Conversations with Jim Pape

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Pape.

Hi Jim, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I grew up in Iowa along the Mississippi River, where there were quite a few gravel pits to go agate rock hunting. My fascination with rocks started with a small rock tumbler, then purchasing a lapidary saw and grinder and collecting more rocks. My mom and dad, and I would go on many summer vacations out west, and along the way, we would stop at rock shops where we could buy rock from all over the world and then go rock hunting and get more rock. I started to make jewelry with the rocks, but it never really interested me to continue perfecting that part of the lapidary hobby. I really enjoyed and still do cutting all kinds of rocks and being the first to see what each stone has hidden inside. So, my fascination with the interior of rocks started and has never ended. 

I took a couple of stained-glass courses and continued to experiment with setting stones in frames and trying my hand at making small lamps and candle holders. I would sell in craft shops, but really never pursued getting into the art field. After college, I moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to start working in my college graduate profession and continued collecting and buying at estate sales but still not pursuing anything in the art world. I joined a Gem & Mineral Club and met a photographer that persuaded me to have some of my lamps and candles photographed, he then persuaded me to apply to an art gallery in the city where they have professional art shows. 

The art gallery owners, Linda & Frank Stone of Frank Stone Art Gallery, would have month-long shows of beginning artists. At first, they seemed a little apprehensive about my hobby, but they said let’s try it out and see what the buyers might think. 

March 1, 2002, I had my first professional art show with art lovers of all kinds. March in Minnesota can be snowy or a beautiful spring day, but as always, I have allergies that show up typically in Spring. I was looking forward to all the excitement, plus this was my the weekend of my 40th birthday, and my parents would be attending. As fate would have it, the day of the show, my allergies kicked in, and I lost my voice. Although the art show was the most exciting and scary time of my career as an artist, I received such an overwhelming acceptance of my art that I have never turned back. From that point on, I pursued galleries and some shows with more confidence. 

I now live in Arizona, and although still working professionally, I sell my art at 2 art galleries, Buffalo Collection and Buffalo Boutique in Old Towne Scottsdale. I look forward to becoming a full-time artist within 5 years after retirement, where I will be able to devote my entire self to my art. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My biggest struggle has been having the confidence of getting my art into a gallery. Although my first gallery show went well, applying to galleries has not always been rewarding. Gallery owners can be very negative, abrupt, and hurtful when it comes to applications. Unfortunately, as a new artist, I have found for myself that I have a lack of self-esteem when it comes to my creative abilities. I have also learned not every gallery is a good fit for everyone’s art. After the show in Minneapolis, I was told by another artist that you must go to galleries, walk around inside, and check them out. There should be a feeling or a sense that your art should sell there before pursuing any type of application into their gallery. I have used this feeling, and it has worked more times than not. 

This does not work for your friends! My friends had me applying to places that would never sell my art, or if I got in, they never did, and it actually became more of a disheartening feeling than a positive feeling. I had a harder time getting out of these galleries because they didn’t want me to leave because my art impressed the rest of the gallery. Of course, then explaining to my friends why I had to pull out without hurting their feelings was even worse. Basically, it comes down to pursuing on your own until you get established or a good resume then branching out. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My art is quite different. I have been told by many gallery owners and professional artist friends that I truly am a talented and creative artist. I have been fascinated with the cutting and polishing of natural rocks and gems. I have been collecting since I was nine, and my collection includes rock and gems from all over the world. There was a time in the 1980s and 1990s when rock collecting was affordable, and collectors were easily approachable with collecting sites. So, I collected heavily during that time not knowing really what I was going to do with all of it. Since that time, I have sold quite a bit of it but have kept the best. 

So, I specialize in cutting unique rock and gems. After cutting, there is a process of cleaning, then grinding imperfections out before they are put in a barrel tumbler for their 6-week journey to come out smooth and polished. I then separate the best pieces for my art and give away the broken and dull pieces to other artists. 

The work can be quite extensive, especially if the customer wants a custom piece or even a large piece. I use molds for all of my lampshades. Most lampshades take 30 to 40 hours or more to complete. The soldering and acid-washing process can be extremely hazardous, so proper attire has to be worn in a well-ventilated room. All of my bases for the lamps are natural and come from a wood artist in Minnesota or the many pieces I have self-collected in Arizona. 

I have found by scanning the web that there are several other artists/commercial companies that make similar agate lamps. Many of these are produced with the same rock, Brazilian agate is well known for the choice of agate material. My lamps are unique because I use rocks and gems that cannot be acquired any longer or can be afforded. I also do not just do lamps. I love to create pieces that can be hung in the window, I call them Suncatchers, because as the sun shines through them you get to see the true beauty and intricacy of the stone. 

The best part of the Suncatchers is there is no boundary, they can be as abstract as I want and there are no limits. This is where I have experimented with not just rocks but minerals, crystals, and even some stained glass. Each piece is unique and cannot be copied. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is going on rock-collecting vacations with my mom and dad. That was a time where the anticipation to drive to the destination was filled with my love for being outdoors and just taking in the beauty that God created. Whether it was in the prairie of Nebraska, the mesa of Wyoming, the mountains of Montana, or just seeing different places. My dad loved history, so we would always stop along the way to visit places of historical significance. I really enjoyed those special times with my parents. 

Pricing:

• Suncatchers – $45 on up
• Accent Lamps – $225 on up
• Lamps – $500 – 6″ – 10″ $12″ – 14″ – $1,000-$1,500 – 16″ and higher is $2,000 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: jimpapestoneart.com

Image Credits
Larry Kantor Photography
Jim Pape