{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"33. Finding Form with Alex O\u2019Connor","description":"In this episode, I chat with award-winning silversmith Alex O\u2019Connor about the winding path that led her from sculpture to silver\u2014and from the Isle of Wight to the far west of Cornwall and the rugged landscape of West Penwith. In a hugely engaging and very honest chat, Alex shares how her autistic thinking and aphantasia (inability to voluntarily visualise mental images) shape her highly tactile, refined work, and why she describes her creative process as an act of distillation. She discusses forging a new direction later in life, the evolving definition of success in a creative business, and the importance of taking a punt\u2014even when things don\u2019t go to plan. Topics include:   Finding home in Cornwall and inspiration in the landscape   Studying fine art at Kingston and discovering a love for materials   Reframing failure and redefining success after a difficult debut at Goldsmiths Fair   How aphantasia influences her process\u2014and why she calls herself an \u201ceditor\u201d of ideas   Her upcoming Quest Scholarship https:\/\/www.qest.org.uk\/apply\/scholarships\/&amp;nbsp; and what she hopes to learn in Shetland with Rod Kelly https:\/\/www.rodkellysilver.co.uk\/   The art (and strategy) of running a creative business and other silversmiths and creatives she admires, including: David Clarke&amp;nbsp;https:\/\/mister-clarke.com\/; Grant McCaig https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/grantsmccaig\/ ; Ndidi Ekubia https:\/\/www.adriansassoon.com\/artists\/66-ndidi-ekubia\/; Rauni Higson https:\/\/www.raunihigson.co.uk\/; Jessica Jue https:\/\/www.jessicajue.com\/; Ute Decker https:\/\/www.utedecker.com\/   You can see Alex\u2019s work at: https:\/\/www.alexoconnorsilver.co.uk\/ and @movingmetal &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"An Art To It","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/539737","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/37358610\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/194511445"}