It never fails. I'm working on getting new pieces of jewelry made for a specific show and I get side-tracked by all of the pieces of metal from past projects that are still laying on my work bench. I start seeing new elements from the leftover metal from the negative space of the things I've made before and the dominant theme of my thoughts for the day or week just seem to emerge in a 3D composition. It's never planned. At least not in the traditional way. No sketches were rendered, no written list of materials, and no idea how or whether the project will turn out.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about wishes, among other things. The kind of wishes that are unspoken and invisible and stay gathered in the far recesses of one's conscious thoughts. The kind of wishes that are mostly rhetorical in nature but wishes nonetheless.
Recently I've also been thinking about the ongoing debate about whether a society, or humanity as a whole, can believe in both God and science. It has always been my humble opinion that yes, it is possible. For all of the wonders that God has bestowed upon this earth, it is humanity (and only humanity) that has created the sciences to understand all that He has given us. Why would a greater power than mankind give us the ability to question "why" if we weren't supposed to use that question? Even if it should only be used to help preserve all that sustains us. But unfortunately science can be used for both good and bad. So, it is one of my grandest wishes that only good prevail in the use of science.
These earrings started from flat football shaped scrap brass sheet metal. I used a cheap little ball peen hammer and a traditional metalsmithing technique to "raise" the sides of the cauldron bowl. The handles are made from fine silver wire, hammered and stamped with a starburst motif. All of the components along with the soldering are done with rugged finesse. The flaws are not hidden or reworked. It is never my intention to produce perfection with these projects. I strive more for an aged weathered patina and the look of quality from a learning craftsman. The star dangling above is perfect though, just like the ones in the night sky. At least as perfect as a man or woman can produce a shape symbolic to our natural world. (It's a purchased charm.) All of the components are brought together with an imperfect flat ring of fine silver.
As I raised the sides of the cauldron my wishes filled the hollow space. Like the wishes of a child in awe of the surrounding world; my cauldron will always be full even when one of my wishes is no longer a wish. Another wish will certainly fill the void.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about wishes, among other things. The kind of wishes that are unspoken and invisible and stay gathered in the far recesses of one's conscious thoughts. The kind of wishes that are mostly rhetorical in nature but wishes nonetheless.
Recently I've also been thinking about the ongoing debate about whether a society, or humanity as a whole, can believe in both God and science. It has always been my humble opinion that yes, it is possible. For all of the wonders that God has bestowed upon this earth, it is humanity (and only humanity) that has created the sciences to understand all that He has given us. Why would a greater power than mankind give us the ability to question "why" if we weren't supposed to use that question? Even if it should only be used to help preserve all that sustains us. But unfortunately science can be used for both good and bad. So, it is one of my grandest wishes that only good prevail in the use of science.
These earrings started from flat football shaped scrap brass sheet metal. I used a cheap little ball peen hammer and a traditional metalsmithing technique to "raise" the sides of the cauldron bowl. The handles are made from fine silver wire, hammered and stamped with a starburst motif. All of the components along with the soldering are done with rugged finesse. The flaws are not hidden or reworked. It is never my intention to produce perfection with these projects. I strive more for an aged weathered patina and the look of quality from a learning craftsman. The star dangling above is perfect though, just like the ones in the night sky. At least as perfect as a man or woman can produce a shape symbolic to our natural world. (It's a purchased charm.) All of the components are brought together with an imperfect flat ring of fine silver.
As I raised the sides of the cauldron my wishes filled the hollow space. Like the wishes of a child in awe of the surrounding world; my cauldron will always be full even when one of my wishes is no longer a wish. Another wish will certainly fill the void.
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