I have an eye for funky, unusual jewelry and for spotting cutting edge jewelry artists who use alternative materials. Fascinated by their vision and ability to translate that vision into a design for the body, I feature many of these artists on Polymer Clay Notes. However, I don’t wear jewelry and I don’t make jewelry. I’m a ‘less is more’ kind of woman when it comes to using myself as a canvas for art. And when it comes to making art, I’m partial to functional art because I get jazzed when my work has more than one purpose.
The images in this post are from German jewelry artist Hilde Janich. She fits the pattern of artists that I feature: alternative material (can you guess what it is?), beautiful application of color, clean design. I know I’ve hit pay-dirt when I find myself saying “Hey…I would wear that.” But the real excitement for me comes when I study the work, once again drawn to repetitive shapes, soothing color combinations, mix of materials – I immediately begin to think about how I can take the qualities that move me and create a vessel, not a piece of jewelry.
Janich’s work is reminiscent of Louise Fischer Cozzi’s signature style polymer clay jewelry. I recently had the opportunity to view Cozzi’s DVD, Innovations: The Sophie Necklace. I think I will take what I learned from that DVD, combine it with my recent paper-thin polymer clay experiments and the inspiration from Janich’s jewelry and create a vessel. How’s that for a challenge? While I’m working on it, please enjoy Hilde Janich’s beautiful collection. Have you figured out what materials she uses? Parchment paper and wire – some pieces date back to 1992. Wow…
These panels appear to be formica samples. When we went shopping for countertop, the sales rep would show a beautiful array of colors, and knowing we could only pick one for our counter, I could not resists asking if I could have a few more chips to consider. I was told that after a season or two, they are happy to give away the sample chips as they tend to throw them away. But looking at these beautiful artwork, the panels could be anything.
oh my. this work is astounding. beautiful.
you blow me away with your finds, Susan. Thanks yet again.
I too, have an eye for funky, unusual jewelry and feature jewelry artists, many of whom use alternative materials on my blog – the wearable art blog. I love the work you selected from Janich’s site – I think the most interesting work there. I’m struck that many artists who are creating works from nontradtional materials are creating eco-friendly works – many of which are made out of objects that were once functional.
Hi to Susan and to all of you,
you post this article under the theme “paper”. I’d like to inform you that Hilde is working with vellum. (In German the words for vegetable parchment and vellum are the same.) This is made of animal skin (calf, sheep, sometimes pig) like in ancient time, when paper wasn’t invented. And every animal has its own characteristics in skin type (rough or fine). Parchment gets hard when drying and is astonishingliy hard-wearing. And very light, easy to wear. I have necklaces of Hilde’s work and I love them! Hilde is a wonderfull women: sensitive, reflective and loving.
Thank you so much for letting us know Ulrike – this makes it even more intriguing! And thank you for giving us some insight regarding Hilde – I’m not at all surprised at your description of her…those qualities come through in her lovely work.