WOOD at Velvet da Vinci

I am honored to have my work exhibited among the best in wood jewelry at San Francisco's Velvet da Vinci Gallery. The exhibit is called WOOD and features art jewelers from around the world who primarily work with wood.

Check out the gallery of work that will be presented in this exhibit at the Velvet da Vinci website.



Wood reminds us to live life with the knowledge that each day is a gift and that one day we will cease to exist in this world. As wood, we too, will eventually return to the Earth. 

Organic Trefoil Brooch

Ad Idem Ring I

The Held Ring

Walnut Cuff

Three Treasures Neckpiece

WEARABLE art

Organic Coil Walnut - Limited Edition Ceo

Pictured above from Left to Right: Organic Trefoil Brooch in Cherry, Square Knot Circle in Walnut and Cherry and The Three Treasures Neckpiece with Cherry, Pearls and Silver. 


As an artist who relies heavily on word of mouth and internet publicity to gain support, I am eternally grateful to bloggers who appreciate or are excited by my work enough to stand behind it and share it on their blogs.

The downside to this, of course, is not having too much control over who or what is put out there with my name attached. I haven't had too much to complain about which is a relief and I hope this speaks to the validity and credibility of my work. Recently, however, I came a crossed a post that seemed like a backhanded compliment. In the end my feeling is that, the blogger developed his or her angle and ran with it, however, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. The particular post, in a nutshell seemed to question the wearability of my work.

I'm not as concerned with the post as I am with the subject of WEARABILITY.

Introducing wood into a jewelry world that attaches great value and importance to the use of precious materials was a difficult task. In the beginning, I endured a few noses raised in my direction. I didn't let this discourage me in creating my work because I have always felt very strongly about the use of a material that parallels our fragile existence as a living (and dying) energy. This philosophy of mine, completely contradicts the "traditional" thought surrounding jewelry as something that is eternal.

Another hurdle existed within the world of woodworking where tradition is a long standing value. My bent wood pieces caused many to question the techniques, structural integrity and validity of my work. Understandable of course, and most people were very receptive after engaging in conversation about the work.

In all, I think the questions the work incites are positive. It tells me that viewers are interested in the forms enough to think and question how they could be possible. I have always strived to design pieces that are not only functional as jewelry but at the same time function as sculpture; as an art piece. Contemplating ideas of form and functionality is a balance that has been explored by artists and creators the world over in all medias. Blurring the line between jewelry and art is what drives me.

View more of my wearable art at:
gustavreyes.com

Balance of Life

So divinely is the world organized that every one of us,
in our place and time, is in balance with everything else. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Balance of Life at the Eastbank Gallery in Chicago

The Balance of Life is a small scale sculpture that I created in 2010. This is the first non-utilitarian piece that I have made in a long time. My exploration was to express the materials stability and uniqueness. Although traditional lap joints are used to create the form, the placement of the intersections are non-traditional causing tension to the viewer who is familiar with the properties of wood.


When creating this piece, I had no set plan, the form was built up spontaneously from my desire to magnify the unusual properties of the compressed wood. The form that resulted is fluid. It's center of balance allows it to stand in different ways which makes it very exciting.


The parallel to life is the idea that an individual is a culmination of different experiences and phases of life. The negative and positive energies that wash in and wash out like the tide shape life and create harmony to the ones who seek it.

Ebonized Wood

Ebonized Wood Process

I have been experimenting with ebonizing the bent wood pieces. I am excited about the sleek and sophisticated look of the ebonized wood.

Ebonizing wood is a chemical process that occurs inside the wood. No pigment or colorant is added, it is an actual chemical reaction. What happens between vinegar and steel when Tannic acid is introduced changes the color of the wood to black. This process occurs naturally in nature to bog wood.

Ebonised White Oak Knot

March 29 Photoshoot

My assistant and I pulled a photo shoot together in one day last Thursday! I don't know how we did it! The results, however, are stunning!

I realized I have not been putting my work in context on the human body. I think seeing the work functioning as an object will help viewers to understand the extent of the work. 

I am extremely grateful to Tom Petroff and Carolina Reyes for being so flexible! A huge "Thank you!" to each of them for sharing their talents and working very hard to complete the project. 

Take a look at these beauties! 

Three Treasures Neckpiece

The Held Neckpiece

Trefoil Brooch Cherry

The Held Brooch