, Racine Art Museum, and SIERAAD International Jewelry Fair, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  She has taught enameling and jewelry/metals techniques at Kent State University, The Cleveland Institute of Art and The Crucible in West Oakland.

me and Nikki at NYCJW, November 2019

My LEGO® FRIENDS Music Video Debut!

https://youtu.be/0LaXc7bVNUU

Music Video shoot BTS

Jewelry I brought for the shoot

This past fall when I was in Los Angeles for the opening of Beyond Bling at LACMA, I had the most serendipitous opportunity of a lifetime! My husband and I randomly selected a quiet Italian restaurant to celebrate the LACMA opening, and it just so happens we were seated next to two lovely people from LEGO® Headquarters, Denmark. I was decked out in my Winter's Brush statement necklace and soon a conversation sparked about my LEGO® jewelry. Did I have more jewelry with me, they inquired, and what was I doing the next day? Would I be interested in having my jewelry styled on the girl band L2M for a music video whom they were collaborating for the 5th anniversary of the LEGO® Friends brand with an original song, "Living for the Rhythm".

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!! "Is this really happening? - THIS is the magic of L.A.!" is what continuously ran through my head that entire weekend. 

Yes, friends, I did have quite a bit of my newest limited edition pieces with me this trip and I did get to see the girls of L2M get styled out in many of my pieces, getting to witness behind-the-scenes the making of a music video. It takes a village, that's for certain, and I was blown away by the talents of Directors Coco & Breezy, twin prodigies from Brooklyn, NY of all that is hip and stylish, as they brought the best out of the band. Such talent abound!

Chatting with Producer Mads Munk revealed to me "this wouldn't have happened if you had TRIED to go through the appropriate channels at LEGO®, it could have only happened this way". Driving home the fact that sometimes it's all about being at the right place at the right time and GOING FOR IT! 

Watch the "Living For the Rhythm" music video for yourself, both the LEGO® Friends cut and L2M's cut. I get chills every time I watch it and LOVE how they credited me on YouTube - "L2M are wearing awesome LEGO® Jewelry created by Emiko Oye." Make sure to check out L2M's Channel, they are stars on the rise!