Clarity: four things I know to be true about jewelry.

First true thing: I know that I just want to make tiny little objects that women put on their bodies to signal to the world the ideas they have about their inner selves.

Second true thing: I make my jewelry for women, but I wouldn’t call it feminine. What is femininity anyway?

Third true thing: if fine jewelry is jewelry designed solely with precious materials (gold, silver, platinum, gemstones), then I’m certain that I appreciate fine jewelry but I don’t want to make it.

Fourth true thing: Sometimes people use the phrase “art jewelry” as a marketing strategy without a clear understanding of what art jewelry is nor how it came to be. There are many great books about the history of art jewelry. One of my favorites is“Messengers of Modernism: American Studio Jewelry 1940-1960″. Another way to differentiate art jewelry from other types of jewelry is to understand that jewelry artists make their jewelry–every part of it from the ear wires, clasps, jump rings, chains, pendants, bails and other findings. Jewelry designers, on the other hand, purchase their jewelry components at the jewelry supply store and arrange the components in a pleasing pattern.

Jewelry artists are concerned with conveying meaning through their work. Through their work they may interrogate cultural, religious, political, or other ideological norms.  Jewelry designers focus on their work’s aesthetic qualities: form, pattern, texture. Designers are concerned with whether their work is aesthetically pleasing and whether their work would be considered fashionable.

There are exceptions to the following rule but jewelry artists typically exhibit their work in art galleries or fine craft museums. Jewelry designers typically sell their work in fashion boutiques or in online DIY craft communities.  Both jewelry design and art jewelry are valid and both have their own audiences. But it’s important for the public to understand what they are viewing and what they purchase. Moving on.

This week I was playing around with steel wool. I was using it to clean the paint from my work table. I started thinking about its scratchy texture, how the wool pulls you into the present moment. Then I started thinking about creating a bracelet from it and wearing it during meditation–that will surely keep me from daydreaming. This is just an experimental, meditation bracelet. I made it for myself. I’m going to wear it out next week and see what sort of reactions I get.