Artist Elayna Toby sees an interconnectedness of nature and human-made items that most of us miss. She started as a jeweler in the late 1980’s and has been creating mobiles since the mid 1990’s and incorporating “found objects” since 2003. She has had commissioned works and exhibitions throughout Palm Beach County over the past seven years. Her true joy is transforming ordinary objects into the extraordinary. Elayna Toby’s re-imagining and re-purposing brings us decorative kinetic mobile for the home and garden plus wearable sculpture! Her moving sculptures stir, sway and twirl outdoors in the wind – and indoors by the breeze of a fan or vent. Feel the freedom of the movement! The Rickie Report shares Elayna Toby’s journey to bring us “Art That Moves” just in time for the holidays. Here are some sneak peeks and the story of her journey.
ART THAT MOVES
An Introduction:
” Mobiles, Kinetic-Connections,”
and
“RePurposing”
Elayna Toby
Elayna Toby Singer shares, “I am drawn to materials that come from the earth and to forms transformed through encounters with the elements. Presented in new contexts, each object’s intrinsic beauty is revealed. Balance and movement stir from the center connecting with our emotional, physical and spiritual core. Linking one object to the next, both physically and visually, awareness moves between root and crown. The space between reminds us to breathe. With each twirl and sound, energy shifts, spirit awakens, transformation occurs”.
Over a year ago, as the City of Boynton Beach prepared for the 2015 International Kinetic Art Exhibit and Symposium, Elayna Toby’s vision for transforming an old kapok tree into a kinetic sculpture was percolating. For three days only, February 6-8, 2015, the tree was transformed into living kinetic art with 16-foot long, twirling strands bedecking its grand limbs. This magical community art project was honored with the “People’s Choice Award,” selected by thousands of attendees who voted on 14 outdoor showcased kinetic sculptures by artists from around the world.
Click here to Watch the Video
“Kinetic-Connections” at the kapok tree
Elayna Toby conceived of “Kinetic Connections” as a way to encourage everyone to tap their inner artist, re-imagine everyday objects as art, and to join in on the transformative project. She held community workshops; provided County-wide drop boxes for contributed items; and ultimately combined the items with her own pieces to craft the thousands of objects into the kinetic strands.
Selected from more than 100 International entries, “Kinetic-Connections” was featured as one of 25 Kinetic Projects in CODA magazine, being. The creative up-cycling, community art project Kinetic-Connections is still making an impact in the art world.
CODAmagazine Featuring “Kinetic-Connections”
Elayna Toby “Re-Imagining” in her studio
“Re-Imagination Series”
The artist tells The Rickie Report, “During the Kinetic Art Symposium half of the 16 foot long strands were sold right off the tree. To celebrate “the season of light” and forthcoming New Year, the remaining strands from the kapok tree are being “Re-Imagined” into 4 foot strands with more embellishments, including additional mirrors which delightfully reflect and bounce the light. These new mobiles are now available in my online shop to add twirling happiness to one’s home or garden”.
“Excessories”
Recently inspired by a friend wondering what to do with the remaining “onesie” earrings after its match is lost or broken, Elayna Toby created “Excessories”, which invited the public to contribute their excess accessory pieces towards the original project. A percent of proceeds will benefit the development of the local fashion district in Palm Beach County.
Elayna Toby continued her tradition of collecting “stories of stuff,” which provided a rich narrative for the individual pieces, and for the sculpture composition as a whole. She tells us, ” A tape measure from noted Worth Avenue designer Alfred Fiadace; a lapel pin in the shape of a submarine donated from the wife of a man who retired from the Navy – the stories are moving, whimsical and meaningful.
Note the “onesie” earring which is now part of “Excessories”
Nearly 200 re-imagined pieces were combined into a rich composition of colors, textures and sounds. The individual “excessories” themselves include pieces by Roberto Cavalli and Versace, vintage couture, tools of the trade (spools, tape measures) and more. The results is a kinetic wall sculpture; a visual tapestry woven with the histories behind each piece.
Sample excess accessories before they were re-imagined into “Excessories”
Personalized Adornments:
Elayna Toby began as a jewelry designer, fashioning her first kinetic piece as earrings. Her “aha” mobile moment happened when she was working at a botanical garden. Inspired by Mother Nature’s exquisite beauty, Elayna Toby collected fallen seeds and branches which she combined with beads to create her earliest kinetic works. The journey continues today with her mobile kinetic earrings that express her passion for repurposing and creative reuse.
Elayna Toby uses only “cold connections” – no welding or soldering. She combines wrapping and knotting techniques, swivels and metal links, to connect one object to another. Re-imagined and re-purposed everyday objects are combined to extraordinary effect. All of her moving sculpture and kinetic jewelry are one-of-a-kind.
“Wash & Wear Series”
Mobile, Kinetic Earrings
“The “Wash & Wear” series features found washers I’ve collected, cleaned and cleverly re-imagined. Given that washers hold things together, stability and connection will come to all who adorn themselves with these wearable kinetic sculptures”.
Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings, Oh My!
Bracelet: Vintage Belt Buckle, Glass Beads, Naturally Oxidized Copper Wire,
Earrings: Glass Beads, Brass Earwire
The natural properties and symbolism associated with each piece’s beads and metals infuses every Elayna Toby creation. For the bracelet set above, flexibility and strength, clarity and grounding properties ignite to alchemical effect.
Bracelet and Earrings: Turquoise, Wire
“Pursue Your Dreams” “Bee Happy” and “Can You Dig It?”
Mobiles, Kinetic Art
For The Home And Garden
“Mightily” From Elayna Toby’s “Twirlin series”
“UNWound”
Recent Commissioned Piece by Elayna Toby
Take “unique” and “original” to a whole new level!
Commission Elayna Toby to create jewelry or a mobile especially for you or someone you love.
To Shop, or get more information about Elayna Toby’s creations, please visit:
Exhibitions and Press
“International Kinetic Art Exhibition & Symposium” Boynton Beach, FL – Winter 2015; ARTPalmBeach, West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2015; OSGS Gallery, Northwood Village, West Palm Beach, FL – Fall 2015; American International Fine Art Fair, West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2014; “No Boundaries” Palm Beach State College Eissey Campus, Palm Beach Gardens, FL – Fall 2013; “International Kinetic Art Exhibition & Symposium” Boynton Beach, FL – Spring 2013; “Fashion ARTillery” Armory Art Center West Palm Beach, FL – Spring 2013; “Anatomy of Spirit” Studio 1608 West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2012; Inspired West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2012; “Evergreen” Gallery 110 East Delray Beach, FL – Spring 2011; 35th Annual Red Cross Designer Show House West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2011 “Candlelier” shown hanging from the pergola as part of Terrace installation by Veronica Volani-Inza of Smith and Moore Architects, Inc.; “New*Art” Armory Art Center West Palm Beach, FL – Fall 2010; “Midtown Urban Arts Show” Midtown Commerce Center Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Fall 2010; “Ecology Art at the Gardens” Ann Norton Sculpture Garden West Palm Beach, FL – Spring 2010; 34th Annual Red Cross Designer Show House West Palm Beach, FL – Winter 2010 “Inner Flame” shown as part of Eco-Lounge installation by Veronica Volani-Inza of Smith and Moore Architects, Inc.; “Right Here, Right Now” Studio 1608 West Palm Beach, FL – Spring 2010; “VISIONS+” Studio 1608 West Palm Beach, FL – Fall 2009; “Shades of Green” Meyerhoefer Gallery Lake Worth, FL – Summer 2008.
Follow links for Elayna Toby news….
Kinetic-Connections, WPTV, February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Extra Step, February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Boca Magazine – Backstage Pass, page 154 – February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Boynton Beach Forum – On The Spot, page 8 – February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Palm Beach Arts Paper, February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Boca Magazine – Moving Sculptures, February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, The Coastal Star, February 2015; Kinetic-Connections, Sun-Sentinel, January 2015; Kinetic-Connections, The Palm Beacher, December 2014; Kinetic-Connections, WPTV, November 2014; Kinetic-Connections, Boynton Beach Forum, page 5 – November 2014; Kinetic-Connections, Palm Beach Post, November 2014; Kinetic-Connections, Palm Beach Gardens & Jupiter Florida Weekly, Nov. 2014; Kinetic-Connections, Sun Sentinel, October 2014; No Boundaries, Palm Beach Arts, October 2013; Bob Villa Highlights Elayna Toby Art, 2013; Traditional Home Magazine, March 2012; American Red Cross Designer Showcase, Palm Beach Daily News 2011; “Ecological Aesthetic” Palm Beach Daily News – 5/10/10; Visions+ Studio 1608, Examiner.com 12/2/09; Visions+ Studio 1608, Palm Beach Arts Paper – 11/27/09; Natural Object Mobile Workshop in Merida, Mexico – 8/2/09; Shades of Green, Meyerhoefer Gallery – 7/26/08.
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