Found objects and bus-flattened treasures
Lookit! A blog post all about my friend Claire and how universe-boggling she is and what remarkable art jewelry she makes when she is not busy teaching or doing research or writing a book or picking up squashed bottle caps off the ground. There are pictures of some of the art jewelry that you can look at. I have a sensational piece of art jewelry that Claire made me for my birthday. I made all the readers of that blog post jealous by describing it. It is thrillingly complicated as well as beautiful.
Shucks. I thought everyone peeled beer bottle caps off the pavement and set rubies in them. . . Thanks Ophie!
OK, you’ve touted Russell, Shuggy, Claire and numerous others. What do I have to do to get a good touting? Have a decent blog? Never! Never I say!
Making universe-boggling art jewelry would be a sure ticket to ToutOville.
Brian – I hear that the “bake an ancient shroud in your home oven for fun and profit” career path is booming – you could get in on the crypt-floor.
Universe-boggling art jewlry? I can’t think of a person less suited to that undertaking then myself. Given lack of artistic ability and universe boggling capability. Oh well. :)
Shroud making? Mmm, I could do shrouds of goats and stoats. Maybe even rodents. Behold: The shroud of the prophesied Guinea pig saviour!
I believe you have discovered both your market and spiritual niches.
I am sorry to say that I even know this but there is a company in the U.S. (where else?) that will gather the ashes of loved ones (human or non human, they just have to be carbon-based) and – again I am mortified that I know this – they will make a synthetic diamond out of the carbon-remains, so the recipient can have it set into some (non) art jewelry.
I guess that bad news is that that particular niche is occupied. But miracle shrouds of stoats. . . wide open.
Claire, the jewellery pieces are so absolutely exquisite. Jdging from the phot’s, they must have taken you a very long time to produce.
I was recently at a life -long learning exhibition in Dublin and there was a jewellery-making stand there with very intricate pieces on display. I was so drawn to it. However, when I asked the assistant some questions about the delicate details that went into the making of some of them, that specificslly caught my eye, she was non too enthusiastic about sharing the knowledge with me. I found it so off-putting, as I think that jewellery making, like art, is a very personal and loving activity and those making them are saying a lot about their creative sides – and why put a display on for the public when you are not going to carry through with your positive creative nature.
It is so refreshing to read on the blog that you have a personality that befits your beautiful jewellery. That’s another gift to cherish.
The lay-out of the linked blog is something else – it really invites one into the arty Bohemian parlour.
Last night I was listening to an Irish speaking programme on TnaG – about two new female Irish traditional singers, who sing very old Irish songs, of which I am a big fan. They went to a real old worn-out house in London to make a video-recording. It had lots of elements in it on a par to that of which you use to create your jewellery. In other words, broken -down stuff was strewn all over the place to give that special arty effect and they were trying to marry that with their old Irish music and the blend worked so perfectly. I could visualise them wearing your bezel and rings.
Enjoy your art and I too look forward to seeing more of your creations.
Marie-Therese – thank you for your kind words!
Your experience at the “life long learning” (but apparently NOT life long teaching) exhibition is typical of old traditions in jewelry making. It’s starting to breakdown thanks to some renegades (e.g. the wonderful people at ganoksin.com where jewelry making’s linens hang and whip in the breeze, for all to see) but the tradition has been no sharing of knowledge or developments or techniques, esp to the riff raff or people who are deemd “not serious.” Not sure how things are in Ireland but in England there are some renegades who tell all!
I’m sorry you had to put up with this old fashioned stuff, esp at a life long learning event. The irony is too much. . .