Jaime Jo Fisher

While my work falls in the category of jewelry I prefer to think of these pieces as wearable collages. I am stimulated by intimate details, small spaces, unusual materials and the natural world. In my designs some traditional minerals stones are used as well as a variety of found objects. I enjoy using materials that are under appreciated and typically unnoticed in our Lives. Many things I think are useful can be found on the ground or in the kitchen junk drawer. These found materials can be anything from seeds, fragments of found plastics, dryer lint and even twist-ties from a loaf of bread. Monochromatic colors, diverse surface textures, and repetition are commonly used to create a graceful and soothing unity among varying objects. The initial construction of each piece begins with traditional metalsmithing techniques. These techniques consist of forming, soldering and sanding the silver. One of the last steps in manipulating the metal is texture. I use files, letter stamps and the hammer to create a distressed appearance. Some surfaces are then finished with techniques more closely associated with textiles. The surface can be that sewn glass beads or crocheted wire. My hope is through a variety of techniques and applied concepts the work will contain something for the individual to discover. By using these ordinary materials with the more prized mineral stones I encourage the viewer to reconsider their opinion of the completely ordinary. Which material is more beautiful? Is it the precious opal or the mass of dryer lint?