Details

• Materials: sterling silver, 14k gold fill
• Finish: oxidized, polished
• Dimensions: 2 1/4" x 1 3/4"
• Earring Type: hoop

The Yukata Jewelry Show

Artist Statement: When my friend Patricia Belyea of Okan Arts suggested we collaborate on a project for the gallery I was honored and I jumped at the idea. Collaboration is often an excellent opportunity to try something new and I love a good challenge. I chose my fabric mostly for the color, deep pink, a favorite color of mine. However, it is the butterfly pattern that captured my imagination and inspired the earrings you see here. When I sat down with the fabric, I saw immediately that the graceful, calligraphic and expressive lines would translate perfectly into forged wire. When I realized I could go one-step further by using mixed metals and oxidation to mimic the artwork in the fabric, well I got very excited. The first pair I made are bold (i.e. HUGE), like the butterfly on the fabric. They are perfect for the right person but not everyone, so I made another couple pair, one in the same style but smaller and one with hooks rather than hoops.This is the smaller hoop with gold fill rather than brass.  As it turned out, working with the butterfly imagery provided me an unexpected sense of opening and hopefulness. Now, all I want to do is make butterflies.

Artist Bio: There is so much possibility in the craft of jewelry making. As jewelers we are not limited to a single material or even functionality, simply we make objects for the body. The limitlessness of jewelry has kept me entertained since 1992 when I fell in love with metal. Nowadays I enjoy exploring a variety of materials, still metal is very much at the core. I was raised in the Pacific Northwest and am endlessly inspired by the vibrant beauty around me. Sometimes playful, sometimes sentimental, I ultimately aim for my work to be comfortable, elegant and evocative of the more subtle pleasures of life. My work is designed for the wearer and constructed to be worn and loved over time. I have called Seattle my home since 1990, am actively involved in the Seattle Metals Guild, and am the founder and sole proprietor of Danaca Design Studio.