Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following was published in the spring issue of About HER, a regional news magazine.

Susan Icove’s maternal grandfather ran a junk yard and her paternal grandfather ran a lighting business, so it’s not surprising that the former potter and graphic designer ended up making one-of-a- kind lamps out of junk.   “It’s all about form, function and balance, not so different than making pottery in many ways,” Icove said.  She explained how her early success as a studio potter led to burnout, and then later the medium left her unsatisfied.

While renovating an old cookhouse into a guest cottage on the Floyd homestead that she shares with her family, Icove got good at hunting down salvaged materials and incorporating unique items into the design. Realizing her knack for putting old and new together in creative ways, and not finding any cool lamps that she liked herself, she surprised a friend when she announced, ‘I’m going to make lamps out of junk.’

Her husband taught her the basics of electrical wiring and the rest she taught herself.  “It’s not that hard,” but cleaning old materials can be tedious, she explained.  The results of her efforts – whimsical and colorful works of art – are worth the time the time they take to make, and their popularity has as made them good sellers throughout the region.

An old mint-green alarm clock serves as the base of a favorite table lamp in Icove’s home. A floor lamp incorporates a bocci ball and a dried cactus.  A credit card charger, a candy dish, car and appliance parts, a frying pan, a pencil, a doorknob and teapot have all made their way into her signature lamps.

Icove shops at the local thrift shop and collects found objects when she travels.  “And people bring me things,” she said.  She encourages those who commission her lamps to contribute family heirlooms and keepsakes that can tell a meaningful story.  The fabric of a favorite old dress might be used to cover one of her handmade lampshades, or a favorite old toy can become a lamp base.

Icove grew up in Ohio and came to Floyd in 1981 with her husband, an emergency room doctor, after receiving her MFA from West VirginiaUniversity.  The couple settled on an 80 acre property with an 1880’s brick home and outbuildings (recently listed in the National Historic Register) and raised two children.   A home studio and gallery that she is currently renovating was once a general store.

Along with her family background in junk and lighting, Icove was instilled by her family upbringing with the importance of contributing to society. Her father was a civil rights lawyer and activist, and her mother a high school guidance counselor and English teacher.  Today, along with creating artisan-made lamps, Icove also shines a light on organizations that benefit the community.

It was through her first community project – heading up a building fund committee to raise money for the Jessie Peterman Library expansion – that she discovered she had a talent for fundraising.  “Mostly I was bold in asking for donations,” Icove said, adding, “It was a real community effort.  I feel good about that.”

After a long fundraising campaign and construction, the community celebrated the
grand re-opening of the library with guest speaker, poet Nikki Giovanni in the summer of 2008.  Due to Icove’s efforts in securing private donations and grants, and with help of a host of volunteers, the library doubled its size, adding an internet café, a computer lab, a genealogy room, a new community room and an impressive front desk.
“We’re so proud of it. Every time Susan comes in we thank her.  We owe her a debt of gratitude. I don’t think it would have happened without her, or it would have taken a very long time,” said library supervisor Cathy Whitten, who stated that Icove spearheaded the raising of $60,000 in six months.

More recently Icove has taken on a leadership role in raising funds for the renovation of Floyd’s New River Community Action (NRCA) building.  The building suffered extensive roof damage from heavy snows in 2009, causing programs and offices to be temporarily relocated.   Although the cost of the  roof repair was primarily covered by insurance, other structural problems needed to be addressed in the building, which served as a doctor’s office and hospital in the early 1960’s.

Supporting the work of the NRCA, as a longtime board president and now the building renovation Campaign Chair, is another way Icove gives back to the community. Some of the human service programs that the NRCA provides to the community include Head Start pre-school classes and home-based programs, a food pantry, a children’s Backpack Program, Emergency Assistance Program, Homeless Intervention, Children’s Health Improvement (CHIP), and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

Grants provided the seed money to start the renovation. Pro bono building and landscape drawings from DesignWorks Construction and Willow Springs Tree Farm helped get the momentum going.  The interior demolition was done with volunteers from the Construction Arts class at FloydCountyHigh School, the Floyd Moose Lodge and members of the NRCA board.  The fundraising campaign team still needs to raise $100,000 for the project, which is well underway and is expected to be completed this summer, Icove reported.

Along with “Icove Lighting,” Icove is also a downtown Floyd business owner.  “A step through the doors of Troika is a step into New York City,” her webpage (icovelighting.com) describes the contemporary craft gallery that she owns with two other women artists.  Troika Gallery is a warm and artful outlet for the work of the artisan owners – Icove, potter Silive Granetelli and handmade paper artist Gibby Waitkzin.  It also serves to shines a light on more than a dozen regional artists that work in variety of mediums.

Located front-and-center at The Station, Troika is a hub of inspirational beauty that is especially abuzz with activity during first Friday “meet the artist” receptions.  Gallery displays of home décor and adornment present like art installations.  Handmade furniture, table settings of ceramics, sculpture, paintings, fiber arts and more are brightened by Icove’s always surprising, up-cycled lighting designs.

Post notes: The above photos of are ones I took of lamps that have been displayed at Trioka, most of which have been sold. Visit Susan’s website HERE.