James Goehrung

 

I often contrast strong geometric shapes with organic forms or texture in the jewelry pieces I design and build.  The organic nature of pearls – their shape, the way they are formed, the colors and light they reflect, the stories that surround them, have always attracted me.

Pearls are a wonderful design element for jewelers.  They have a great history in jewelry, they can dangle and move, come in great colors, any number of shapes and can be wrapped around the body in any number of ways.

Because o the inherent value of the materials used in jewelry, many jewelers are willing to let the metal or stones alone act as their jewelry.  This is especially true with pearls that seem to have their own built in elegance.  In these pieces, a single stone often becomes the focal point of the piece.

I tend to downplay technique and materials in my work.  My approach to making jewelry is to build pieces that move beyond precious metals and gemstone, using surface, color, texture, proportion, and balance, along with whatever technical process is necessary, to create a piece that is appealing because all these elements work together.