Exhibition - Andrea Williams Jewelry

We admire artists who are fully committed

to a personal conviction

to create socially and environmentally

responsible jewelry.

During the month of September,

Patina Gallery in

Santa Fe, New Mexico is hosting

an exhibition of jewelry created by

Andrea Williams called "Stones."

 She's an artist whose work

is devoted to creating jewelry

 that does no harm

to the environment. Every aspect of her focus

 is very eco-conscious

 and her work focuses on the use of beach stones.

 By using recycled/reclaimed

precious metals and lab-created gemstones 

she makes the statement that she will not

 participate in the industrial mining

 of gems and metals from the earth.

 

Her process begins by collecting beach stones

 found along the shoreline.  Using 18k gold

 and sterling silver she creates various kinds

 of bezels, links and hinges. She completes

the process by etching the stones,

inlaying precious metals, and

sometimes setting Venetian glass

or gems into them. 

These earrings are lighter than

one might imagine.

Her ideas are expressed on her website,

" . . . jewelry should not be worn as a status symbol,

but should instead bring us closer to the

earth that birthed the materials."

She honors the simple beauty

that nature produces and

enhances that simplicity

with a bit of elegance.

 

It's interesting to know her inspirations are

as simple as walking on the beach and studying

the details and patterns in the rocks.

 Patina Gallery describes her work as,

"Using beach stones combined with silver and high karat gold, Williams creates works of jewelry practically crafted by Nature herself. By embellishing the stones with a very light touch, she allows the stones their own voice."

This exhibit will run from

September 2nd through September 25th.

For more information you can visit

the 'Stones' exhibit page at

 the Patina Gallery website.