Guest Curator: Jen Trude

June 9, 2014

Art, etc is pleased to welcome Jen Trude, Owner and Jewelry Designer of trudesign metalsmithing as our Guest Curator for the month!

I find inspiration everywhere: art, design, people, nature, research, adventure. Jewelry design + manufacturing is my creative outlet.

I earned my B.F.A. in Sculpture, working with bronze, iron, steel, wood & stone in a large format. I learned traditional metalsmithing and modern jewelry making techniques as an apprentice under a master craftsman and gemologist. Creating small intimate objects, using recycled and sustainably sourced precious metals, has now captured my creative strengths.

I am fortunate to be based in the Columbia Gorge, on the border of Washington and Oregon. I came here via 10 years of wanderlust, and found a place that sustained a balance: connection + solitude, spirituality + secularism, nature + culture. Process drives every piece made at trudesign metalsmithing. In combining time honored, old world techniques & craftsmanship with a contemporary aesthetic, each piece organically evolves from a design created to accentuate balance, originality and timelessness.

Jen has selected her top four favorite artworks we have Art, etc!

**Gray, Jewel Drops**: I love this. This is the epitome of those small amazing moments that are so easy to pass by. For an image it is a touch cliche but the feeling this particular one evokes nails it.

**Bloomfield, Dual Poppy**: I love the lushness of the texture as well as the magnificent play of color light. The petals look so sensuous yet so stark against the dark background. If there were paparazzi for flowers this would be the iconic image.

**Hanley, St. John Rush Hour**: Again, the theme of simplicity stillness is standing tall and strong amonst the chaos.

**Charon, Captured**: For me this brings about that feeling of hanging it all out there when you are fearful, and somehow the flow returns. And it returns freely and playfully.

For more information about Jen’s designs, click here to visit her website!

Thank you Jen, for contributing!

Some photos from the original post were not preserved in the web archive and could not be restored.

Filed under Art Goes To Work