![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.metalwerx.com\/blog\/cooperman_ring.jpg\")
Ring by Andrew Cooperman\n
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It\u2019s not surprising, given that Andy has a bachelor\u2019s degree in English (and a second one in art). A well-told tale with an end you didn\u2019t see coming makes him quite happy. And if it\u2019s a funny story with a \u201cpun<\/i>-chline,\u201d the world is better served because laughter is a communal, unifying exercise. Jokes and word games, along with solid information, shortcuts, tricks, and useful studio tips are on the syllabus in Andy\u2019s class, “Imaginative Captures<\/a>,” which happens July 31 through August 4 at Metalwerx.<\/p>\n It might be a writer\u2019s cheap shot to link Andy\u2019s iconic rubber-chicken jewelry to a potential roast<\/em> at the Friar\u2019s Club<\/em>. But the rings and necklaces which contain the novelty gag (plastic, not rubber) is to Andy Cooperman as molded glass is to Rene Lalique, and not only because of the items\u2019 Cooperman-classic droll titles: The \u201cRing-tisserie (Weber)<\/a>,\u201d a trimmed bird on a spit that turns on a tiny crank, or the \u201cChicken Choker<\/a>,\u201d a neckpiece of sterling and 14 karat gold with headless plastic chickens strung between pearls. These and other works were included in the book, Humor In Craft<\/em><\/a>, a Gold Medal winner of the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of all his pun-titled pieces, \u201cChicken Choker\u201d is his favorite because it works on so many levels. \u201cPuns can be complex and sophisticated,\u201d he wrote in an email interview. \u201cThe choker unfolds and lobs these balls of discomfort into alternate courts. The observer who does not understand the adult puns\/references \u00a0involved\u2014there are two\u2014is uncomfortable in their unknowing.\u201d (Readers, you may now laugh covertly.)<\/p>\n Andy continues: \u201cBut then it\u2019s the other person\u2019s turn, the one who does <\/i>know the references. The discomfort there lies in the decision whether to try and explain the naughty puns or just gloss it over. \u00a0It\u2019s delicious. I\u2019ve seen it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whether some of his jewelry elicits chuckles or confounded looks, there is no question that the construction in all his work will leave the viewer soundly impressed. His one-of-a-kind belt buckles, brooches, earrings, pendants and neckpieces feature excellent workmanship, unique settings, and sometimes, unusual materials such as melted ping pong balls or copal, an amber-like tree resin.<\/p>\n In his workshop<\/a>, Andy will break down the basic principles behind stone setting so that students can discover new solutions for enamels, found objects, and gemstones, going beyond bezels and prongs. He calls this “capturing.” He\u2019ll have on hand a materials kit for a small fee that includes stones and a variety of objects, such as fake eyeballs (\u201ctaxidermy peepers\u201d) and\u2014bada bing!\u2014tiny plastic chickens.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eyeballs are objects laden with meaning to him. Andy almost lost his sight permanently when a few years ago, the retinas separated from the membranes in the back of his eyes. While enduring multiple operations to correct the problem, he battled depression at first by writing, and then by remodeling the studio.<\/p>\n \u201cI started writing these state of affairs essays that I emailed to everyone. They were frank and honest\u2014 and really funny. It really got to people,\u201d he said. \u201cSo did remodeling the studio. I couldn\u2019t hit the nail on the head, literally. So I just kept trying. Kept pounding nails. Kept doing. The doing and the writing saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n No doubt an appreciation for a good laugh and his optimistic wife, Kim, also helped get him through it. \u201cIt\u2019s just hardwired. My parents and sisters have great\u2014even wicked–senses of humor. Speaking for myself , and I think my family, too, I see the world through that often dark, humor filter,\u201d he said. \u201cThat blend of light and dark, of peril and laughter is powerful and seductive. And it saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n Students wishing to register online for \u201cImaginative Captures\u201d with Andy Cooperman may do so here<\/a>. For more information, visit Metalwerx.com<\/a>, or call 781-891-3854.<\/p>\n –by Yleana Martinez<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A jewelry-making class that includes “some really bad jokes\u201d makes me want to sign up right away! Sometimes, during a workshop tackling a complicated technique, a little bit of humor goes a long way to take the edge off the tension. A teacher who recognizes this can be viewed as blessedly generous. Meet \u00a0Andy Cooperman, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1091\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/userblogs.ganoksin.com\/metalwerx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.metalwerx.com\/blog\/cooperman_pin_black_lotus_cu_opti.jpg\")
pin by Andrew Cooperman\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.metalwerx.com\/blog\/cooperman_chicken_choker_form_450.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.metalwerx.com\/blog\/cooperman_pin_pierce.jpg\")
pin by Andy Cooperman\n