Jewelry Designer - Jenn Dewey

On a vacation to New Orleans, for Jazz Fest and a reunion of friends, I stepped out of the taxi on Esplanade Ave. and was immediately enamored... the patinaed architecture, wrought iron balconies and music floating from the edge of the French Market.   I was hooked... Louisiana's mystique called me back in 1992 and this is where I discovered my passion for metalsmithing. Over several years of living in the Marigny, I was fortunate to rub elbows, apprentice and work for several artists: Thomas Mann, Margo Manning, Dana Sherman, Merry Pierce Lowrey, Juan Laredo, Stella Dottir and many others... while my own jewelry designs evolved.

My adoptive mother continues to be my greatest inspiration... infusing me with her love of nature, flora, gems, Native American art and studio jewelry. While alive, she included me in gem and bead buying excursions (mostly Bernie's Rock Shop in Madison) and the designing/stringing of jewelry. Looking back, it seems that most of my childhood craft projects evolved into baubles and huge flower power rings... I loved the colorfully coated copper telephone wires stashed in a corner of my father's workshop.

Today I live, work & play in the San Juan Mountains... near the village of Telluride, Colorado.  I continue to develop my metalsmithing skills and have worked with and studied under several jewelry designers and metalsmiths: Harold O'Connor, Beau Staley, Robert Devoe Peter, Valentin Yotkov, and others.

Flora, fauna, architectural elements, travel, and global symbolism currently are the greatest influences in my jewelry designs. It is my hope to create art pieces which inspire and empower... talismans for planetary healing and wearable art which communicates messages of hope, preservation of nature, harmony, love and peace. I make a point of promoting and using ethically sourced gemstones, as well as reclaimed metals, in hopes of reducing the burden of mining upon our planet.

Since my move to Colorado in 2003, I've continued to operate my online shop (self built - thus, the lack of flashy stuff),  while selling my work through select boutiques and galleries  - and providing the Telluride community with repair and custom jewelry design services.  I've been fortunate to design custom jewelry for many local residents, Telluride wedding and bridal parties, galleries, International clients, non-profit fundraising events and corporate events. Most recently... sterling and Swarovski crystal logo belt buckles for the Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB) Fashion Shows . 

Through donations of my jewelry to non-profit fundraising efforts, I'm able to give greater purpose to my art... where it becomes a necessity, rather than a luxury.

Member Of:
COMA - Colorado Metalsmiths Association
SNAG - Society of North American Goldsmiths
Association for the Study of Jewelry & Related Arts
Ethical Metalsmiths
No Dirty Gold
Ganoksin Jewelers' Forum - Orchid Digest

Published:
Best of America: Jewelry Artists & Artisans, Kennedy Publishing - 2007
Jawaher Gold & Jewels, January 2009

Exhibitions & Awards:
1/2012 - TCAH "Snow Show" - Strong House Gallery - Telluride, CO TCAH Holiday Show - Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities - 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010
TAB - Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Show - Designer of Commemorative Sterling & Swarovski Crystal Belt Buckles 2008, 2009
Telluride Jazz Festival - Exhibitor - 2011
Juried - Anti-War Medals Show - Velvet DaVinci - San Francisco, CA
Recipient of Alpha Award for Special Accessory (Rosette Baby Rattle)- Fashion Group International, New Orleans
Juried - Bywater Art Market - New Orleans, LA
Mermaid Gardens Art Market - New Orleans, LA
Juried - Custer's Last Stand, Art Show - Chicago, IL
Juried - Cow's on the Concourse, Art Show - Madison, WI
Arte Pour Arte, Thomas Mann's I/O Gallery Anniv. Show, 2008 - New Orleans, LA
Juried - Audubon Zoo Art & Earth Day Shows - New Orleans, LA