Wearable Art Blog

Karen McCreary Illuminated Jewelry

Karen McCreary, of Long Beach, California, is an artist who makes jewelry using electronically generated light and color. She says, "My pieces are primarily acrylic which is hand carved and fabricated. The carved areas are internally lit or layered with colored lacquers to give a feeling of mystery to the light reflected throughout the acrylic forms." Not surprisingly, her space-age looking pieces have been featured in several Star Trek television shows. "The 'A Question of Stability' necklace (left) and 'Pulse Vector' Brooch' (below) are both made from acrylic plastic, steel and electronics. Pretty amazing and beautiful! Go to Gallery Red to see more.  

Moshiko Wearable Art

Israeli born artist Moshe "Moshiko" Botzer got his initial training 20 years ago as a jeweler at the diamond bourse in Ramat Gan, working for one of Israel's leading luxury jewelers. But, over a decade ago, he decided to work with polymers like acrylic, plastic or polyurethane so he could better express his creativity. "The minute I found this material I was intrigued, I'd find pieces in the garbage, take it home and try to melt it, dye it, saw it, polish it. It provided an artistic breadth that I didn't have before." Today, Moshiko's beautiful work can be found in museum collections in Israel and Japan. The handsome man's ring (left) is made with silver, gold resin and enamel. My favorite pieces are Moshiko's striking sculptural rings (below) for women, which are made with silver and resin and inspired by ancient African art. You can see more on Moshiko Wearable Art. I discovered Moshiko on the Daily Art Muse.

Corinne Okada Design

Recycle artist Corinne Okada creates beautiful sculptures and wearable art that draws on her Japanese heritage and ties to Hawaii. Referring to childhood visits with relatives in Hawaii, Okada says: "I appreciate the way people were able to use what they had to create something beautiful, how they'd make clothes with rice bags." Inspired by what she saw, she dedicated herself to creating sculptures and wearable hats and corsages from scrap pieces of fabric, recycled plastic produce netting, and Asian food and candy wrappers. Takara's whimsical paper-and-wire hats are inspired by Japanese hair ornaments and Okinawan dance hats. The Big Rolling Ball Hat (above), with the large flower in the middle, is a great example of Okada's artistry. The 'Olive Wrapper Shoe' (below) is gorgeous - it's only sculptural though. Go to Corrine Okada Design to see more.

Necklaces from Maria Helena Spector

Jewelry artist Maria Helena Spector says: "I was brought up in Peru and studied art at University. My Peruvian culture, artist’s training and European education influence my use of color and shape in unique ways to produce unusual and different ranges of jewelry. I source and select from producers and wholesalers all over the world, as well as from Peru, and I will cut, hand polish and finish many of the stones myself, in some cases forging or melting silver onto them." Spector's work appeals to me because I am a big fan of jewelry made of natural stones, especially lava beads with an unpolished surface (see the necklace below). I love the contrast of the dark blue stones and the corals covered in 24 kt gold leaf of the beautiful necklace (above). Spector, who now lives in the UK, melted silver onto one lava bead (below) and pairs it with stones of carnelian, black agate and sterling silver to create a handsome look. What do you think? I discovered Spector on the 18kt blog. 

 

'Collaboration with a Bird' Jewelry by Teresa Faris

The ideas of fragility and human/animal connectedness are central themes in Teresa Faris's work. Faris says, "I have become interested in working in collaboration with animals rather than using their bodies." Here, in her 'Collaboration with a Bird' series, pieces of wood are repetitively chewed by a bird and then reassembled and merged with sterling silver. The idea behind the work just floors me! What I love about the ring (left) and brooch (below) is how Faris uses the silver to cradle the wood and mimic the curves of the wood. In addition to creating jewelry, Faris is an Assistant Professor of Metalsmithing and Jewelry at the University of Wisconsin. Below is a photo of Faris and Charmin, her Umbrella Cockatoo, who works the wood. Go to Teresa Faris to see more of her work. I found Faris's work at the Facere Jewelry Art Gallery.