THOMAS MANN DESIGN

A HISTORY

4.2.3D - think/draw/make is a show about the process of creating. In this case, it is about the process of creating jewelry and other objects. Most of the work is what I would call Techno-Romantic jewelry objects but there are certainly examples shown here of experiments that were purposely executed to try to break out of that vocabulary. This is a show in which I hope to share the process that I go through in order to get to a final product.

4.2.3D-think/draw/make consists of four panels (34 x 40 x 4) that are actually shadow boxes. Inside each box are drawings which are either the initial conceptual ideas for pieces or the final execution plans. There are samples of the components of the Techno-Romantic vocabulary, such as laminated plastics and found metal parts. There are tools and descriptions of their personal use from my sometimes peculiar point of view. And there are finished pieces of jewelry. On the outside of the Plexiglass cover are various mounted finished jewelry pieces or models for furniture, etc. which correspond to the drawings behind them. The drawings and objects are accompanied by the description of the circumstances surrounding the creation, process or result of these design investigations. It's very much like a visual diary of the past 6 years. It is my intention, through the vehicle of this installation, to share the highly personal process that brings an idea to life.

Heart Ware Heart Ware Detail

Heartware : I started as a jeweler in the early 70's with a polished silver vocabulary which included the heart icon. This vocabulary continued through the mid 70's. When I first began applying collage techniques to jewelry, I continued using this primary icon, the heart form. The range of experiments that I subjected this romantic symbol to was the seed from which the term and the technique of Techno-Romantic would eventually emerge. I have always loved hardware stores. Since the heart form had been collaged with hardware parts, its vocabulary was derived from the very store I loved to explore. The combination of the two ideas and the added play of the words "ware" and "wear" only e nhanced the ability to wear the heart. To me, it seemed a natural occurance.

Future Primitive Future Primitive Detail

Future Primitive : Heartwear was great at the start. I used it on my business cards, invoices and printed materials for about two years. It was the early 80's and New Wave music was very hip. I was influenced by the times in my dress and in my thinking and Heartwear started to feel "cute". I dreamt up this name which seemed to take the same basic concepts on to a more sophisticated level. I changed all the graphics related to this name as well as the way I presented the work. Unfortunately as it turned out, I received a cease and desist letter from the attorneys of a California company who owned the trademark name of Future Primitive. Ironically, they used Future Primitive to describe their line of music related jewelry! So that ended my use of the term.

Para-Normal Para-Normal Detail

Para Normal : Future Primitive lasted only about a year before I got the letter from the trademark holders so I had to come up with another tag line fast. I was interested in UFO's and para-normal phenomenon around the mid eighties so it seemed like a cool kind of term to apply to jewelry. So, Para-Normal was the next label subjected to the conceptual torture test for the jewelry. While I personally liked this name, it was not received well by the public. Needless to say, there was a lot of explaining to do about this name. It only lasted about six months!

Techno Romantic Techno Romantic Detail

Techno Romantic - I remember the day I came up with this name. I was living in New Hampshire at the time, it was a beautiful Summer day. I was struggling to come up with something to replace Para-Normal. It was one of those moments when that flash of inspiration overcame me. This is a term that really encompasses all of the others. It truly describes what I think about the work and how I believe it appears to look. What do you think? I immediately trademarked this name because it was just too good! And that has proven to be true. It's a name that people remember and ask for. I believe this one's a keeper!