Wearable Art and Fine Crafts

Gallery Five has a new collection of a colorful, versatile handmade earrings from Keith Lewis, jewelry artist. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

In my work I explore the line between accident and control, manipulating the inherent qualities of natural materials. I am currently using amber Mica which I layer with 23K goldleaf and inset with natural pearls and precious stones. I contrast this formal construction with serendipitous surface treatment such as my version of a very old Japanese patina; I heat copper to bright red, expose it to wood particles, and then plunge it into boiling water which creates an organic and unpredictable “Raku” effect. As I create and explore at my jeweler’s bench, I strive to capture not only the beauty of the natural materials themselves, but the surprises that arise from working with them.

The design concept at the heart of nearly all my designs is a simple shape in a moveable (kinetic) format. Nearly every finding is handmade to enhance this movement; an earwire allows a shape to rotate, a connector will swivel, a loop will act as a hinge. The handmade earwires allowed me to develop my signature earring, which is designed to fasten closed.

Shibori shirt by Doshi

Doshi creates exquisite hand dyed clothing in original designs that range from contemporary to traditional. Shibori, an ancient Japanese textile dyeing process, is the method she uses for her artistic expression. The technique uses knotting, pleating, rolling, pressing or sewing during the dyeing process. The resulting designs are the memories of the method used to resist the dye.

My work in fiber arts reflects the constant changes I experience in my personal and spiritual life. I use my work to explore the forces of nature and the mysteries of the soul.

August is well under way, and that’s a surefire sign that summer will be coming to a close sooner than we might like to accept. It’s important to enjoy the pleasant weather while it still lasts. One of the best ways to do this is by lounging on a deck or porch with a cold beverage in hand. If you have some breezy summer reading material, even better.

It’s also nice to enhance that experience even more with some soothing tones. A set of solar chimes can set the perfect ambience for a relaxing summer day. These chimes don’t require a gust of wind to be set in motion. Rather, they harness the power of the sun to create a consistent symphony of sound. With fall just around the corner, you can also utilize your chimes indoors.

Sculpted Leather Handbag by Deborah Einbender

Silk Jacket by Kay Chapman, fabric artist/clothing designer

Green, the color of grass and leaves, conveys a sense of calm and reassurance. When wearing green, whether olive or lime, or anything in between, you show creativity and imagination. It was once thought to be unlucky, but in the world of fashion green brings another dimension to the wardrobe. With all its various shades, green may be used for virtually any garment, from a winter coat to a fun pair of shoes.

With green it is particularly important to understand the undertone and to know whether you are better in a warm (yellow-based) green, such as moss or apple green, or the cool (blue-based) green of spruce or sea green.

Browse Gallery Five selections of wearable art clothes and accessories.

excerpt, Color Me Confident by Veronique Henderson and Pat Henshaw ©2006

Gallery Five is a great place to browse and shop for contemporary and unique one-of-a-kind and limited edition art to wear and fine crafts handmade in North America.

Here is a collection that represents an impressive group of prominent and promising artisans.  Gallery Five maintains their commitment to discovering new talent.

You may see what’s new, shop by price or by category or by artist.

Enjoy!

by Susan Green "Gypsy Jaila" adjustable 16"-31"

Statement necklaces can take a basic outfit from good to great and take a favorite dress from old to new. Wear them with confidence and wear them with attitude.

Here is a perfect example:  Susan Green’s one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry is distinctive and recognizable for its high level of artisanship, beautiful colorations and unusual materials.  On the right is a  faceted turquoise with ornate antique bronze caps and paisley dangles.

peridot earring by Julie Shaw

Today birthstone for August, peridot, was also a favorite of the ancients. This lovely transparent yellowish green to deep chartreuse stone was quite a powerful gem. It was considered an aid to friendship and was also believed to free the mind of envious thoughts. Because of the yellowish green color, it was also believed to cure or prevent diseases of the liver and dropsy. And, if that were not enough, if peridot was worn on the left arm it would protect the wearer from the evil eye. It is also popular today, but probably more for its depth of green color than its professed powers. While not particularly brilliant, the richness of its color is exceptional. Peridot comes in shades of yellowish green to darker, purer green colors. Peridot is widely available in small sizes but larger sizes are becoming scarce, so prices for larger sizes are now fairly high for good quality material. Some caution should also be exercised when wearing peridot. It is not a very hard stone and may scratch easily. Some stones may look like peridot-green sapphire and green tourmaline-and may be mistaken for peridot or be misrepresented.

The national economy finally appears to be headed for an upswing, which is good news for every American. Still, many women are finding themselves out of work and in need of a sustainable career. When preparing for a job interview, it’s obviously crucial to be well-versed in the knowledge that’s specific to the job. But one should never overlook personal appearance.

First impressions really do matter. If you walk into a job interview in a frumpy old outfit, your odds of getting the job will suffer. When you look your best, you feel a noticeable air of confidence. Try adding a few artistic flourishes to your ensemble. Look around for some stylish leather belts or decorative scarves. These accessories will serve to set you apart from the field of job candidates, and your interview skills should take care of the rest.

These days most of us know what time it is by looking at our cell phones so we no longer have to wear watches for practical reasons.  Watches have become pure fashion items and should serve as a statement rather than timepieces. There are several styles of handcrafted watches from a collection of jewelry artists at Gallery Five. Visit, browse, shop online.

Linda Shull incorporates her own handmade fused dichroic art glass with sterling silver. Magnetic closures make it easy to put on and remove.. The dials on a Eduardo Milieris watch is individually hand painted by the artist. He works on silver, copper and brass in the same ways they were used hundreds of years ago.

Pierrette Ashcroft, polymer clay artist, designed this playful, whimsical watch. Simon New's handcrafted wooden watch is lightweight and hypoallergenic.

The creative force on the team, Jeannine has been a jeweler since 1974, winning numerous awards at some of the finest juried shows. Jeannine began as a watercolorist and painted for a number of years before becoming a designer of jewelry. Through the years her techniques have included casting, electroforming, etching, and fabrication. She expresses her feelings about her work in stating, “I’ve always had a deep love for jewelry and it seemed right for me to express my creative drive to design and make jewelry. To me designing in metal is like playing, it is fun, exciting and adventuresome.”

In 1992 Jeannine’s husband Charles joined her to form the partnership and they now display and sell their handcrafted jewelry in over 65 galleries across the U.S., including Gallery Five in Tequesta, Florida.  Their designer jewelry is fabricated from sterling silver, copper, brass and bronze. Whenever pearls are used they are all freshwater.

ARTISTS’ TECHNIQUES

Reticulation – heating the metal until it wrinkles, forming an interesting texture.

Soldering – the joining of metal by use of alloys that flow at a temperature lower than that of the metals being joined.

Stamping – a process by which patterns are made on smooth metal surface with punch or design stamp.

Forging – the process of forming or shaping metals by the use of hammers along with steel tools.

Marriage of Metals – the soldering of different colored metals together and then finishing the piece as if it were one sheet; showing stripes, checkerboards, etc.