Wearable Art and Fine Crafts

mother-of-pearl, stainless steel and sterling silver

Artist Profile: Barbara Silverstein

As a designer whose strength is minimal architectural classic lines, Barbara SilverStein’s response to the purity of the intristic beauty of braided stainless steel was immediate and total. Each art to wear piece and its findings are formed by hand. SilverStein’s standard for excellence includes achieving total comfort while maintaining exquisite craftsmanship. The finished result is both timeless and maintenance free.

Award winning designer and artist, Barbara SilverStein will share with you the process of knitting and braiding stainless steel and gold. Her creations are combined with fresh water pearls, washed jade and semiprecious stones.there is a stark, minimalist elegance.

More art to wear jewelry at Gallery Five.

Gallery Five Jewelry Show is from February 1-28 featuring  Shellie David, jewelry artist.

Artist Statement: “I make jewelry with my hands, constantly changing my materials and techniques to accommodate new concepts. With my heart, my aim is to make beautiful things that will uplift the spirit of those who both see it and wear my work.”

“My goal is to create three-dimensional images that look alive — if a completed piece looks as if it will get up and walk away — that to me is ART! I begin with fabulous gems and minerals that I’m drawn to and choose for their earthy quality. I then add gold, silver and texture. I carve in wax, repousse, hammer in wood, and use rolled print metal. My work is always evolving. As a result, my display cases reflect the different moods and styles I’ve developed. I hope you enjoy looking at and wearing my “little sculptures.”

Browse more sterling silver jewelry, art to wear! currently featured at Gallery Five.

2010 Greetings from Florida .... Paula and Paul Coben

Gallery Five’s January Shows feature
three distinctive Trunk Shows and artisan jewelry
from the work of two very distinctive jewelry artists.

JEWELRY SHOW

January 26-30
Leni Hoch

January 2-30
Julie Shaw
Penelope Weinstein

TRUNK SHOWS

January 12-16
Mina Norton

January 19-23
Elizabeth Garver

Gallery Five is in its 28th season, featuring wearable art and five types of fine crafts by American Artists: ceramics, glass, fiber, metal and wood.

Julie Shaw has been designing and crafting exquisite jewelry for over thirty years. Using sterling silver accented with 14k, 18k and 22k gold, her creations are then magically transformed by a patina that enhances unique agates, jaspers, opals and other precious stones.

Inspiration for Julie’s original designs comes from many sources, including her spiritual connection to nature and travels to ancient and sacred places around the world.

This tantalizing jewelry may be found at galleries and fine stores nationwide.

Bring the beauty and power of this truly wearable art into your life.

See Julie Shaw’s new artisan rings now showing at Gallery Five.

variscite stone

layers of enamel

turquoise stone

As a jewelry designer whose strength is minimal architectural classic lines, Barbara SilverStein’s response to the purity of the intristic beauty of braided stainless steel was immediate and total. Each piece and its findings are formed by hand. Silverstein’s standard for excellence includes achieving total comfort while maintaining exquisite craftsmanship. The finished result is both timeless and maintenance free.

Award winning designer and artist, Barbara SilverStein will share with you the process of knitting and braiding stainless steel and gold. Her creations are combined with fresh water pearls, washed jade and semiprecious stones. There is a stark, minimalist elegance.

Enjoy browsing Gallery Five’s collection of Barbara SilverStein’s art to wear jewelry: necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, brooches and pins.

Freshwater pearls necklace and earrings by Barbara Silverstein

1. Luster and Nacre Thickness:  This is the most important characteristic both for value appraisal and for visual appeal. The longer a pearl is allowed to grow, the thicker the coating of nacre around its center. It is this lustrous layering of crystals which traps and holds light thus giving the fine pearls their glow.  The higher the luster, the sharper the reflection and refraction of light.

Pearls and agate necklace by Julie Shaw

2. Color:  There are more variations in natural pearl color. Pink, white, cream, light green, light gray and golden are the most common categories of color. Color is a matter of personal choice – find the color that looks best with your skin tone. White and pink are the most costly colors.

3. Shape:  Pearls are found in many shapes: round, semi-round, baroque and drop. Perfectly round pearls are the most rare and most preferred.

4. Size:  The  size of pearl is measured by it’s diameter in millimeters. Generally, the value of pearls increase ias size increases.  Large pearls are more scarce than small ones.

5. Matching:  No two pearls are ever exactly alike. Most pearl earrings and necklaces are the result of a careful blending of pearls that appear to look alike in respect to color, luster, shape, cleanliness and measurement. Matching pearls is a fine art, and is evident in beautiful pearl jewelry.

Read about types of pearls and how to care for your pearls in future blogs.