color / texture / form – a jewelry invitational: Vanessa Gade describes describes her work as contemporary, with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic reminiscent of Japanese and Scandinavian design, so it's easy to see why we love her work.
We asked Vanessa a few questions about her work and inspiration:
How would you describe what you make?
I would describe my jewelry as contemporary, with clean lines inspired by architecture and guided by a love of modern minimal design. Each geometric form is crafted in precious metals and precisely engineered to be perfectly balanced resulting in compositions that are fixed and fluid all at once.
Can you tell us about your favorite piece in your current collection?
My newest Collection VENTANA, was inspired by stained glass widows and my favorite piece from that collection I would say is the Finestra Necklace; the shapes were from sketches I made during a visit to Italy whenI was 21, the intricacies of the stained glass windows from their beautiful cathedrals has always stayed with me.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
To always look for your creative inspiration outside your own field. Never follow the trends, or look to other jewelers or jewelry, past or present for what you will create next… find your inspiration in unrelated fields, science or engineering , mathematics or mythology. Art can be found anywhere and as artists its our job to find in unexpected places.
What inspired you to make Jewelry?
Initially I was lured in by the process, the molten metal, the tools, the sparkling gemstones, it fascinated me… It still does! But over time it became part of the way I experience the world. I see earrings in the curve of a flower or the shape of a shadow, a necklace in criss crossing power lines or the structure of a building. I love translating the angels and shapes in the world that inspire me, into wearable sculpture. With photography and painting I could create whatever piece I loved, and it could stand alone and be appreciated as art, but in order for jewelry to be enjoyed to its fullest it needs to be wearable and functional, it must fit into certain parameters of shape, weight , form and comfort… the ideal is that it melds and complements the wearer, so it becomes a fluid extension of them. I really love the additional engineering challenge that exists specific to jewelry.
If you could collaborate with anyone living or not, who would it be and why?
The architect Zaha Hadid, she was the first woman architect to receive the Pritzker prize and the Royal Gold medal and was made Dame by Queen Elizabeth for her contributions to architecture. Not only do I truly respect her aesthetics and design philosophy but I truly admire her ability to be such a strong voice in a world that encouraged her to be quiet. I would have loved to observe her approach to design and life, in person.
