Savannah Collection
SAVANNAH
United by the techniques of forging, reticulation, granulation, fabrication and oxidation these unique torques, necklaces, and earrings transport you to the romance of The Old South in places like Savannah, Charleston Beaufort or Hilton Head Island where Spanish Moss DRIPS from live oak limbs. Reticulation uses an acetylene torch to raise a skin of fine silver to the surface. Since that cools faster that the core, it crinkles as it cools. Granulation is the balling of small pieces of silver randomly fused as the surface loses heat. Oxidation forces the sterling to tarnish giving contrast to other elements of design. Fabrication is the hot or cold connection.
The gems are selected to represent the color of the moss in various locations, since sand would feed the supporting tree differently than pine needles changing the delicate hue of the moss .Aquamarine was color matched to the primordial moss hanging from old growth live oaks and pines surrounding the archeological dig believed to be the first cemetery in the oldest community founded and governed by and for freed slaves on Hilton Head Island. Being there, surrounded by Spanish Moss in that sacred space, inspired this collection.
In over a decade of exploration and experimentation, no two pieces are alike. Obvious characteristics are the strong limbular lines contrasting with the amorphic moss and the power of asymmetrical balance. What is not obvious is the kinetic feature of breeze through the moss as it captures a twig here, a feather or leaf there in its rhythmic dance.
EDISTO Part of the Savannah Line
Edisto Beach State Park, South Carolina surrounds a large grove of live oaks with mature Spanish Moss dripping from the gnarled branches. The large diameter vines hanging from and wrapping around the trees bordering the woods circling this more cultivated area stimulated my imagination to create this series.
My Edisto Series celebrates nature's rhythm in growth that's undisturbed. The lines the vines make are sinuous and muscular as they dance around the live oaks. Botanically correct sketches and photos done on location support the studio work that yields this collection of Edisto Circlets, bracelets, rings and earrings. Enjoy the dramatic movement of sensuous diminished diameter forging in a season where skeletal tree limbs and vines take center stage before the burst of spring green.
The technique of diminished diameter forging is calligraphically graceful and deceptively simple looking. Part of the round sterling wire stock in #0-6 heavy gauge is left untouched. The remainder is diminished by hammering with cross peen and planishing hammers, diminished gradually in a rolling mill, sanded on an upright sander to make the transition smooth and then hand sanded and polished before any of the shaping is done.
In some of the designs many pieces are prepared before the fabrication unites them by soldering. Once assembled the pieces are shaped to fit the body. Each circlet takes about a week of 5-6 eight hour days to construct. Less time consuming are the graceful forged neck vines bracelets and rings.