Deborah Close Jewelry Featured at Smith Galleries

Smith Galleries has just received a new collection of jewelry from Deborah Close. The gallery has featured Deborah's work for several years. Her work is characterised as elegant design using beautiful stones and expertly crafted sterling silver enhancements. The necklace and earrings shown at left feature black onyx and green turquoise.

Deborah writes..."It is my interest in beauty and order that drives the artistic decisions I make when creating jewelry. The shape and color of the stones, the form and texture of the metals, the linear movement and negative space in the composition are considerations that determine how a piece of jewelry will ultimately look. Creativity is problem solving. Here is the problem; black onyx stone, hammer and saw. I solve the problem in a way that is unique to me. As my personal journey moves in new directions, so does my art. Although the problem is the same (metal. stone, hammer, saw), the solution is always different."

See a slide show of the new pieces here. See more of our jewelry artists here. Drop by the gallery in the Village at Wexford on beautiful Hilton Head Island, SC, or visit us online. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. Be sure to join our E-Club. 800.272.3870

Joan Z Horn Summer Exhibition at Smith Galleries

We have just received a special summer collection of jewelry from our favorite jeweler...Joan Z Horn. Following are a few words written by Joan about her life and work.

"In my studio I fabricate each piece of jewelry. I create individual elements from Sterling Silver and 14Kt. Gold, using traditional and innovative hand tools. My bench contains tubing jigs that are like old friends. My metal starts out as flat sheet, round, square and flat wire, and tubing. I solder individual elements together using an acetylene/oxygen torch. I enhance pieces with freshwater pearls and semi-precious stones, making color combinations with Garnet, Blue Topaz, Citrine, Peridot, Iolite and Amethyst. My jewelry pieces are studies in line, color and movement.

I love working in my studio, and my hands feel most at home when they have a pair of pliers in them. Tools that were never intended for jewelry lead me into whole new directions. I question my auto mechanic about devices he uses. When the plumber comes for household repairs I inspect his tubing cutters and torch tip. A tube wringer from a dental supply catalog inspires new lines of jewelry. I visualize everything in the world as if it were a piece of jewelry. Musical notes from the sheet music in choir become a brooch pattern. Gates in Barcelona become a pendant. Other loves include riding my bike, baking bread, choir and traveling.

I was born and raised in New York. I graduated with a BFA in Metalsmithing from Tyler School of Art, Temple University.

See still pictures of the entire show or a slide show.

The show runs through August. Smith Galleries is open from 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

Join our E-Club, you'll be glad you did! And be sure to ask about our new Rewards Program the next time you are in the gallery.