Solo Exhibit & Giveaway: Gecko J Designs!

Update: Our winner is coment #30, BlackAsphodel! Congratulations to you and thank you again to Jenny of Gecko J for sharing her tremendous talent with us!

While art has always been part of Jenny’s daily routine, she recently found her true calling: metalsmithing. From there, Gecko J Designs was born. Her Orbit pendant combines brass and sterling silver with a fine silver bezel. A golden patina gives the entire thing a warm, rich glow like the night sky.

Jenny combines materials in ways I’ve never seen before, always with an eye toward creating depth and texture. Made from beads, red brass, and sterling silver, all of pieces of these earrings move on the hand formed ear wire giving them an unexpected playfulness.

Her pieces that combine metal and polymer clay are what first drew me in. Look at the way she uses brass tubes amidst the pearl and burnt umber clay in this ring. It feels like you’ve stumbled upon a cross-section of some exotic element.

In all of her pieces there is an understated beauty that requires you to look a little harder. When you do, you’re rewarded with the lovely organic texture of these sterling earrings and the way the aquamarine stones glow gently in the oxidized setting.

Curator V: How did you get your start making jewelry?

I’ve always had a love affair with jewelry, and about four years ago, I took a class with Victoria Lansford at the Spruill Center for the Arts in Atlanta. It was a class for homeschooled kids, in which the moms got to take part as well. Well, I was hooked! The next session I signed up for an adult beginners class with Kristin Wilder.

Curator V: You’ve explored a number of mediums; how did you know metalsmithing was the one for you?

I was mesmerized by the process. I had worked in 3D with clay, but never in a medium where the construction and the design required me to really think things through. With clay, so much is feel, with metal it’s a whole other level. Never had I explored an art form where the process was as rewarding as the finished product.

Curator V: I love the way you combine metal and polymer clay. Could you take us through the creation of one of those pieces?

I’m always trying to find ways to add color, texture and movement to my work. Using polymer clay adds a sense of softness to the hard edges of the metal. I love metal sculpture, so I created deep bezels made of red brass and sterling silver. Each bezel is packed with different color clays, some have mica or embossing powders to add depth. They are then baked, sanded and drilled to add the earring wires or linked into a chain. The texture of the clay/metal, the color, the movement of the bezels- all add to the sculptural feel of each piece.

Curator V: How would you describe your jewelry? How does it fit with your own personal style?

I’m not sure I can label my jewelry… I think my style is playful yet modern. I love so many different types of jewelry, so I can’t see myself boxed into one style or feel.

Curator V: From your blog, it appears that art is important to your entire family. Can you tell us more about that?

Both my parents are artists. I can’t remember a time in which art (all kinds) was not a part of my daily routine. My mom was always making something, painting, drawing, etc. My father was an illustrator and a creative director in the world of advertising. To say my home was a creative hub is an understatement. This love of art, music, film and books has been passed down to my children. While my husband is not artistic, he has a great love of the arts. Both my children are creative (one in the performing arts and the other in visual).

Curator V: What can we expect from Gecko J in the future?

I hope to continue my studies, possibly going back to school to study metalsmithing more in-depth. I want to continue sharing my excitement for the art form through Gecko J and educate those I meet about the process.

Giveaway time! Jenny is offering up a pair of her stunning Red Polymer Clay, Brass, and Sterling Silver Earrings! To enter, visit Gecko J Designs and spend some time exploring. Then come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item. One winner to be chosen at random next Sunday, February 5th.

(Reading this via a feed? Here’s a direct link to the giveaway.)

Tagged as: giveaway, handmade, jewelry