Wearable Art and Fine Crafts

peridot, green pearls, vintage chartreuse Czech glass, pale green button pearl and matte gold 16" neckpiece by jewelry artist, Susan Green

Accent your wardrobe with the sparkling citrus shade of a peridot art jewelry.  The vivid green of peridot, with just a slight hint of gold, is the ideal gemstone color to go with that light summer wardrobe. No wonder since peridot is the gemstone of the summer month of August.

Interesting Facts about Peridot

Peridot jewelry can be traced right back to the Bible where it’s mentioned by its original name – Chrysolite – and was one of the stones worn by Aaron in his breastplate. Some Biblical references also mention it as Pitdah. Referred to as the Gem of the Sun by Egyptians who mined it by moonlight, Peridot jewelry enjoyed great popularity with King Solomon and Cleopatra (who named it “evening emerald”), as well as the ancient Incas and Aztecs adorned themselves with Peridot rings, Peridot men’s rings, Peridot earrings and Peridot pendants to reap the many physical, mystical and psychological benefits of this gemstone.

• “Healer’s Stone”
• Brings understanding of destiny and purpose
• Associated with the Heart Chakra
• Clears the path to the heart and heals damaged egos
• Fosters emotional balance and helps us heal from past emotional wounds
• Releases negative vibrations and promotes clarity and well being
• Adds intelligence to your romantic situations

Visit art jewelry at Gallery Five.

Sarah Cavender Artist Profile

Sarah designs and produces several new seasonal collections each year. She specializes in metal mesh jewelry, belts and handbags. Each piece is handmade to order by local artisans under Sarah’s supervision in Oxford, Alabama, using materials primarily made in the USA with stones imported from Europe. The pieces are created from brass screening by folding and bending the material. It is then plated or oxidized and finished by hand painting with bronze powders mixed in a lacquer base. Sarah discovered the beauty and versatility of bronze screening and other wire materials while studying sculpture at the Philadelphia College of Art. After graduating in 1994, she stayed in Philadelphia and applied her skills and understanding of metal to develop a process of forming these materials into wonderful floral, leaf and insect representations, as well as abstract forms. She looks to her extensive world travel experiences for inspiration. Her knowledge of art history and design influence her varied design approach. Although constantly searching for uncommon and unique materials, she makes sure each piece contains an element of woven wire. Over the years her work has been featured several times in trade publications and top fashion magazines such as Vogue, Mademoiselle, In-Style, Glamour and McCalls.

Gallery Five art jewelry collection.  New Sarah Cavender jewelry coming in next week.

The shapes of Lisa Ceccorulli’s art jewelry take the forms of stepping stones used to make walkways through ancient Japanese gardens. The stones (as well as some of the plants) were arranged in groups of threes, fives, and sevens. Today, Buddhist temples still have gardens based on the 3-5-7 design.

oxidized sterling silver and 22k gold

Lisa looks at three, five, and seven as symbols of the steps to contentment.

Dicrhoic glass is one of the hottest materials being used by artisans today. The brilliance of dichroic glass must be experienced first hand.

Talented jewelry artist, Linda Shull, incorporates her own handmade fused dichroic art glass with sterling silver in whimsical and fun patterns. She uses the kinetic qualities of dichroic glass to create depth, movement and intensity. Each glass piece is unique because Linda continuously experiments with her medium, adding metals and crushed glass to her kiln-fired pieces. She has developed a special technique in assembling the glass for fusing.

Over the years Linda’s jewelry has been showcased internationally in art galleries and museum stores. She wants her jewelry to give people joy and amusement in their daily lives. The unique creativity she expresses through her glass is sure to bring smiles to both the wearer of her pieces and the casual observer.

Lisa Ceccorulli, jewelry artist, hand-fabricates pendants, bracelets, and earrings using brushed sterling silver or oxidized sterling silver with 22k gold accents. She creates textures by hammering, sandblasting and roll printing.

To imitate the texture of those stones, Ceccorulli hammers the metal against a rock and then sandblasts it. The fused appliqués of 22k gold reflect her interpretation of the elements in a landscape.

Lisa says she likes to look at three, five, and seven as symbols of the steps to contentment.

More art jewelry from the Patricia McCleery collection featured at Gallery Five along with other promising and prominent artisans … innovative art jewelry.

Sterling silver cuff with 22k gold accents and a fossil ivory face.  An boulder opal and druzy  set in oxidized sterling silver pendant with 18k gold accent.

Gallery Five Show of Jewelry Artist, Patricia McCleery – March 1-31, 2010

Celebrated in Santa Fe for her innovative designs, Patricia McCleery studied with famed Hopi Jeweler Charles Loloma and designed for the Smithsonian Catalog. Lapidary Journal, American Style Magazine and the Santa Fean have noted her work.

Patricia has been fascinated with the amulets and talismans of ancient cultures. The ancient cliff dwellings of the Southwest inspired her to use Prehistoric Mammoth tusk, and Australian Boulder Opal in combination with silver and 22K gold to create pieces that connect us to a mysterious ancient message. An ancient message retold in modern time.

Pictured to the right is a Patricia McCleery sterling silver pendant with 22k gold accents with an ivory fossil face. Leather linen cord.  This distinctive pendant is 3″ x 3 1/2″ – length 17″.

Browse Gallery Five collections of American made art jewelry by prominent and promising artisans.

amethyst necklace by Julie Shaw

amethyst by Marty Schaerer

February’s traditional birthstone and the suggested stone for the 6th anniversary. Amethyst is the most valued member of the quartz family and can be found in numerous shades of purple, lilac and mauve.

A beautiful quartz, usually purple, or violet in color, Amethyst is a stone of pure love, it is beautiful as well as spiritual and it has no negative side effects. It is therefore a must for anyone’s crystal and jewelry collection!

When held in your receptive hand (left hand if you are right handed and right if you are left handed) an Amethyst’s peaceful vibrations aid in soothing, de-stressing and calming – especially helpful after a stress-filled day.

Or wear Amethyst next to your skin to keep you calm in stressful situations.

When placed beneath the pillow Amethyst is said to be able to ward off nightmares and insomnia.

It aids peaceful sleep and pleasant dreams – which can sometimes be prophetic.

Healing Properties

Amethyst inspires the healing of all organs and brings about mental peace and a state of relaxation.

The gift of Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the power to overcome difficulty.  It is said to strengthen the bond in a love relationship, so it is an ideal anniversary or engagement gem.  Whether or not Amethyst holds such power, its stunning beauty will certainly make anyone who wears it feel like royalty!

According to Legend

Amethyst originated when Bacchus, the God of Wine, grew angry at mortals. He vowed the next mortal that crossed his path would be eaten by tigers. At that time, a beautiful young maiden named Amethyst was on her way to worship the Goddess Diana. Diana, knowing of Bacchus vow, turned Amethyst into a pillar of colorless quartz to protect her from the tigers. Bacchus, witnessing the miracle, repented and poured wine over Amethyst, staining her purple.

If gazing into the sparkling purple depths of an Amethyst suffuses you with a sense of powerful well being, this is only to be expected.  The ancient Greeks believed that this gemstone held many powers, among them protection against intoxication.  In fact, the word Amethyst comes from the Greek word “amethystos,” meaning sober.   In ancient Greece, the gemstone was associated with the god of wine, and it was common practice to serve this beverage from Amethyst goblets in the belief that this would prevent overindulgence.  Even today, Amethyst is considered a stabilizing force for those struggling to overcome addictive behaviors.

NY Variety Bracelet

Art jewelry by Wendy Waldren and Betsy Gribble, Investment Design, is created from alternative materials which after being given a second chance sparks imaginations and starts conversations.

Investment Designers are Wendy Walden and Betsy Gribble. Their work currently focuses on collage pieces to be worn. Bracelets, earrings, necklaces, cuff links, and pins are fashioned from vintage and antique pieces. They have created a line of contemporary jewelry, composed of nostalgic found objects of all kind, from antique buttons and subway tokens to Scrabble game tiles.

The designers compose shape and color, selecting from a palette of the most mundane objects. There is a wonderful irony as these bits of the past, each in their own way representing technology and mass production, are now handcrafted into jewelry.

Gallery Five has a collection of contemporary jewelry from vintage pieces by Wendy Waldren and Betsy Gribble.

Baharal-Gnida oval bronze earrings with sterling silver lines. Clips.

Handmade contemporary jewelry can be the perfect gift to yourself or to someone special, with the unique design suggesting that she is one-of-a-kind.

Art jewelry consists of necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, pins and pendants with both elaborate and simple elegant designs.

You can look your stylish best and definitely stand out from the crowd if you wear jewelry that is contemporary. If you are going out on a date and you want to appear unique without having to say much,  modern jewelry will definitely speak a lot more about your personality than what you can convey while talking.

Handmade earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets can all be found at Gallery Five.