Jewelry as expression beyond wealth and status

Jewelry Discussion
41 
submission to a certain faculty show from the head of the painting
department that left everyone, other faculty included, wondering
just what was going on.

The point has been made - walls are bad - your walls are just as bad
as my walls, End of story. It’s not that I don’t or can’t do what
some would call “art jewelry” (I prefer “academic”), it’s that I used
to do work like that and I moved past it - I evolved into something I
think is better - certainly more sophisticated and challenging. I
know many others who’ve done the same.

The risk of this thread is of falling into the same old trap. What do
yo= u mean by jewelry? The jewelry you make? The jewelry you like?
The= jewelry that an 18 year old college student has seen in their
short lifetime? The jewelry that a myopic college professor thinks is
“cutting edge”? Do you mean “white european-heritaged jewelry” or are
you including Middle Eastern, African, American Indian (including
Eskimo, Cherokee, Payute…) Spanish, Russian, Mongolian, Chinese,
Maori? Not all of which wouldtruly be called ethnic, in these modern
times. Once again, the question hangs on how far one’s brain is able
to reach.

Somebody sent me pics of their work lately - I’ll let them identify
themselves if they want to - Very, very nice work, very very nice
designs. Some of it I said, “I can’t do that…” Long ago a
Peruvian friend gave me a filagree slipper. It’s a tourist trinket -
a silver charm, probably cost a couple of dollars. I’ve kept it ever
since because it’s so beautiful - finely crafted, elegantly designed.
Certainly I could make it if I practiced filagree and studied for a
bit, but right now, no, I couldn’t makeit myself.

There is much to learn and know. The world is big. Prejudice is
never a good idea.

42

John, You are so right on here.

There is much to learn and know. The world is big. Prejudice is
never a good idea.

What I make is from me, my hands, and my eye. What I love, and have
bought, and yes, I have said this before, is from the hands of
woman/ man, World-Wide.

Some of the exquisite work is not of noble metal, I was not thinking
this is not pure this, I was seeing, this is pure incredible skill,
I love it, I will treasure it, I bought it.

Some of the natural stones, are not highly machine polished, they
are not infused with oils, nor impregnated with dyes, or heated to
change colors, they are what that jeweler saw belonged in this piece
of jewelry.

Cutting edge is arrogant and usually very short lived. Wear it
today, tomorrow in a consignment shop.

May the young of all cultures, learn the family traditions, and
carry them forward with pride. May the old spend more time with the
young, and share with them skills of the hands. May the myopic
professors listen to the traditions of his students from distant
lands. May we all learn from one another, please.

In Jay’s last class there were 7 languages beside English, this on
campus at UCSD. I love it.

Hugs,
Terrie
Jay Whaley’s Studio Assistant

43

There is a strata of people who just set stones in traditional
settings, just as there are different levels of artistic
expression…

Go to the link on Michael’s post - there you will see about the
earthiest work you’ll ever see (I mean that as a compliment). I’d
say anybody who is uncertain about this whole topic could print his
post and put it on the wll as a good example of a healthy attitude
towards art in general. Diff’rent strokes…

44

This thread is great! Not only for the value in the discussion of
jewelry, but in the broader discussion regarding art vs. fine craft
that is taking place in the art world. I have one foot in both
worlds, with a background in painting, and made the switch to study
jewelery just a few years ago. I still work in a fine arts atelier
that makes bronze sculpture, where I work in wax. The art world is at
a turning point with no ‘movement’ to replace the post-modern, and
everything goes. There used to be a wall between craft, where jewelry
belongs, and art. That wall is crumbling quickly. Galleries are
increasingly adding boutiques that feature fine craft to supplement
their income. Middle class hipsters with education and taste are
fueling a boutique, handmade economy and like the accessible pricing.
Here in Los Angeles, what was once called the ‘low brow’ market is
quite huge, with its own string of galleries selling affordable
paintings and jewelry curiosities.

I don’t know enough to speculate on the overall picture of the
jewelry world, which is what makes this forum so great, there are
some bonafide seasoned professionals taking part here. But to look at
things from an artist’s perspective - if you focus on the work, pour
your heart and soul (and endless hours) into your work, the quality
will show, the voice will come through loud and clear, and people
will notice. Sales are made by a meeting between authentic effort
(and experience) and those who appreciate craftsmanship. Some do sell
simply by technique or subject, young artists just cutting their
teeth get caught up in fame, but the word in the art market is not to
pay attention to the shooting stars, rather work by the light of the
steady ol’ sun. As for the price, nothing is impossible, but
inevitably it is the environment that sets the price. People who go
to art & craft shows only have so many dollars to spend, more so in
a gallery, and the elite shop the auctions.

That said, I think jewelry has a great future in the fine craft /
wearable art / handmade realm, one that is expanding. The art world
is still financially strong, the wealthy did very well this past
decade - there are more galleries of all size than before, and for
the budget-conscious wealthy jewelry is an affordable art form.
Museums are still aggressively acquiring jewelry, including many new
craft museums that have opened since the 80’s. It seems there is
room for everyone, especially where expression is involved.

Robert Seitz
www.robertseitz.info

45

Jewelery is an expression of life.

There is something for everyone. A bean, bone or feather, or the
most costly and glorious gem. Brass and iron, gold or platinum.
Crude workmanship and cunning artistry…all and sundry are spread
out before us.

To some jewelery is a whim no matter how costly. To others jewelery
is a lifetime commitment expressed in a modest token. Jewelery can
be a chore and a burden to the giver and receiver. It can be a cover
to hide behind, a window into a soul, an expression of joy or
sadness.

Wealth may widen the options, status may over-extend the mortgage,
and life rolls on forever evolving and forever the same.

Alastair

46

Alastair, this is almost a poem – I’m quoting your whole post
below. It’s lovely and completely sums up the entire expanse of
jewelry! Bravo!

Jewelery is an expression of life. 

There is something for everyone. A bean, bone or feather, or the
most costly and glorious gem. Brass and iron, gold or platinum.
Crude workmanship and cunning artistry...all and sundry are spread
out before us. 

To some jewelery is a whim no matter how costly. To others
jewelery is a lifetime commitment expressed in a modest token.
Jewelery can be a chore and a burden to the giver and receiver. It
can be a cover to hide behind, a window into a soul, an expression
of joy or sadness. 

Wealth may widen the options, status may over-extend the mortgage,
and life rolls on forever evolving and forever the same.

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com

47

Dear jewelers,

This is a subject I have addressed in many areas of my writing
including my book, African Elegance.

A story I wrote some 20 years ago for a magazine called The World
and I considered the many roles of jewelry - I think I came up with
at least a dozen.

I came in late on this thread but I suggest the original query
writer should consider the role of jewelry as an identifier not only
in tribal life, for example, where it denotes many aspects of
cultural status but also in religion. This is a very rich topic.

Ettagale Blauer