Forever Young
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009JacQueline Sanchez
“Forever Young”
July 30th – August 22nd, 2009
Opening champagne reception with the artist:
Thursday, July 30th, from 6 to 9 p.m.
“So many adventures couldn’t happen today
So many songs we forgot to play
So many dreams swinging out of the blue
We let them come true.”
-From “Forever Young,” by Alphaville
Do What You Love One of the things I love about being an artist is knowing that in a small way I’m bringing a bit of joy to people’s lives. My work, particularly the Forever Young line, which is made with Legos and dia-monds, has an innocence that makes people smile. Our world is so frenetic and at times feels so com-plicated. It’s easy to forget the simple things that bring happiness. I feel like my work has a childlike quality that brings people’s guard down. I love going to shows because I get to meet great people who are curious about my work. I feel a connection to my customers and many times they become friends. I’ve gone to many of the weddings of people whose engagement rings I’ve designed. It’s meaningful to me to be a part of those moments and create something special and unique for people.
Design Philosophy Simple, modern craftsmanship with a flourish of whimsy. Favorite Jewelry Making Tool My flex shaft - couldn’t live without it.
Favorite Material Diamonds are a girl’s (or, indeed, a guy’s!) best friend. Platinum is challenging to work with but the results are worth the extra work.
Artistic Freedom Twyla Tharp said that art is the only way to run away without leaving home. From an early age I knew I had a lot of creativity to channel. Making jewelry has given me a way to live and a means to make a living. Two very different things and I’m grateful for both. Color While I design several distinct collections, Forever Young certainly uses the most color with Legos in so many vibrant, juicy colors. I hope my work encourages people to be a bit more playful with their style. One bold, beautifully-designed piece of jewelry in a bright color is a good place to start taking chances! Shape Most of my work, from the Forever Young line to the Mokume-Gane and Photo Etched lines, really seeks to push the boundaries of shape and pattern. I love creating a flawless line and then giving the piece balance with an unexpected element or interpretation of pattern. A Sense of Completion I feel the best when I’ve finished a piece for a client and it’s tucked away in the box awaiting deliv-ery! Mastery of Craft A master jeweler I worked with taught me that if you are talking to a client about custom work and you’re not sure how to create what they want, you should keep it to yourself - don’t express your doubts. Just take the leap, trusting in your ability to figure it out. I’ve learned the most and gained the most confidence in my art by taking chances even when I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing.
The Lego Lady I started the Forever Young line for fun and really had no idea of the potential going in. It resonates with such a range of people, from architects and people who love design, new moms, young boys ex-cited about their first pair of cuff links! Customers share their stories from the past and children who are still playing with Legos get excited. It’s one of those things so many people can relate to and it’s gratifying to get such wonderful feedback on a regular basis. At the Baltimore American Craft Coun-cil show, the clients call me “the Lego Lady.”
JacQueline Sanchez Jewelry Design handcrafts playful, elegant wearable modern art using artisanal methods. Each piece of jewelry from the JacQueline Sanchez studio is created with a passion for de-sign and the highest standards in craftsmanship and durability. JacQueline is the recipient of an achievement award from the American Craft Council and her signa-ture “Forever Young” collection continues to win numerous awards and accolades.
