06 Jul Meet The Artist: Kate Furman
Each quarter, we display work from a different local artist at our Main Street Real Estate Gallery. From July through September, Kate Furman will share her creative collection of jewelry, black and white charcoal drawings, and house portraits. Be sure to stop by our artist reception on Thursday, July 19 to meet Kate and to see these incredible pieces for yourself.
Heavily inspired by nature, Kate’s work reflects natural simplicity while also embracing avant-garde creativity that has brought her local and national notoriety. Read on to learn more about the artist and her unique work.
- What piqued your interest in art?
My mom, Linda Furman, is a painter. I grew up watching her paint and attending art camps and classes. A particularly memorable class that she signed me up for was a clay “teapot” one I took in middle school at CCES. Alice Ballard, my now friend and always mentor, taught the class. It’s the first class that I remember adoring. As I grew up, my interest and talent in art grew too. By high school at the Fine Art Center, I found my passion in jewelry and metalsmithing. I came into my freshman year at the University of Georgia with Jewelry and Metalsmithing as my major, and it never changed. The rest is history!
- How would you describe your style of art?
I prefer a handmade, minimal and natural aesthetic. Concept and materials are important to me. I always consider the “why” behind the creation of my work.
- Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your work?
Nature. My heart and soul are in the mountains and rivers around us. There, I gather the materials I work with and from. I also find the calm and peace I need to be creative.
- What’s your favorite piece of your own work?
My wooden “art jewelry” is my favorite collection, especially the 7 pieces I made for my MFA thesis exhibition at Rhode Island School of Design. For this work, I used found pieces of branches and bark from Wyoming, where I used to live. The work is wearable art, and each piece tells its own story. I think of these pieces as “souvenirs” from my travels and adventures.
- What’s an interesting fact about you or your work?
Many people know me only as a jeweler, however, I also draw, paint and use whatever other media needed to portray my ideas. I have a full-time studio in the Village of West Greenville. Come visit me, and you can see my work in progress, my equipment and my store. My address is 547 Perry Avenue. Oh, and while you’re there, you can visit my large, orange lizard, Stanley the Terrible!
- What famous artist do you most admire?
I adore the outdoor sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy. I am fascinated with his use and understanding of line, natural objects, the transient and nature. If you aren’t familiar with his work, I highly suggest checking it out. I’m in love with it.
We look forward to admiring Kate’s work with you at our artist reception on July 19 from 6 to 8 pm at our Main Street Real Estate Gallery located at 428 S. Main Street in downtown Greenville!
