Scenic Studs
This idea stirred in my head on an American Airlines flight from Dallas, Texas to Gunnison, Colorado at the beginning of the New Year. I really enjoy looking out the plane window on any flight to or from Gunnison. It is pretty spectacular to see so many snowy mountains. My assigned seat was an aisle seat, next to a teenage boy wearing headphones, eyes closed, window shade drawn. Bummer, I was going to miss the view! I asked the steward on the plane if there were any open window seats. The plane was small and the mood was mellow as we prepared to take off, I would not have asked otherwise., He answered with a smile, directed me to the open window spot and made my day. He was so nice to let me move, the views were great, and I felt inspired to pull metal around with my torch when I got home. Ripples can start small.
These are some of the things floating in my head as I create this collection of work:
Every single one of us lives on the same planet. We all have the earth as our home. The contours and craters of this planet hold us. You are my world. The world holds us all. The world needs me. Nature brings us together. The bigger picture. Protecting nature. Awe of nature, noble materials and artistic processes to create heirloom pieces that make the wearer feel beautiful, confident, and protected.
And a bit about artistic process….that cool rippled silver metal has been through a process called Reticulation. It is a labor-intensive process to prepare the metal by heating it over and over to bring the fine silver to the surface. When the metal sheet is ready to reticulate, I go in with a hot torch and the magic happens. While I can try for specific outcomes, the result is always organic and unique, creating a one-of-a-kind landscape.
A more scientific answer from Oppi Untracht’s book, Jewelry Concepts and Technology: “With proper heat control, the pure silver surface does not melt, while the interior original silver copper alloy does. At the time of maximum temperature the core expands as it melts. When the flame moves on to new surface areas, the core freezes and contracts due to the sudden change in temperature as it air cools. This causes the unmelted silver surface layer to take on the characteristic reticulated, wrinkled appearance as it conforms to the change in subsurface structure, accommodating itself to the shrinkage that takes place. “
If you read this far, thank you. I plan to push this scenic landcape idea in my work this summer. Stones like clear topaz and diamonds that sparkle like stars, London blue topaz and turquoise that shimmer like bodies of water in the landscape, and bimetal gold that shines like the sun are elements that will play with my landscape metal in the studio during the coming months. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Whether you are just curious about my process, love looking at art or collecting my creations, I am glad you are here. On this wildly beautiful planet we all share.
ps. I will probably never see that American Airlines steward again, or speak more than the thank you I did that day he let me switch seats. But I have thought of him as I work on this collection. I wish him good thoughts and I hope in some weird cosmic way that ripple finds its way back to him.