Janepher (Jenny) McBride - Wire Artist
In the Fall, 2001, my husband and I became Snowbirds, uncertain of where we would spend the winter, but knew that it would be somewhere in the south western States. We found Quartzsite, Arizona, a town which is known as the semiprecious stone capital of North America. We joined the Quartzsite Roadrunner Gem & Mineral Club, learning how to cut and polish cabochons. I took lessons on how to wire wrap cabochons and make knitted wire chains.
Unsatisfied with the way the instructor wanted the stones to be wrapped, hidden behind fancy twists and curls of silver or gold filled wire, I began to experiment on my own, searching for a means of displaying the beauty of the stone. Over the ensuing years, I have developed my own techniques in wire wrapping and making knitted chains, and became a lead instructor for both wire wrapping and wire knitting classes at the Quartzsite Roadrunner Gem & Mineral Club.
My husband, Ken, says that I have an artist’s eye when it comes to deciding how a stone should be cut in order to best display its natural beauty. After I decide the cut of a stone, Ken does the cutting and polishing. When the stone is finished, I design a setting that encompasses the stone’s natural beauty and then offer the piece for sale.
By the winters of 2004/05 and 2005/06 I had become a well known and a respected instructor in Quartzsite and had students coming from as far away as San Diego and Palm Springs, California; and Phoenix, Brenda and Parker, Arizona; paying for one and two day classes with me. I was invited to teach at the Quartzsite local college in 2006 but had to decline as I do not hold a Green Card.
Our full-time Snowbird days appear over but my l ove of wire wrapping and wire knitting keeps me out of trouble and brings in some extra income. Last Fall we did three shows in Ottawa and hope to do the same or more this year. I have my work on sale at the Virtual Art Market Collective in Carleton Place, Ontario and have been a feature artist at a fund raising gala in Carleton Place I am available to teach private lessons on weekends. If there is enough interest, in the Fall I will offer Saturday afternoon classes at Britannia United Church, Pinecrest Road, Ottawa.
I do custom work; pendants, earrings, bangles, rings, necklaces, etc. If you have something precious to you that you would like to have converted into jewelry, I would be pleased to provide a quote. Settings can be in Sterling Silver or Gold Filled wire; 14K gold wire is available if you so desire.
(Witten by Ken, Jenny’s loving and biased husband)
|
