Creative Challenge 1st Place Winner!
As a social member of Alloy Metalsmithing, I am offered the opportunity to participate in quarterly design challenges. Because of my background in interior design and my love of the built environment the summer challenge was one that intrigued and inspired me! You can read more about my background on my About page.
Challenge: Create a design-forward piece of jewelry that incorporates at least one architectural element. The piece must be an everyday wearable item, include a least one architectural design element, show thoughtful design (balanced, comfortable, intentional), exhibit strong craftsmanship.
The Judges: Maggie Goss of Mercury Contract, Alissa Wehmueller of Helix KC, Christine Nelson of AnnMann Designs. The judges were not given any background information on the piece, so it was a pure, objective and unbiased evaluation and critique
The design inspiration for this challenge was abundant and endless, so homing in on a design was indeed complicated. As I began exploring the vast number of paths I could take, I landed on something so simple, yet so important to buildings and structures, particularly from the 1860’s through the 1950’s.
I titled my piece “Ode to the Rivet” to honor one of the worlds most iconic architectural marvels, containing over 2.5 million rivets: the Eiffel Tower.
Although the concept is abstract, it clearly offers a subtle nod to this remarkable structure. The larger rivets highlight the elements’s strength and scale, while the smaller rivets are both decorative and functional.
Te piece is constructed primarily of copper, wth sterling silver and rubber accents. A patina was applied to evoke raw steel while still acknowledging copper as the primary material.
Together, these materials and forms celebrate the rivet’s enduring balance of utility, strength and beauty.
In the end, I was awarded 1st place amongst a very creative group of metalsmiths. I was humbled an honored.
“Ode to the Rivet”
New Work Hot off the Bench
I have been working on a few new things and I am excited to share “Jolene”, a collection of one of a kind pearl, oxidized sterling and 18K gold pendants.
Jolene, pearl, gold and oxidized sterling silver pendants
A New Dimension
In an earlier post, The Shape of Things, I promised to share a few completed designs using a recently discovered fabrication technique. The process is inspired by interlocking puzzle pieces to form three-dimensional objects.
I begin with flat sterling silver sheet, cut into basic circles, squares, ovals, triangles, etc. I transform these elementary shapes into more complex structures that are left to speak for themselves, or a beautiful pearl or gem is added for embellishment.
I hope these little sculptures intrigue and bring you simple pleasure. You can find them for sale at jackiejordanstudio.com.
Stay well, knowing a bright, better future is ahead.
JackieJackie
The Shape of Things
A surreal week has provided an opportunity to immerse myself in the studio, much more than usual. A creative activity takes your mind in a different direction for a few hours, and it is so necessary to escape, even for a short moment, as we weather this storm.
The extra time at my bench has allowed me to develop and play with a new fabrication technique. I am discovering endless possibilities for interesting shape shifting designs and combinations. So many, that I need to decide what to focus on and what to set aside for the future.
While I’ve had failures during this phase, some cool successes were achieved too. Failure is helpful because we learn why something isn’t working, and rather than giving up, it challenges us to figure out a solution. What a profound sense of accomplishment when that happens.
The next exciting step is turning these little sculptures into jewelry. I will share them with you soon, hoping they bring you joy.
As we forge ahead, my thoughts continue to be with everyone who depends on their small business to pay the bills. I know this too shall pass, and praying that it ends quickly.
For now, this is the shape of things and we must make the best of it, for when it’s over our strength will propel us forward.
Stay well my friends.
Jackie
Flashback to Jewelry Class
While soldering at my bench today, I had a flashback to my first jewelry class and lesson. That very first day, our fabulous instructor made us create solder tags to teach us how to use our brand new jeweler’s saw. These are designed to keep solder organized by type, hard (H), medium (M) and easy (E), and I have had these same well-worn tags for over 20 years!
Metalsmiths are always sharing their favorite way of storing and organizing this staple of the studio. Contemplating a new method happens occasionally, but as they say, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Fairly comfortable with my tried and true, I will continue to use these tags for the foreseeable future. They are a practical piece of “studio jewelry” that will always take me back to those first days of immersing myself in this amazing craft.
Forever Experimenting
Trying new fabrication techniques is one of the most gratifying ways of experimentation. This particular technique has my mind racing with possibilities! I can’t wait to share my completed jewelry designs! For now, here are just a couple forms and shapes in progress.
