John and Linda Whitney at Smith Galleries

Necklace, bracelet, and earrings by John & Linda Whitney

 New to Smith Galleries is the jewelry of John and Linda Whitney. The Whitneys have been metal-smiths for many years. They strive to maintain the goal to produce a smile on the patron's face by creating a jewelry work that is well crafted but very affordable. All of their work is made from beginning to end by using the traditional metal working technique of fabrication.

John & Linda Whitney

    When they started creating pieces in the early 1970's they were all sterling silver and gold, but now they have expanded and added red brass, copper, and nickel silver. These copper based alloys and polymer clay have added colors and oxidations that were never possible with traditional metals. One example of this is how they continue to experiment with polymer clay as a way to add color and surface design to jewelry. Only by using this clay can they make the light weight pieces with motifs inspired by African textiles and Aboriginal art of the South Seas.
    The cut pieces of metal are shaped over silver-smithing stakes or tree stumps with the use of forming and raising hammers. The surface is sometimes chased to add in a surface description or a corrugation. Then the work is assembled with silver solder and gas torches. Natural stones are used to add integrity to the designs.
    Their studio is a little like stepping back into the pre-industral age as they only use hand tools with the exceptions of the finishing equipment. They even use non-toxic chemicals, salt and vinegar to clean the metals surface.
    The Whitneys write, "Our ever bonding love for the plasticity of metal and the joy of creating with our hands is our daily inspiration."
    Smith Galleries is located upstairs at 1000 William Hilton Parkway in suite J11 of  The Village at Wexford. Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday. 800.272.3870

Tessoro Jewelry at Smith Galleries

QAN4 Salon Necklace, Birch Bark, Amethyst,
Lapis, Sterling Silver

Deborah Bushinski, the creator of Tessoro Jewelry writes..."In the beginning the jewelry was an extension of the painting i was doing and my contribution to fashion, which always held my interest. I spent many years as a fine art studio painter and art wear clothing designer in the northern Minnesota woodlands. It is from these early years, spending time in the wild studying natural form, that my design sensibility was honed. It is all about texture, color and composition, as each piece is crafted with the immediacy of putting paint on canvas.

Deborah Bushinski

Today the current of creativity often carries me to
international destinations for inspiration. The earth, sky and sea of the Mediterranean coast in Spain, with its rugged open-space beauty and haunting ruins to cosmopolitan urban centers such as Barcelona, Rome and Athens. It is here when discovering and connecting with jewelry artisans, found exploring sleepy side streets, or in viewing ancient jewelry designs found in museum collections that i feel my passion fueled with a fresh perspective, opening up for me the currents of international and timeless fashion. After all Tessoro truly aims to create the ultimate in art jewelry for every day, every woman."

See more Tessaro jewelry featured at Smith Galleries.

Smith Galleries is located at 1000 William Hilton Parkway in suite J11 (UPPER LEVEL) of the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday. 843.842.2280

Joan Z. Horn Valentine Collection

Heart Necklace N6 by Joan Z. Horn.

    Joan Z. Horn has designed a special collection of jewelry for Valentines just for the patrons of Smith Galleries.
    All the pieces in this grouping feature a heart symbol...what could say 'I love you' better? The pieces are constructed from sterling silver and 14k gold and include various stones.
    Joan writes..."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

Joan Z. Horn at work in her studio.

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."
    Jean and Wally Smith met Joan more than 25 years ago at a craft fair in Philadelphia. They fell in love with her jewelry then and have featured it in the gallery continuously ever since.
    Smith Galleries is located in suite J11 of the Village at Wexford at 1000 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Gallery hours are 10 - 6 Monday through Saturday. 800.272.3870 info@smithgalleries.com