2008 Woodie Awards
Natural Beauty
Grinstein retrospective brings nature-based jewelry to GalleryOne
Helen Nevius
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Richard Grinstein developed a taste for silver at an early age. As a child, he carried around a small silver llama; he liked to chew on its ears.
"For as long as I can remember, I've loved small objects," Grinstein said.
He told this to the audience at his lecture following the opening reception for his jewelry exhibit at WCC's GalleryOne on Nov. 1. The exhibit-"Richard Grinstein: Echoes from Nature"-consists of pieces that Grinstein has produced in his 30 years as a jewelry maker. The show also includes pieces made by Georg Jensen, a Danish silversmith and source of inspiration for Grinstein, and his company.
According to curator Linda Ross's introduction posted in the gallery, the retrospective of Grinstein's work illustrates his sources of inspiration, aesthetic and philosophical perspectives, and technical expertise and knowledge.
The exhibit divided Grinstein's and Jensen's work into three categories: naturalistic, geological, and biomorphic (although Grinstein said that some pieces fall between these categories).
In his artist's talk, Grinstein explained naturalistic pieces are based off the observation of natural forms such as plants.
He said Jensen's early aesthetic style reflects the naturalist technique. Grinstein also said he admired how Jensen balanced industrial processes used to make the jewelry with handwork and beauty with practicality.
"That balance is something that I strive for in my own work," he said.
The naturalistic style is closely connected to Art Nouveau, a technique that produces jewelry with curving lines based on plants, birds, insects, and other aspects of nature, he said.
In addition to Art Nouveau, Grinstein said the late 19th and early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement also influenced him. The movement, which he learned about after he started making jewelry, focuses on the spiritual value of artwork, he said.
"This movement is less aesthetic or stylistic than it is philosophical," he said. "Without it, people like me would not be doing what we do."
"For as long as I can remember, I've loved small objects," Grinstein said.
He told this to the audience at his lecture following the opening reception for his jewelry exhibit at WCC's GalleryOne on Nov. 1. The exhibit-"Richard Grinstein: Echoes from Nature"-consists of pieces that Grinstein has produced in his 30 years as a jewelry maker. The show also includes pieces made by Georg Jensen, a Danish silversmith and source of inspiration for Grinstein, and his company.
According to curator Linda Ross's introduction posted in the gallery, the retrospective of Grinstein's work illustrates his sources of inspiration, aesthetic and philosophical perspectives, and technical expertise and knowledge.
The exhibit divided Grinstein's and Jensen's work into three categories: naturalistic, geological, and biomorphic (although Grinstein said that some pieces fall between these categories).
In his artist's talk, Grinstein explained naturalistic pieces are based off the observation of natural forms such as plants.
He said Jensen's early aesthetic style reflects the naturalist technique. Grinstein also said he admired how Jensen balanced industrial processes used to make the jewelry with handwork and beauty with practicality.
"That balance is something that I strive for in my own work," he said.
The naturalistic style is closely connected to Art Nouveau, a technique that produces jewelry with curving lines based on plants, birds, insects, and other aspects of nature, he said.
In addition to Art Nouveau, Grinstein said the late 19th and early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement also influenced him. The movement, which he learned about after he started making jewelry, focuses on the spiritual value of artwork, he said.
"This movement is less aesthetic or stylistic than it is philosophical," he said. "Without it, people like me would not be doing what we do."
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