by Bella Erakko
Often naturally creative people need to search for their particular niche. While Lauren Nall knew she was passionate about what she called arts and crafts, she also had years of talent in ballet. When she departed for college, her dad reminded her, “Follow your dreams.” But she wasn’t sure exactly what that dream was, until she stepped into a metal class in 1999, taught by world renown artist Sarah Perkins. From that day forward, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.
She entered the artisan world of handcrafted jewelry. Lauren laments, “The craft seemed to be dwindling—that hands-on approach.” She admits, “Technology is wonderful with CADCAM designs and products, but it’s not a relationship between tool and process where there’s rhythm and therapeutic aspects.” So passionate about the craft aspects, for over 20 years, she has been saving and collecting tools. Inspired by traditional Navaho and Southwest jewelry dating back thousands of years, her jewelry almost floats in its delicate quiet design—as though it were ballet movement in metal.
Drawn to patterns and botanical shapes such as leaves and petals, she employs stamping and rolling techniques, along with etching. Lauren uses silver and fine silver, acknowledging the high cost of gold. But she also works with “new gold alloy,” consisting of coper and zinc, sealed so it won’t tarnish. Nevertheless, for earring wires, she continues to use 14K gold.
And the scrapes and seemingly unusable pieces? “I upcycle. I take them to the local refinery. They turn them into sheets and wire.” It seems that for Lauren Nall, a grand cycle going back thousands of years links craftsman to craftsman, opening our hearts to the beauty all around us—a beauty Lauren captures in jewelry.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday December 14 from 5 until 8:00 pm.
