Ice Cube speaks to Eames

Worth a watch. I never new Ice Cube studied architecture. 

Nakashima Inspired Art Jewelry

"To be intimate with nature in its multifaceted moods is one of the greatest experiences of life."

-George Nakashima


The Key Ring was one of my first rings and is an homage to George Nakashima. Nakashima was an innovative woodworker and furniture maker whose inhale and exhale matched that of the material he used. His elegant works represent the American Craft Movement.

His reverence for nature rests in his sensitive designs. His signature technique was a joint he called the 'butterfly joint' which acted as a key, holding weak points of wood together by it's simple shape. In the beginning, he would hide this technique under table tops. Once he was more established and respected he began using the key joint not only as a functional element but also as a decorative one. I find great inspiration in his innovation and by the ways in which he expressed the intrinsic beauty of nature. 


Visit his site for more on the great Nakashima here: http://www.nakashimawoodworker.com/

Key Ring by Gustav Reyes

Table by George Nakashima

Butterfly Joint detail by Nakashima

Brooches: Contemporary Art Jewelry Staple?

Since entering the world of art jewelry, I have struggled with validity of the Brooch. For one, throughout history, brooches have never been a common adornment for men. In their early days, brooches were used as a functional object which held garments in place. Functionality eventually gave way to pure adornment. However, whether it was serving a functional purpose or simply to adorn the body brooches have been incorporated into wardrobes for thousands of years. (For some great examples of brooches throughout history, visit here.)

In a new world of alternative materials, techniques and concepts in jewelry making, how valid is the brooch? When I began making jewelry, I noticed that the brooch seemed to be a staple in many accomplished art jewelers collections. I wondered whether it was simply a long standing prerequisite or if brooches were actually something appreciators sought. During my research I came across an exhibition featuring brooches at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art curated by Jan Katz. According to Katz, "Brooches are a small sculpture, a small canvas but a big statement." Katz organized the show Brooching the Subject : One of a Kind. I can connect my work to the way in which Katz explains arts jewelry as "... not [being] prized for the weight of the stones or the value of the metals. It's prized for the sculptural or narrative quality, or just its beauty." 

Art jewelry goes beyond crafted adornments because the emphasis is not placed on the value of the material but on the value of the concepts. This gives artists freedom to create something more personally meaningful and with more intention. In a way the wearer is the canvas and the brooch, a masterpiece that may express a mood, a feeling or a facet of the adorner who consciously chooses to let it become an extension of their existence. 

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It just so happens, that at the moment, brooches are trendy for men. Are you man enough? View this blog on the brooches for men trend. 

Christmas Gift for the New Shop!

I had a stroke of genius this month. Since our new shop does not include a proper sink... and since all of my assistants each drink a gallon of coffee a day, I purchased a Keurig Coffee Maker. If you're not familiar, these machines make just one cup. To cover some of the cost, I've asked for a quarter a cup. 

My assistant, Erin, created this 'piggy bank'. 

Trefoil Not Brooch for the James Renwick Alliance

I donated this Trefoil Not Brooch to the James Renwick Alliance for their annual Spring Craft Weekend and silent auction. The work will be introduced on March 24th at the Willard Hotel, next to the White House. What an honor!

Photos by Erin Beckman

Trefoil Not Brooch in Walnut with Sterling Silver

 

 

 

Any thoughts on men wearing brooches? I think it looks quite sharp!

Lillstreet Art Center featuring three nationally-recognized jewelry artists

Jewelry Showcase: Peg Fetter, Gustav Reyes, and Lulu Smith
November 1 - 15
Reception: Friday, November 4, 6-8pm

Home accents by Gustav Reyes - Contemporary Wooden Lamps

Introducing home accents by Gustav Reyes. The work is infused with a deep appreciation for nature’s gift of wood. Each piece is created with the idea that the home is a sacred place and should be occupied by objects that enhance and enrich the space and its inhabitants. The GR Home Collection is imbedded with modern simplicity and incorporates contemporary techniques maintaining a good blend of both philosophies.

The GR home collection is made by hand in Chicago USA with FSC Certified wood. Environmentally conscious techniques are incorporated whenever possible. Through the material and creation of the work, Gustav Reyes considers the complexities of the cycle of life. He has a deep appreciation for nature’s beauty and rather than working against the grain, he works with it.


The GR HOME Collection will debut at the Handmade New York International Gift Fair, Aug 13 - 18.