Artist’s Statement
As a silversmith, Anne Barros has chosen to interpret her tiny corner of existence in the functional objects of everyday life. Making spoons, forks, and serving pieces has enabled her to explore the graphic possibilities of flatware, the play of surface reflections, and the sounds of silver. To these objects she often adds commentary on the passing scene, from gardening and family values, to molecular gastronomy and alternative energy sources.
Most recently, she have been obsessed with trees. In a series of Orchard Spoons she combined sterling silver with cuttings from apple, pear, plum, and quince trees. The devastating forest fires of 2021 led to Dark Woods, a group of mostly ironic candle snuffers. Their silver forms can be traced to various woodland fungi, real or imagined. Their handles are of black walnut, white ash, red oak, sugar maple, red cedar, and wild grape. They chide our world’s inadequate response to the warming of planet earth.
Artwork
Silver & Wood
About forty years ago my family planted 1,500 tree seedlings on an old farm. I now prune branches from them and continue a silversmithing tradition of fruit wood handles for tea pots, ladles, and other objects.
Houses
To celebrate the release of Stone Houses of Jefferson County, New York in 2016, I made small silver models of some stone houses documented in the book, including our family’s vernacular farm house.
Moods
Many people live with bipolar disorder. Their friends and relatives live with it also. This playground is my attempt to understand and support a bi-polar family member.
Tableware
From childhood I have loved the shine of silver especially in spoons. But spoons were not enough for eating the foams, jellies, and airs of “molecular gastronomy.” I added whisks, straws, and sleds to the place setting.
The Female Gaze
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Dr. Laura Brandon invited fifteen Canadian silversmiths each to make a candleholder honouring Canadian women in the arts.*
* My candle holder honours Canadian women photographers with photo-etched copies of their work. When hung out to dry, their photographs give us the female gaze – nurturing, self-affirming, playful, heroic.