Tag: jewelry

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Tina

tina chow 5images.duckduckgo.comOne of my inspirations for jewelry is Tina Chow. I was just a kid when she was big. I actually found out about her through reading Grace Coddington’s autobiography, as Grace was friends with Michael Chow.

Tina was an original, for sure. Half German-American and half Japanese. She wasn’t complacent, even though she could have just coasted on her looks alone. She started making her own jewelry in the 70s. I love the architectural references, and the geometry in her art, and the way she used so many different kinds of media and made it work. I am sad to hear that she died from AIDS at the age of only 41. Her legacy lives on. I like to think some of my stuff is inspired by her unique vision.

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Inspiration: Talitha Getty

talitha_gettyI don’t know much about Talitha Getty except that she appears to have lived life full throttle and suffered a tragic end. Her life was messy, but somehow she wore it well. These days she is frequently evoked as the seventies appear to be having a but of a renaissance of sorts. I love this picture of her with her “armour” of jewelry, especially the bracelet. When I think about what I want to make and who might wear it, I hope that someone like her might appreciate it.

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If You Can’t Find It, Design It

My friend Andrea suggested this documentary (Design is one) about the Vignelli’s, and I watched it this weekend. I am so glad I did because it summed up why I started making my own wearable art several years ago. I had no idea that Lella Vignelli made so much of her own jewelry, and that her style, in many ways, evokes what I aspire to, and also what I reject–the over-commodification and mass-marketing of style and taste–where everyone wants to dress like the airbrushed mannequins they see in fashion magazines, and accessories are a sign of status instead of a signifier of individuality. I started making my own wearable art (ok, jewelry) because I couldn’t find what I wanted in the market, and I also wanted to wear things that were unique, and were art. Art does more than decorate our lives–it humanizes us and, if done well, transports us beyond the mundane. If this post resonates with you, I strongly recommend you check out this beautiful documentary. Thank you, Andrea!

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