WHY I DO WHAT I DO
Last January, I was recognized by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen as a Master Artisan in Jewelry. This is a major validation for me. Unlike many solo jewelry-making practitioners, I got most of my education and training on the job in the jewelry manufacturing industry when it was still around in New York City. It was during this time that I understood I would be a jeweler of one-of-a-kind pieces, that I would hand-craft my jewelry and forego the use of castings to round out a line, and that I would continuously raise the bar so that my design and production skills would broaden. I also have come to understand that I, as a solo practitioner, cannot do everything my heart desires, and so I no longer enamel or do a lot of chasing and repousse work. I do love a challenge, and jewelry-making is nothing if not challenging.
There is a real split in the jewelry-making world between fine jewelry epitomized by the use of high karat gold, platinum and diamonds and art jewelry recognized by the “character” component in the design and the use of unusual materials. While I prefer the designs of fine jewelry, in my practice, I love working with unusual materials, and I believe my jewelry has my “stamp” on it. I have been deeply influenced by my late friend, mentor, and colleague, Dvora Hurvitz of Tambetti. Unfortunately, there is no documentation, printed or online, for the work of Tambetti, but on occasion, her pieces are auctioned by Sotheby’s or Christie’s and you can find examples of her work on the Internet (search on Tambetti).
I’ve been at it for a long time, and my work has evolved. Because I am aware that I may not be able to work that much longer, I now want to make the jewelry I love. Most of the pieces on this site have been made in the past two years and reflect this reality. The pieces in the archive section are older (I’ve also changed photographers and the difference in the photographs will be evident), and I’d be interested in what you think are the differences between the two sets of work. Mostly, I do enjoy interacting with people with regard to my jewelry, and the best part is working on commission. Let me hear from you. Thanks.