Artist' Statement
I can honestly say that I stumbled onto metalsmithing completely by accident. In 2005, I received a class brochure in the mail from Wesleyan Potters, Inc., a nearby artists' co-op and school. Having always worked with my hands in one way or another - whether creating props for the theater, making patterns and showroom samples for a fashion designer, or hand making fresh pasta for a gourmet food store, I was eager to see what they had to offer. I had been making and selling beaded jewelry for a few years at that time, and was immediately drawn to a metalsmithing class offered. I was so taken with metal work that it just felt like coming home. I loved everything about it- the materials, the tools, and the endless possibilities. Today, I am a member of that artists' co-op and school, and have been taking classes and workshops ever since!
At Wesleyan Potters, I studied with master metalsmiths Gina Dunlap and Linda Edwards. I have also had the good fortune to have the opportunity to take workshops with Michael Good, Betty Helen Longhi, Jayne Redman, Cynthia Eid, Angela Gerhard, Robert Dancik, and Lanette Barber.
As a metalsmith, I create jewelry primarily using sterling silver, often adding pearls or beads as decorative accents. Intrigued with both physical and visual movement, I concentrate on the interplay between shape and form, trying to strike a balance between beauty and playfulness. I texture my metals through the use of a rolling mill, by hand forging, etching, enameling, and by adding surface patinas. I often construct my pieces so that they have freely moving elements to them, causing them to move in harmony with the wearer. Always continuing to learn new skills and techniques, I create my jewelry with great attention to detail and craftsmanship.
What's in a name?
When I was trying to name my business, I was looking for a unique word that would describe who I am and what I do. Being Italian and loving the sound of the language, I searched for Italian words that would translate into meaningful words that relate to my work. Many words I found were beautiful, but carried with them the concern that people wouldn't be able to remember them to enable them to find me on the internet. Having loved to work with my hands from my earliest memories, I have always thought of myself more as a craftsman than as an artist. When I searched for the word for craftsman, I found the word artigiano. My friend Ginger, a web savvy graphic designer, suggested that I shorten artigiano to artigi for a truly unique word. Thus, from the Italian word artigiano for craftsman and artisan, Artigi Designs was born.
At Wesleyan Potters, I studied with master metalsmiths Gina Dunlap and Linda Edwards. I have also had the good fortune to have the opportunity to take workshops with Michael Good, Betty Helen Longhi, Jayne Redman, Cynthia Eid, Angela Gerhard, Robert Dancik, and Lanette Barber.
As a metalsmith, I create jewelry primarily using sterling silver, often adding pearls or beads as decorative accents. Intrigued with both physical and visual movement, I concentrate on the interplay between shape and form, trying to strike a balance between beauty and playfulness. I texture my metals through the use of a rolling mill, by hand forging, etching, enameling, and by adding surface patinas. I often construct my pieces so that they have freely moving elements to them, causing them to move in harmony with the wearer. Always continuing to learn new skills and techniques, I create my jewelry with great attention to detail and craftsmanship.
What's in a name?
When I was trying to name my business, I was looking for a unique word that would describe who I am and what I do. Being Italian and loving the sound of the language, I searched for Italian words that would translate into meaningful words that relate to my work. Many words I found were beautiful, but carried with them the concern that people wouldn't be able to remember them to enable them to find me on the internet. Having loved to work with my hands from my earliest memories, I have always thought of myself more as a craftsman than as an artist. When I searched for the word for craftsman, I found the word artigiano. My friend Ginger, a web savvy graphic designer, suggested that I shorten artigiano to artigi for a truly unique word. Thus, from the Italian word artigiano for craftsman and artisan, Artigi Designs was born.