Sher Pierson | Intimate Talismans
wearable new works
Artist’s reception, Saturday, February 12, 2 – 4 p.m.
We’ve got the perfect Valentine’s present for you or your lovely
Join us for this special event and meet artist Sher Pierson
Refreshments by Moxie
Butterfly, antique china doll, vintage clip, labradorite, water sapphire, pearl, sterling silver, 13″ L, $325
Try to imagine uncovering a treasure chest, prying it open, and sticking your hands deep into a pile of Emeralds, Rubies and Pearls…Diamonds, Sapphires and Fiery Topaz. Every girl’s fantasy, yes? That’s what it’s like for me when I open my gem box and begin to choose the elements for a composition. The beautiful colors, the way facetted gems catch and throw light…the way a stone quickly absorbs the warmth from your skin. Just handling them has a very healing effect. In fact – I began to make these jewelry assemblages during a time of physical healing. In the summer of 2008, I suffered a spinal cord injury, and even after several surgeries and rehab – it became apparent that I could no longer easily create the large scale paintings and assemblage sculptures that had become such a satisfying part of my creative life. A jewelry designer friend offered to show me how to bead necklaces and make earrings – something I could do even from bed on days I wasn’t mobile – and soon I was online researching everything I could find about gemstone and pearls. Specifically the healing and spiritual qualities of gemstones. As I discovered which stones where said to aid in ailments from poor vision to arthritis, I became more and more interested in assembling necklaces with a purpose or narrative. A sort of Intimate Talisman, as it were, for a person to wear – rather than just a lovely strand of colorful beads.
I found among my vast collection of found objects, many small treasures; An antique stamp holder, a small vintage compass, a little porcelain lion, a broken china doll, a watch face…little objects that may not ordinarily be used as jewelry parts, and began weaving them together with fine healing gemstones such as Andalusite, Aquamarine, Carnelian, Citrine, Ruby, Garnet, Amethyst, Quartz and Topaz, to name a few. Creating these beautiful and bright adornments has had a great healing effect on me. Just touching the gemstones and pearls brings such pleasure. There are even a few stones that are said to help relieve pain – which unfortunately I have in chronic stages. But I can not say, truly, whether it is the particular stones I use that allow me to sit for hours longer than I might normally be able to, oblivious to pain – or if it is the act of making these beautiful sparkling treasures that takes me out of my body for a while – and into a realm that artists go when they are making art.
I hope that the wearer of each of my Intimate Talismans will find that the assemblages touch them in more ways than just with the weight of the piece around their necks. I hope that the healing and restorative powers of the gemstones, along with the narratives I have tried to embody, enchants the wearer as they have me.
118 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
816.527.0823
www.BlueGalleryOnline.com
gallery hours: tuesday – saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and available by appointment
