Wearable Art Jewelry is the ultimate in personal expression. Throughout
history artists have adorned themselves and others with creations that range from simple to complex, plain to exotic, primitive to modern and everything in between.
It is not
limited to fabric and clothing but has been best represented by centuries of
hand crafted jewelry design. The first pieces ever made were adornments for
prehistoric man.
These creations are an expression of the artists ability to design and
create an individual creation that may stimulate, arouse, motivate, excite or
otherwise interest the wearer of the object created.
It is most often created by women that use craft
skills as well as artistic skills. Many study, color, art theory, sewing,
clothing, silver-smithing, glass blowing, clay art, painting, sculpting and
design.
It is now created with a plethora of materials
not just gold, silver and precious metals. It is created with
semi-precious stones, glass, wood, plastics, gemstones and found
items. Wearable art jewelry can be compared to expressions of
the arts like painting and sculpting. This media has created
a large following and is being actively created by people of
every race, creed and color throughout the world. Housewives,
nurses, teachers, professionals and non-professionals have taken
to making it. A cottage industry has emerged to supply the
materials and training necessary to become proficient at making quality pieces. Collecting, displaying and trading of is now common
occurrence. Websites like E-bay, Amazon and are making is easier for lesser known Artists to
present their creations for sale.
Many consider this media to
be a part of crafts as opposed to real arts. Things have
changing considerably. In the 1960s and 1970s the German
Government and the commercial industry agreed to assist
modern designers creating a new marketplace.
They encouraged the use of contemporary design with their
traditional Gold and Silversmithing. It is no longer a
niche. Many designers are sold in gift shops and
department store throughout the world.
Fashion labels such as Margiela, Martin Comme des Garcons, Bless, etc
have had an influence in this contemporary field.
The
Art Gallery of Calgary hosts an annual event to present
this media to the public and feature artists from around the
world. A few other links of interest in the predominantly
Fabric arena:
We
accept 
