February 21, 2009, Professor Okim

February 21, 2009, Professor Komelia Hongja Okim - Artist Extraordinaire
On Saturday, February 21, the Senior Artists Alliance had the pleasure of listening to Ms. Okim tell us about her art.  Ms. Okim attended Ewha woman’s University in Seoul, Korea and Indiana University in Bloomington.  First she was a textile major and then she moved into metallurgy. When Ms. Okim came to Montgomery College she taught weaving before teaching jewelry making which she does currently.

 The Alliance was treated to many pictures of Ms. Okim’s sculptures, table pieces, and jewelry. Many of her pieces are abstract landscapes which include figures. Several of her works show wheat fields and mountains. Other pieces were wedding sets and coffee pot sets. Her sculpture includes many with figures in motion. Hair is blowing in the breeze....

Her work is usually done in silver. Some work has gold fused into the silver. She has experimented with various ways of creating patina.  Her works can be large. Often she then reproduces the large work as smaller brooches. She has some bronze work. Most of her work shows the Asian influence. She described framing methods that she said were Korean. She has printed digital images on silk, mounted the silk and then attached silver figures to the mounted silk. Extraordinaire!

Ms. Okim’s work is in private, corporate, and museum collections both here and in Korea.