Virtual Reality: RikaRika
Slideshow: George the grizzly bear pet cozy and more.
Kurdyla-Smith uses vintage kimono silk to create her KimonoStories wall art pieces. These began as a bi-product of the garments she was designing and sewing with the same Old World fabrics. She says she has always been an ‘antsy artisan,’— always after something different, new, and fun to stay inspired. ‘I am constantly fighting monotony and boredom, and always seek to stay inspired and have a fresh mindset. So I had started to create some subsidiary items, like the KimonoStories panels and the PetCosies, which were inspired by my dog.’
Kurdyla-Smith says she uses one of two processes to make her pieces. If she needs to create a run of products, for filling a wholesale order, she works assembly-line style. Otherwise she will create items individually one-by-one. ‘I like that it varies; I don’t want to be bored with the process in which I make things, and would rather have different work structures to juggle to keep things fresh.’ Here, her dog Nina Simone snuggles inside an alligator cozy.
A self-taught seamstress, Kurdyla-Smith recieved her MFA in sculpture so she could teach art in universities. After a couple more career changes,Kurdyla-Smith says, ‘I naturally figured out that what I wanted to do was to create for a living. As cliche as it may sound, I literally have always been creating something since I was very, very young — drawing, painting, sculpting, and especially sewing, with my grandmother who was a seamstress. Creating things, fixing things, putting things together has always been what has brought me the most joy and fulfillment in my life.’ Here. one of her kimono silk art panels.
Kurdyla-Smith’s tiny lovebirds pin cushion hints at her sculpting background.
‘I have always appreciated the art of taxonomy since childhood. My friends who visit my studio think I’m a bit of a maniac when it comes to organization. A tidy space makes the process of production more quick and efficient. I love bins, boxes, labels — anything that will help me know exactly where to find what I need. Everything has a home in my studio. I also love to arrange things by color,’ says the artisan. Here, her studio.
RikaRika owner Rika Kurdyla-Smith with Nina Simone, her dog and sometime-product model.
Kurdyla-Smith crafts for the pet owner as well...
