Yumi Janairo Roth, an artist and professor of sculpture at the University of Colorado-Boulder (MFA from SUNY New Paltz, metalsmithing concentration), wrote a review of "to be (determined) : an exhibition of the first five." It has been published in Art Jewelry Forum's website.

http://www.artjewelryforum.org/print/518

The Chicago Metal Arts Guild will be holding an annual Member's Exhibition and party at Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago, IL on Feb 19, 2010. I will be featuring my two of my brooches. Please contact me if you would like to attend!

Artforward, an online contemporary jewelry blog from an artist in Denmark, featured my work.
You can check it out here:
http://artforward.wordpress.com/2010/02/16/laura-prieto-velasco-usa/

Manufactured Dissent Article posted in December, 2009.
Check it out here:
http://manufactured-dissent.blogspot.com/2009/12/laura-prieto-velasco.html

I have been studying flamenco dance for the past year with Rosetta Magdalen at Flamenco Chicago. (http://www.flamencochicago.com/)
It become an outlet for bodily expression that distinctly compliments my artistic and design practice. Currently, we are studying the rhythms of bulerias, and I hope to be participating in the Flamenco Chicago's upcoming show at the Museum of Science and Industry in November 2009
More details to come soon.

9/20/09
I was invited to serve as a board member for the Chicago Metal Arts Guild for this upcoming year. Please visit http://www.chicagometalartsguild.org/ for more information.

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2008-2009
As the advisor of the SAIC Light Metals Student Group, I strive to create community between the students who may not see each other on a day to day basis. During our bi-monthly meetings I teach technical demonstrations, short powerpoint lectures, and encourage advanced students to explore the creative potential of metal as a material.

2009 Fall/Winter classes
"Sticks and Stones"
"Junk in the Trunk"
taught at Lillstreet Art Center in Ravenswood, IL
www.lillstreet.com for more details.
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May 2009
Introduction to Rhino
Taught day long workshop for SAIC sculpture faculty.
Sponsored by the SAIC sculpture department.

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SAIC Sculpture Noontime Lecture Series
Joint lecture with Barbara Knuth

to be : (determined) – an exhibition of the first five.

October 26 – November 20
OPENING RECEPTION: Nov 6th, 6-8 pm
GALLERY TALK: Maria Phillips, Nov 6th, 3 pm
Juried by Sarah Turner and Maria Phillips

There is an adage in the art world: the first five years are the hardest and the most critical. If you keep making (and making strides) in the first years of an art career, you are likely to succeed and commit to a life of sustained practice. This exhibition showcases artists within the ‘first five’: it is an exhibition which offers a moment to encourage momentum, and is an occasion to recognize new developments in the field of jewelry and metalsmithing.


www.thefirstfive.org

I recently participated in the exhibition "Resurrect, The Art of the Reclaimed Object", at Mesa Contemporary Arts in Mesa, AZ. My work was selected for the juror's choice award and is now part of the MCA permanent collection.

I relocated from San Diego, CA to Chicago, IL in August 2008. New surroundings, new things to uncover, and to bury. Changing environments from one climate to another influenced a new approach to my work. Textures, temperatures, strength/fragility present in the work are extracted from exposure to short hours of sunlight. I'm currently fascinated with a material's potential to visually quiver - just for a moment. How can such moments produce a chilling response when seen?