Aubergine Brooch for Men (or Women)

I just finished a prototype for a commission order brooch and I am very happy with the way it turned out. The client led me away from the status quo and requested an Aubergine stain on a cherry wood. Also, in order to avoid making holes in fine Italian suits, I designed the brooch using magnets! The pieces will be for a private party in Milan.

Anna Frient

five years of pure devotion

Last Friday I had two pleasantly surprising visits from some folks looking to purchase wood gifts for their significant others. Coincidentally, both couples were celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.

I had a lovely conversation with one of the happily married customer whose wife was 39 weeks pregnant with their second child. Five years is an accomplishment when almost half of marriages these days are ending in divorce. What it boils down to is devotion.

devotion (diˈvōSHən)

noun

love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause:

I came a across the idea of planting a tree in commemoration of the 5th wedding anniversary. What a beautiful way to symbolize the ways you have to nurture a marriage (or any relationship) in order for it to grow and flourish and the devotion it takes to pull through tougher times when all you want to do is give up. Great idea!

Of course... you could always purchase a beautiful undulating bracelet of wood to adorn your love's wrist.  

to the wind and the stars... 

Gustav

Below: Organic Coil and Organic Coil Narrow in Cherry, Walnut and Hickory

Available at GustavReyes.com

  

Metalsmith Magazine

I am honored to have been included in the latest edition of Metalsmith Magazine. Thank you to Andrea DiNoto for the beautiful article she wrote. 

I am grateful to be doing something that feeds my soul and to be recognized for doing it. I don't take any of these experiences for granted. A special thank you to all of the people who continually support me and my crazy ideas; my beautiful family, my hardworking crew and all the people who appreciate the work and share it!

Signature Series

          Introducing the Signature Series by Gustav Reyes          

Bogwood Rings by Simply Wood Rings

I am extremely excited about this new collection. I've taken the forms from my Limited Edition Collection and added a chic black finish. The finish is created by a natural process that is similar to the way bog wood is altered when submerged under water for thousands of years.

The process of finishing leaves the classic forms black with a wood grain texture. The visual effect is bold and strong. These beautiful pieces are perfect to keep things chic and sleek by day or to add uniqueness to a formal night out.

The Cuff

Organic Coil Narrow

Oval Cuff

A Historical Record

My love and appreciation for wood is never ending. It is an incredibly useful material with a minimal effect on our environment. 

For centuries, wood has provided humans with shelter, warmth, tools and furniture. I find great inspiration in this long history and I like to consider earliest man interacting with the material in the most basic of ways.

simplywoodrings.com

 

Wood is imbedded with many layers of symbolism. The history of the wood, the time, the place is all apart of it. Each piece of wood has a story to tell. It keeps a record of its environment and each year brings new growth that marks its past. The rings of a tree can teach us about the environment and specific events in the trees life. It holds it's history within and its living energy expresses it outward. In addition to the objects a craftsman creates, this imbedded history and energy is expressed, adding to its depth.

Ring - Ad Idem Collection, Gustav Reyes 

Ring - Ad Idem Collection, Gustav Reyes

Calderesque

“The underlying sense of form in my work has been the system of the Universe" -Alexander Calder

This is a new form I am experimenting with. I have been greatly influenced by Calder's work lately. 

Untitled, Gustav Reyes, 2012

Jealous Husband, Alexander Calder, 1940

Calder

Alexander Calder's work has greatly influenced the ways I consider and create art jewelry.

I came across a fantastic article on Calder's jewelry from 2010 when the show Calder Jewelry curated by Mark Rosenthal was being shown across the US. The article, Alexander Calder's Jewelry: going mobile was written by Cathleen McCarthy. Rosenthal stated that, 

"Calder was accounting for all the components, how each part would be read in relation to the other parts, as well as how those parts would be affected by the person wearing it.” Not only does one consider all the elements of design but, when creating art jewelry, its imperative to consider the ways in which it will interact with the human form. 

The article also mentions Rosenthal's belief that Calder's work was a parody on wearable art. He says, ”In a lot of ways, this stuff isn’t very wearable at all... I think of the wearer as being sort of bewitched by the wearing of it but also like something surreal come to life, a surreal manifestation." 

A great article. Take a look here:

http://thejewelryloupe.com/alexander-calders-jewelry-going-mobile/


If you want to see something really great check out this video of Calder performing his "Circus"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6jwnu8Izy0