Minneapolis, April 7, 2015—Join us just in time for Mother’s Day as more than 25 Midwestern jewelry artists showcase their original hand-crafted designs. Walker Art Center Jewelry Buyer, Willa Wilson, comments “I am excited to see a playful, unexpected use of materials, including rope and clay – featuring a palette of bright colors, perfect for the upcoming season!” Now one of the premier jewelry showcases in the Twin Cities, this semiannual event is not to be missed. The Walker Art Center Artist Jewelry Mart Takes Place on Saturday, May 2, 11 am – 5 pm in the Skyline Room.
Featured jewelry artists include: Sarah Burnett, Debbie Carlos, Sarah Chapman, Yen Chee, Bridget Clark, Brittany Foster, Marcia Haffmans, Carrie Hoffnagle, Grace Hogan, Karin Jacobson, Betty Jäeger, Annika Kaplan, Britta Kauppila, Tia Keobounpheng, Anne Lenhardt Koebele, Lindsay Locatelli, Megan Lorenz, Nick Lundeen, Susan Panciera, Tina Rice, Robyne Robinson, Sarah Shikama, Lauren Shoff, Erin Smith, Emily Temte, Helen Wang, and Kristin Wornson.
Walker members receive a 10% discount on all purchases. All proceeds support the Walker’s artistic and educational programs.
Walker Art Center’s Jewelry Artist Mart
Saturday, May 2, 11 am – 5 pm
Skyline Room
Spring Member Mimosa Preview: Jewelry Artist Mart
Saturday, May 2, 10 – 11 am
Skyline Room
Free
Members see it first! Enjoy refreshments and the first pick of fabulous pieces at the Jewelry Artist Mart. Join more than 25 regional jewelry artists in the Walker’s beautiful Skyline Room as they show their original pieces in a rich variety of materials and styles. Bring a friend and enjoy this signature Walker Shop event, just in time for Mother’s Day! Walker members also receive a 10% discount on all purchases.
Register online, by e-mail to membership@walkerart.org, or by calling 612.375.7655.
All proceeds support the Walker’s artistic and educational programs
Happy Hour, 4–5 pm
Sample sumptuous honey bon-bons by local confectioner Mademoiselle Miel and join us for a toast to the artists as you make your final purchases.
Trunk Show, 10 am–5 pm
Walker Shop
Local artist and Walker member Cassie Wallace of Round Bottom Baby showcases her playful collection of cool tees for hip kids and babies.
Featured Artists
Sarah Burnett, Richfield, MN
Materials: concrete (cement + water + aggregates), sterling silver, and gold-filled findings
Burnett is the founder of ‘cere which was created out of fascination and intrigue of the challenge. The idea was simple: transcend the sophisticated and elegant qualities of concrete, perfected by architects such as Tadao Ando, at a smaller, wearable scale. In its ubiquitous form, concrete is an overlooked and industrial material, unrecognized as an innately expressive medium. ‘cere alters that preconception by creating pieces that are light, delicate and refined, yet are still raw and true to their substance. Each piece is individually cast by hand, a technique that, when combined with the variable nature of concrete, ensures that no two pieces are the same. Every item is an original and unique as the person who wears it.
Debbie Carlos, Lansing, MI
Materials: brass, gold, stones, and beads
Carlos was born in L.A., grew up in Manila, Philippines, then moved to Massachusetts where she studied psychology, then onto Chicago, IL to study photography and now she splits her time between Chicago and Lansing, MI. During all of her travels she has always had a love for the arts.
Sarah Chapman, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: oxidized sterling silver, copper, brass, and 14k gold
Sarah C. Chapman is a studio jeweler whose work is inspired by architecture, by nature as architect, and by her desire to build. She has worked in the field for over 15 years and primarily works with oxidized sterling silver, copper, brass and 14k gold to create her pieces. Since 2008, Sarah has been using recycled, conflict-free, and SCS certified gold and sterling silver when fabricating her jewelry, also using repurposed brass and copper when possible.
She currently lives in Minneapolis and works in the Casket Arts Building in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.
Yen Chee, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, quartz crystal, onyx, and tourmalinated quartz
Yen-Ying Chee has always been drawn to creating clean, unique, modern jewelry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University, as well as a bachelor of science in interior design from the University of Minnesota. Prior to working as a full-time jewelry designer and mom, she worked as a commercial interior designer at architecture firms for over a decade. These experiences greatly influenced the “miniature sculptures” she creates. Besides being inspired by her travels, furniture, and architecture, her designs often come from a deeper spiritual place within. She is especially drawn to working with clear quartz crystals due to their natural beauty and healing properties. Clear quartz known as “universal crystals” are completely natural and from the earth, believed for centuries to attract positive energy that enhances the mind, body, and spirit.
Bridget Clark, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, gold, pearls, and gemstones
Clark is inspired by the simple reduction of primitive, industrial and organic. Smooth brushed sterling silver finishes are accented by matte grey oxidation, semiprecious gemstones, rich pigments or 24 carat gold. Movement and subtle asymmetry in her pieces keep them visually interesting. Her love of art and science is where her career in metalsmithing began, the arc of which includes a bit of coursework on the fundamentals, an apprenticeship and much self-imposed trial and error. Clark’s work is primarily spurred from an interest in shape manipulation and experimentation. She lives and works in Minneapolis creating and producing jewelry since 1986, and became a full time endeavor in 1997.
Brittany Foster, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver
With innumerable influences, from cephalopods to industrial debris and munitions, Foster makes things, because she has always made things. As a youngster, she was drawn to working with her hands. Jewelry seemed mysterious, which led her to wonder, “How people could possibly do that with simple, manual tools?” When she discovered there were also hammers and fire involved, it sealed the deal.
Having once been told that the human eye and brain can see a wiggle in a line to .03″ Brittany took it as a challenge. She uses a standard jeweler’s saw to cut all the swirly lines by hand. Her work is not fueled by electricity, but, much like Popeye, by spinach and beer. She also deploys the classic “hit it with a hammer” technique on her wrought pieces, which balances well with the meticulous work of cutting those curlicues.
Marcia Haffmans, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: rope, cord, paint, and magnets
Marcia Haffmans is a mixed media visual artist whose work has been shown throughout the Midwest and also in the Netherlands. Her art has been inspired by the versatility of lines, varying from horizons in nature to three-dimensional handwritten script. With the UPTOUW™ Mobile Sculpture series, Haffmans has applied paint as a means of exploring lines within 3-dimensional pieces. The UPTOUW™ Mobile Sculpture is a wearable sculpture that is soft and molds to the skin, allowing for comfort both in summer and winter. It can also function as a stand-alone sculptural art form when not adorning the body.
Carrie Hoffnagle, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, Formica, and lab-grown gems
Hoffnagle has been busy diligently designing jewelry and establishing herself as a jewelry artist since she graduated in 2006 with a BFA from Iowa State University. Her jewelry explores many organic forms and shapes and her influences lie within the context of modern contemporary minimalism. She creates contrasting jewelry that is sleek, has refined shapes, and warm playful colors that rebel against the status quo of today’s contemporary jewelry design.
Grace Hogan, Bayfield, WI
Materials: sterling silver, hand-picked rocks, and beach glass
Inspired by the things “we stomp over in our everyday lives,” Hogan creates wearable objects that combine sheet metal with elements and ideas from nature such as hand-picked rocks and beach glass.
Karin Jacobson, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, palladium, and lab-grown gems
Play is a central theme in Karin Jacobson’s futuristic and fun work, which is inspired by science-fiction, comic books, mechanical toys, and Japanese animation. Making bold statements, her designs incorporate big shapes, clean lines, and bright colors.
Betty Jäeger, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, 18 karat, 22 karat and 24 karat gold
Jäger was born and raised on the shores of the misty Puget Sound. Her current line of handmade jewelry finds inspiration in the interesting and organic textures of her past. Reflections of the simple curve of a wave, the bark on evergreen trees can be found in her organically crafted jewelry. The strength of a hand fabricated piece of jewelry robustly highlighted with the softness of hammered texture and smooth satin finish. These pieces exude the consistency of natural elements, imitating the deep texture and bold, voluminous forms, and finally relayed onto metal.
Annika Kaplan, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver and semi-precious gemstones
After studying jewelry design and fabrication at the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Kaplan set up shop in a small south Minneapolis studio. Influenced by nature and folk traditions, she produces jewelry made mostly from blackened sterling silver and semi-precious gems. She strives to create pieces which are both highly wearable and highly unique, in hopes of offering wearers a new way to adorn themselves.
Britta Kauppila, St. Paul
Materials: sterling silver, stone, gold, and pearls
Kauppila hand forms each piece of jewelry she makes by manipulating and shaping metal into pieces that are extremely soft and delicate, but substantial. Often inspired by nature, she combines form, line, and texture to produce movement, rhythm, and harmony and is drawn to the contradiction of the hard immovable structure that metal offers to create her unique jewelry line.
Tia Keobounpheng, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: wood, acrylic, and various metals
Keobounpheng has always been fascinated with “things” and how they are made. Making things with her hands and designing jewelry contrasts the time and scale involved in working through the architectural design process, adding considerable balance to her own creative process and drive. Color, texture, repetition, variation, light and tactile quality are important considerations in her work.
Anne Lenhardt Koebele, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, gold, and gemstones
After spending nearly 10 years in the corporate jewelry industry, Lenhardt Koebele craved the freedom to explore ideas she was truly passionate about. That’s when she decided to move beyond the comforts of large design teams and plunge into entrepreneurship, which is when HARDT JEWELRY™ was created. Lenhardt Koebele envisions her collection as a fashion-meets-philanthropy line, with the goal of bringing attention to various social causes. Her introductory line, the Equal Hardt Collection, is a new approach to bring awareness and promote acceptance to all forms of equality, including gender, racial, and other forms, Lenhardt Koebele chose to highlight the on-going struggle with equality for the LGBTQ community.
Lindsay Locatelli, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, wood, gemstones, and found objects.
Lindsay Locatelli is guided by her need to recreate personal experiences and places that she has been while exploring the great Southwest. Many of her hand crafted creations are inspired by undulating mesa tops, sloping plateaus, jagged silvery mountains, tucked away creeks, found treasures, spiritual creatures and the diamond encrusted night sky.
Since graduating from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2009, with a B.F.A. in Studio Furniture, Locatelli has pursued practices working in many different mediums. With experience focusing on conceptual ideation and functional design, she is drawn towards creating wearable objects that take from important events in her life.
Megan Lorenz, Chicago, IL
Materials: sterling silver and gold
Cities in Dust designer Meghan Lorenz came by her love for fashion honestly. She left Chicago for Los Angeles after high school, where she spent her time working for Fred Segal and aspiring to work as a set designer in L.A.’s film industry. With ideas fueled by the L.A. fashion scene, Meghan returned home to attend Columbia College and pursue a degree in Fashion Business. She added visual merchandising and window display art to her resume and portfolio, and also worked for Chicago designers Kelly Whitesell and Elizabeth Del Castillo of Eskell. These experiences led her to the realization that she wanted to create for herself. Finding it difficult to locate the kind of jewelry she’d want to wear, Lorenz set out to fill a sartorial void. In 2010, Cities in Dust was born, and has gained a loyal following both in and outside of Chicago. In addition to maintaining her own online store, Lorenz also wholesales to others. Her inventory is constantly being refreshed with new, inspired pieces, and all of her collections are an evolving look at Meghan’s unique, wearable aesthetic.
Nick Lundeen, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, copper, and stones
Nicholas Quinn Lundeen is a craftsman from Minneapolis. Ever obsessed with process and tradition, he creates each piece from start to finish with traditional methods, including making his own tools and cutting his own stones. His ultimate goal is to create timeless pieces of the highest quality and functionality.
Susan Panciera, St. Peter, MN
Materials: argentium silver, 14k and 18k gold
Panciera has been making jewelry since 1987. She believes a balance must be achieved between delicacy and strength, movement and comfort, evolving styles and timelessness. Panciera uses hammers, pliers, saws, torches and her hands, utilizing the traditional fabrication techniques of sawing, forging, forming, soldering and polishing to transform the materials into a finished piece of wearable sculpture.
Tina Rice, Ames, IA
Materials: silver, copper, glass, and enamel
Rice resides in the Midwest and is the designer and creator of a bold and fun collection of charming enamel jewelry. Her work incorporates bright colors of enamel and a variety of copper shapes, which allows the jewelry, takes on a life of its own.
Robyne Robinson, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: natural stone, glass, fresh water pearls, and sterling plated chain
Robinson started making jewelry when she was about 12 or 13, but she didn’t know it was because her mother didn’t have the money to buy Christmas presents on a teacher’s salary every year. She made it a fun trip to the bead store with her sister, and they would make designs for all their friends.
Robinson found herself making beautiful necklaces, bracelets and earrings to meet the demands of friends. She loves using semi-precious stones – amber, carnelian or jade. Robinson says there are so many different types of rocks and stones that have been used for health, beauty, spirituality and trade, from the Pharaohs until today – we just have a natural attraction to the rocks under our feet.
Sarah Shikama, Chicago, IL
Materials: sterling silver, cast bronze and gemstones
Shikama is a visual artist and metalsmith based out of Chicago. She is best known for her handmade jewelry that is hand sculpted and cast in bronze. Shikama’s inspiration comes from all over the place including one of her favorite artists, Brancusi.
Lauren Shoff, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: 100% recycled or reclaimed metal and gemstones
Shoff is an eco-friendly fine jewelry collection by 22-year-old Lauren Shoff. Originally studying Fashion Design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her Accessories Design professor recognized her talent for jewelry design and encouraged her to focus on developing her craft. Shoff is currently studying at the prestigious Gemological Institute of America where she has earned her Graduate Pearls degree and is working towards her Graduate Gemology and Associate Jewelry Professional degrees. She currently resides in Minneapolis, MN.
Erin Smith, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: sterling silver, porcelain, terra cotta, and natural fibers
Smith comes from a long line of jewelers and metalworkers (hence the name smith), but her degree in product design introduced her to a multitude of materials. She has spent the past five years designing for a nationwide retailer, while juggling her own interior and product design jobs on the side. Just recently she’s decided to delve into the world of freelance 100% allowing her to spend all of her time doing the things that she loves.
Emily Temte, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: antique beads and nature materials
Each piece of jewelry Emily Temte creates is formulated to magnify the inner magic of the wearer. Discovering the essence of each, she carefully selects and combines each stone, bead, and bone. Balance and inspiration are sought through the combination of a variety of materials, textures, and colors. Antique beads and natural materials are incorporated into her designs in order to draw upon the magic and wisdom they offer. It is the artist’s hope that these pieces bring beauty and intention into the wearer’s life and that they serve as talismans for truth, love, healing, protection, and gratitude.
Helen Wang, Edina, MN
Materials: semi-precious stones and mixed precious metals
Wang creates each deftly designed one-of-a kind or limited edition piece with the person who will eventually wear it in mind. Whether it’s a druzy quartz marquis earring or the vintage luxury feel of a genuine Swarovski crystal bridal choker, Wang’s hands create the jewelry to reflect her vision
Kristin Wornson, Minneapolis, MN
Materials: flowers, plants, glass and silver
Kristin Wornson creates a unique brand of jewelry with a two-dimensional approach, simple design, and elements of color, texture and form. Pieces are bound by a lead-free jeweler’s solder then polished and sealed to age with a pewter finish. Flowers are collected from forests, jungles, islands, roadsides, and the gardens of friends, family, and unwitting strangers. Her designs derive from a convergence of early stained-glass projects (monitored by an energetic Norwegian grandfather), a primal fondness for nostalgic jewelry, and a biology degree that led to such places as the Channel Islands and the Amazon Rainforest.
WALKER SHOP HOURS
Tuesday–Sunday, 11 am–5:30 pm
Open late Thursday, 11 am–9 pm
Closed Monday
612.375.7633
shop.walkerart.org