I needed an artist statement....oh bother....These are difficult! Are they difficult for you? I can write all day about a stone, about a cause, about my creations, but write what I am, what I do, why I do it, why I feel and I have nothing.
I called my brother with questions, how do I do it, can you give me guidelines, bullet points off what I need to say to get this across. He says, "Why don't I write it for you?" I squeal. He asks for bulletpoints, a list of what I feel, of what I am, and he will take it from there.
This is what he got
So I am sitting here thinking and am blank. i have no idea what to say, and not sound like high school.
I want to say, I don't sit and sting beads, for a fashion statement.
alot of time, i dream the design, and then wake up and make it. I have dreamed of my art, and make it happen.
i don't work with the fashion guidelines. I work with purpose principles
each piece has a purpose
whether it is the color or the stone or the texture, i want it to speak to you
i am just brain dumping here
i don't mass produce a single design, because, i don't create for the masses, I create for the individual
From this he wrote, my words, my emotions, he captured them all, didn't miss a thing. I am amazed at his talent and understanding. I now have an artist statement, a beautiful gift from my brother
Jerry Piper
Just A Tish Artist Statement
Wearing jewelry can be a
mere fashion accessory, or it can be a personal statement, testament,
and extension of all that binds us to the spiritual aspects of our
connection to one another, and the very earth itself from which we
evolved. Since the earliest periods of recorded human history there
is a recurring belief that we were created from the earth. Science
now confirms the truth of this fact that, chemically we are made of
the same compounds found in the soil. Not fully understanding this
premise spiritually or scientifically in younger years, I was unaware
why my love of stones carried a greater magnetism with my inner self
than mere aesthetic fashion creations.
Now I am more aware.
Mankind has always maintained a mystical correlation with various stones in regards to
their symbolism, purpose and value. I believe humanity possesses a relationship with
these elements that contribute to the very makeup of our being that
defies definition and understanding. They have been used throughout
the centuries by every culture in every socio-economic stratum to
create objects that reflect personal wealth, wonder, and worship.
Visual masterpieces of art and artifact in stone have been hewn to
raise the conscious soul of man to assist us in seeing and
understanding the visible and invisible world that surrounds us all.
From Stonehenge to the monolithic statues of Easter Island, the
Blarney Stone of Ireland, and the Pyramids of Egypt, stones have been
used throughout history to connect us with our inner selves and one
another. They reflect our concrete beliefs, and pose mysteries that
have kept us suspended in wonder throughout the ages. It is because
of this shared spiritual connection to the elements found in the
earth that I find purpose in making the one of a kind pieces I do. Even my dreams speak
profoundly of fresh ideas that beckon me to create new inspirational
works.
I also believe that stones
are deeply representative of our own lives and personalities. Whether
or not the wearer fully comprehends the properties of the stone, it still
speaks to them from a subconscious inner level through its own voice
of beauty, texture, color, shape, size and energy. We are shaped and
developed, much like stones, bearing the same cracks or flaws,
artificially or naturally tumbled by hardship, pressure, and chipping
throughout life. It is by this process that our personal character is
refined and ultimately reveals our own distinct inner beauty with
occlusions still visible. But,
rather than seeing the flaws as defects as negative, as we often do
in ourselves and others, we can learn to see and value humanity as
reflective of the same integral elements of the stone’s natural
beauty. Whether rough
or smooth, firm or cracked, clear or opaque, radiant or dull, its own
uniqueness speaks for itself and its value. I believe people are
attracted to stones unknowingly, because of how they often
perceive themselves. They wear them because of the connection that
springs from the spiritual consciousness deep within that relates to
and reflects their own self-image.
Therefore, I work with
stones of all shapes, sizes, colors and weights. Being pretty, or
meeting the changing trends of current acceptable fashion statements
is irrelevant. Purpose in my work is defined in that stones give me a
clear perspective on something the world needs to be reminded of on a
day to day basis, which is LOVE. Love of self, combined with love and
acceptance of others. The diversity of a stones color, shape, origins
and everlasting quality, demands that it be gazed upon with awe, held
with reverence, and valued with understanding, not unlike the values
we uphold when considering the human family at large. Look at the
stones. Look closely. Observe their nuance of color. Touch the
stones. Feel their texture and weight. Ask yourself why certain
stones are more appealing, and why paired together with other stones
draw you to them. Maybe your heart and mind will be enlightened to a
hidden secret about your own beauty and value you’ve not been aware
of. Then you can proudly wear it as a symbol of why you, like the
stones, are beautiful, and one of a kind.
