
In Process: A Gallery of Jewelry Components
April 06, 2011, 17:00 pm Posted by Lark Jewelry & BeadingListening to artists speak about their work is a wholly unique experience and one I value greatly. This week, jeweler Amy Tavern gave a lovely talk as part of the “Meet the Makers” series sponsored by the Craft Studies Program at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.
In describing her process, Amy showed an image of small paper models neatly arranged (above, left) and the silver components that were the next step in this project (above, center). These images brought to mind my fondness for two things: objects en mass and visual organization.
Do jewelers enjoy and excel at the process of visual organization of multiple objects more than other types of artists? Is the process of making jewelry the most component-driven art form? Do jewelers have an affinity for solving the practical and aesthetic “puzzles” that come from working with multiple pieces and parts?
For me, the following pictures of works in progress are very beautiful. They capture a moment in the creative process, and perhaps more importantly, they show order made out of potential chaos. Do you think images of multiple objects are beautiful? What makes them special for you? What are some steps in your process? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Many of these photos came from Bench Mess, an image-sharing group on Flickr.
I am delighted to feature the following artists in this post. Now that you’ve seen some of their work in progress, please visit their websites and have a look at the finished jewelry.
2 Roses, Allison Fomich, Amy Tavern, Ann van Poperingen/Chichandmades, Arthur Hash, Ashley Akers, Athena’s Armoury, Bek Caruso, Emi Savacool, Emma Day, Francesca Vitali, Hilary Pfeifer, Jennifer Trask, Jennifer Kistler, Jenny Windler, Karola Torkos, Kirsten Skiles, Lauren Schlossberg , Margaux Lange, Marion Pannekoek, Marta Sanchez Oms, Michael Dale Bernard, Nancy Schindler, Second String Swap, Shannon Conrad, Simone Walsh
Thanks for including my pebble rings in progress! Funny that these are mostly from “Bench Mess” as they don’t look like messes at all to me, but rather quite inspiring images.
It’s so interesting to see all of the pieces of a creation before they are combined into the finished product.
What a wonderful post! I love it! Process is one of my favorite subjects and you have posed some great questions. Thanks for including my work and so many interesting process shots from others.
Thanks for including my work! I hadn’t quite thought about it that way before, but I do get excited when I’ve invested the time and gotten quite a few silver pieces ready at the same time, means I have lots of components to play with! Was really interesting seeing others’ work in varied media, in progress.
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Great post Martha! I have always found inspiration in multiples and pattern. The beginning of my three dimmentional chains began with a pile of forms on my bench. Pattern for me is a visiual mantra, meditative and alive. Pattern from multiples moves you through and around the piece of jewelry. Multiples can create a surface and tactile experience as well giving the illusion of scales, feathers, etc. For me multiples enliven a piece with movement and sound as the parts move with the wearer. Back to the bench for mulitple pleasures!
Great post! I love the idea of jewelers being puzzle masters. I think there is a lot of truth to that. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and all the fantastic photos:)
Amazing article and an honour to be here!!! Thank you!! ;-D
I am always thinking of components the little prep stuff you do to be able to create the design , it’s kind of like a puzzle or maybe like the Operation fun game this attaches to this and so forth, and then wow it’s come together just like you imagined in your mind and there is no feeling like that A HA! moment. It’s your creation your magic imagination in the raw . Then it’s on to the next one , I try to keep a notebook everywhere in my home and in the cars, you just never know when something is going to hit you maybe it’s a texture or an idea. My bench is like a big super mess when I am working , all the little components everywhere awaiting connection to its counterpart. It”s funtime playtime .
Your post made me think ot the Museo Guatelli. Check out images on Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/museoguatelli/3224448877/in/photostream/
Thank you for the addition
honor to be on a fantastic website
Emma
Beautiful gallery of Gemstone & Jewelry, i just shared it with my colleagues on twitter.