The Ceremonial Earrings

There has been an absolute creative explosion this year in the studio. One thing I’m letting go of was my previous associations with materials and techniques. One of my first jewelry teachers, after seeing how I used to combine beadwork with metal, was encouraging me to continue on that path. He showed me another artist’s work and said, “this jeweler clearly knows all of the rules, and yet, he breaks them. It’s brilliant.”

These earrings are about the play of light and materials. I heavily darkened one section of the earring to highlight another. Oxidized copper is one of my favorite finishes. The copper becomes warmer and browner, like the glow of old wooden furniture. Then I set everything with some of my best gemstones to really bring out the beauty of that oxidized copper.

The Ceremonial Earrings were designed specifically with a procession in mind. I imagined women dressed in their traditional clothing passed down from their families, heritage, background wearing these stunning earrings that would make any wearer stand in a very empowered stance. Think flamenco dancers and how the earrings that they wear give off as much emotion and drama as they do. The earrings become part of the dance, ceremonial in their own right.

Fluorite, tourmalines, amethyst, citrines, brass, copper, sterling silver.