(June 8, 2017) To say local arts collective Returning Tide is prolific is something of an understatement.
The dynamic duo, Michael Pivec and Ashley Garland, attend more than 100 art strolls, farmers markets and other art and artisan events each year.
Pivec, from Queenstown, was recently named one of the “30 Exceptional Craftspeople Under the Age of 30” by American Craft Week and Garland, who lives in Ocean City, was named a “Shard of the Year” winner by the North American Sea Glass Association.
Garland described the approach of Returning Tide as “handmade and local in the most simple and artistic way.”
The couple, who are also dating, started the business together about a year ago.
“I’ve been a full-time artist for about seven years, so, when we met, we were both already working artists and making a living off of it,” Garland said.
Garland said she’s been an artist most of her life. She was formerly a concert photographer, but now works on coastal-themed acrylic paintings.
With Returning Tide, the couple works together to create functional and decorative wooden pieces and handmade jewelry. Pivec has a woodworking shop in Queenstown, with both a lathe and a jewelry desk, where they often collaborate.
“One of the main things of our business is our sea glass jewelry,” Garland said. “It’s all collected from either Ocean City or the Chesapeake Bay, so it’s all local, authentic sea glass.
She said Pivec specializes in lathe turning, which she compared to a side-mounted potter’s wheel.
“You would mount a log or a chunk of wood to the lathe so it spins sideways in a circle, and then you take a chisel and you carve away from it,” she said. “It’s kind of an old-school approach. Lathe turning is of the past, because everything is mass-produced nowadays. He’s making them one at a time and using the wood’s natural grain and texture to influence his designs.”
Garland said she was introduced to Berlin through the downtown shop Bungalow Love, which has carried her art for several years. She said most of her customers live either in Berlin or Ocean Pines.
On Friday, Returning Tide will be set up at the Maker’s Market on Jefferson Street in Berlin from 5-8 p.m. Their table will feature wooden beer steins and bar tap handles, cutting boards, salad bowels and vases, and sea glass bracelets and earrings.
Garland will also display several paintings.
While they’re already well traveled, Garland said she and Pivec recently purchased a 15-passenger van they hope to use for larger showpieces and an increased number of events.
“Right now, we go between Ocean City, Baltimore and Annapolis,” she said. “We did over 120 shows last year. We’re both full-time artists, so it’s really the only way to make money.”
Returning Tide hosts bi-monthly popup shops at Mother’s Cantina on 28th Street in Ocean City and are regulars during the Ocean Pines Farmers Market and during 2nd Fridays in Berlin.
To view an online catalogue, visit www.instagram.com/returningtide.
The dynamic duo, Michael Pivec and Ashley Garland, attend more than 100 art strolls, farmers markets and other art and artisan events each year.
Pivec, from Queenstown, was recently named one of the “30 Exceptional Craftspeople Under the Age of 30” by American Craft Week and Garland, who lives in Ocean City, was named a “Shard of the Year” winner by the North American Sea Glass Association.
Garland described the approach of Returning Tide as “handmade and local in the most simple and artistic way.”
The couple, who are also dating, started the business together about a year ago.
“I’ve been a full-time artist for about seven years, so, when we met, we were both already working artists and making a living off of it,” Garland said.
Garland said she’s been an artist most of her life. She was formerly a concert photographer, but now works on coastal-themed acrylic paintings.
With Returning Tide, the couple works together to create functional and decorative wooden pieces and handmade jewelry. Pivec has a woodworking shop in Queenstown, with both a lathe and a jewelry desk, where they often collaborate.
“One of the main things of our business is our sea glass jewelry,” Garland said. “It’s all collected from either Ocean City or the Chesapeake Bay, so it’s all local, authentic sea glass.
She said Pivec specializes in lathe turning, which she compared to a side-mounted potter’s wheel.
“You would mount a log or a chunk of wood to the lathe so it spins sideways in a circle, and then you take a chisel and you carve away from it,” she said. “It’s kind of an old-school approach. Lathe turning is of the past, because everything is mass-produced nowadays. He’s making them one at a time and using the wood’s natural grain and texture to influence his designs.”
Garland said she was introduced to Berlin through the downtown shop Bungalow Love, which has carried her art for several years. She said most of her customers live either in Berlin or Ocean Pines.
On Friday, Returning Tide will be set up at the Maker’s Market on Jefferson Street in Berlin from 5-8 p.m. Their table will feature wooden beer steins and bar tap handles, cutting boards, salad bowels and vases, and sea glass bracelets and earrings.
Garland will also display several paintings.
While they’re already well traveled, Garland said she and Pivec recently purchased a 15-passenger van they hope to use for larger showpieces and an increased number of events.
“Right now, we go between Ocean City, Baltimore and Annapolis,” she said. “We did over 120 shows last year. We’re both full-time artists, so it’s really the only way to make money.”
Returning Tide hosts bi-monthly popup shops at Mother’s Cantina on 28th Street in Ocean City and are regulars during the Ocean Pines Farmers Market and during 2nd Fridays in Berlin.
To view an online catalogue, visit www.instagram.com/returningtide.