Barbara LeFiell- Artists in Action Gallery
Artist Biography:
To begin here is a bit of my artistic heritage. My grandfather, Cecil LeFiell, who left school in the 7th grade to work in his father’s metal fabricating shop, would become, in his forties, a glassblower on the island of Kauai. In his twenties, albeit with a 7th grade education, he founded his own successful aerospace company! My father, Ken LeFiell, was an accomplished painter, mainly in oilsl and charcoal. My daughters, one a successful photographer in Truckee, CA, the other a painter, mainly in dry media, here in Salem.
For over thirty years, I was a CPA. My true love, though, was glass, anything made of glass. So, I took lampworking classes and then the basics string them together (basically how to make crimps). Thus began my obsession with design. I was in the following art fairs; Cardiff, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, Temecula Wine & Balloon Festival, Fallbrook, Fiesta Hermosa, Oceanside Harbor Days, Oxnard Salsa Festival, San Marcos, Ventura Harvest Festival, Claremont Village Venture.
In 2007 my life changed. While walking my dog and waiting for a train to pass (which is the last thing I remember about this event), a ladder, sticking out of the train, hit me in the back of the head. I flew 30 feet where my face met asphalt. Diagnosis; severe traumatic brain injury. I spent 2 months in a coma, 1 year in physical therapy relearning how to move every muscle in my body. FYI, my dog is alive & well. Besides a few scars, what changed was my inability to perform CPA responsibilities. That part of my brain, the analytical hemisphere, relocated to the right flank.
Because of this I was able to focus on what I love, design. I took metalsmithing classes in Chapel Hill, NC with James Carter as well as many online courses. I am now a proud owner of my own Smith Little Torch, Foredom Flex Shaft, a rolling mill and various forms of sterling. This is the best part of my life story and am grateful and honored to share it with you!
Artist Statement: My goal is to create work that others find interesting, memorable and wearable. My career as a CPA was not by accident. Numbers are easy, they are not seeking approval, only to balance. The companion on my shoulder, for as long as I can remember, is the dreaded fear of failure. Attending shows and Saturday markets has helped quiet my companion. A few weeks ago at the Salem Public Market where I have a booth, a man stopped and looked for quite awhile, then introduced himself. His name is Roy John, a Salem goldsmith designer on Court St. He complimented the raw and creative designs and is the one who suggested I apply to your co-op. I visited his shop, saw his stunning designs and am still in awe that he gave such high marks to my work.
The main materials I use are sterling silver and compelling stones. Heat is used in my designs, mainly reticulation, where I heat, cool, heat, cool for about 12 times to create unusual delineation in the metal. Riveting, use of prongs, interesting bezel settings, horse tack, mixing metals, mixing media, layering, are all in my employee handbook. Anything that creates interest from an observer.
Every single day of my life brings gratitude in breath, delight in the gift of creating and confirmation that all people have a story as to where they are in any particular moment and to appreciate that reality.
