Translating feelings into jewelry
\nJewelry artist Barbara Giles says the magic happens in the creative process<\/p>\n
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By Tanika White | Sun reporter
\nNovember 11, 2007<\/p>\n
At her in-home studio in Catonsville, jewelry artist Barbara Giles creates deceptively simple pieces of stone-and-metal, which she sells online (barbaragiles jewelry.com) and from elegant small display cases in local boutiques, such as Art and Artisan on Main Street in Ellicott City.<\/p>\n
They are beautiful pieces meant to be worn — smoothly polished cut opal; softly colored sea glass connected with sterling silver; magnificent jade petals in pinks and oranges; amazing lasso necklaces of crocheted sterling silver perfect for twisting, tucking and tying.<\/p>\n
“Jewelry is subjective, obviously,” says Kevin E. Smith, owner of Bella Sorpresa, a new lingerie boutique on Charles Street that clamored to sell Giles’ pieces after seeing her work in another shop in Federal Hill. “But hers is art.”<\/p>\n
To prove that point, Giles will be taking her penchant for simplicity up a notch — and focusing more on metalwork — at the Maryland State Arts Council’s m’Art show, to be held Dec. 6-8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront hotel, 700 Aliceanna St., second floor.<\/p>\n
IN HER WORDS \/\/ For the m’Art event I am considering using a lot of the same design elements I am already incorporating into my jewelry. I will be adding brooches, cufflinks and larger pieces to the collection. [Also,] I will be concentrating more on the sterling, the pearls and some beautiful little diamonds.<\/p>\n
THE CONCEPT \/\/ The concept is to let the surfaces of the metals show in all their glory. Some of the elements I am making are little modern sculptures. A few of the pieces can stand alone, or be layered for a more gypsy or talisman look. I’m also very much into lariats for necklaces: no hooks, no clasps. Simple is my motto.<\/p>\n
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION \/\/ I have pieces which force the wearer to be involved. The necklace length is adjustable, as are the elements; they slide on a nylon coated steel cable. I want the wearer to decide where she wants the elements to hang in relation to each other. I guess this is what you’d call audience participation.<\/p>\n
HER INSPIRATION \/\/ Everything inspires me: I’m a sponge. Music, art, fashion, nature, the materials themselves. They all inspire. From the time I started making art, originally as an illustrator, my goal has been to translate my feelings into a work of art. I hope these pieces communicate a peaceful, quiet, Zen-like energy.<\/p>\n
THE TECHNIQUE \/\/ For these pieces the techniques are pretty basic. Each marquis shape is made from two equal lengths of silver, which I curve and solder at the ends. I file the edges — a lot — and then solder onto the piece whatever is appropriate, like a post or a ring, so that it may be used as an earring or part of a bracelet. The piece then gets cleaned and tumbled and polished. Unless I am putting patterns on my metal, the process is pretty much across the board. Shaping, sawing, soldering.<\/p>\n
LOCAL MATERIALS \/\/ I find most of my materials right here in Baltimore. Terra Firma in Pikesville is one of my second homes. I have searched and found wholesale jewelry suppliers for other raw materials. They are all over the country.<\/p>\n
JEWELRY AS ART \/\/ I approach jewelry as I do any of the art I’ve made. I am not a planner; I am all about process and feeling. I start with a vague vision, more like how it would feel to wear a certain piece, and I go from there [to] how can I get my materials to represent this feeling. I plan minute to minute: How do I connect this piece to the other? What weight chain works with what weight metal, etc.? I work instinctually with metal as I did with my painting. I add, I take away until something feels and looks right to me. I consider the act of creation to be an art — when you are making something with the intention of transporting yourself or others to another place of feeling or energy. … When we work to perfect something, we are all making art.<\/p>\n
tanika.white@baltsun.com<\/p>\n
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Translating feelings into jewelry Jewelry artist Barbara Giles says the magic happens in the creative process By Tanika White | Sun reporter November 11, 2007 At her in-home studio in Catonsville, jewelry artist Barbara Giles creates deceptively simple pieces of stone-and-metal, which she sells online (barbaragiles jewelry.com) and from elegant small display cases in local […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[411],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n