It's not every day that a jeweler requests you
into his studio and then calls your family heirloom ring "disgusting".
Granted the words, "I like your ring" did come before that, but in
the age of air kisses and snarky comments from namelesswebmaster102
it felt odd to hear an insult face to face. Odder still was how it hit me as a
refreshing taste of honesty. I didn't care that a guy thought the beautiful
ring my mother passed down to me was gaudy. I only wanted to ask this
honest guy more questions.
"What
inspires you?"
He
had me glance at a few pieces of his work. Shiny geometrical cuts of metal criss-crossed
and piled into patterns for his necklaces and rings. For him the designs take
shape as his fingers break the saw over the metal or he lights the fire to mold
the silver and steel. An inspiration doesn't sprout and inspire him to work,
but it is the work itself, the touch and feel of the tools that brings to light
an idea, a necklace or ring.
Selling bespoke cuffs, and rings, and other one off
pieces wasn't his initial design when he studied sculpture at MRIT.
Yet, when he took jewelry as an elective to have the opportunity to work with
metal instead of the wood he typically used in his sculptures, he found himself
leaning more towards the art of jewelry making. Working with pieces of art that will be worn rather
than viewed in a large space is a refreshing change for Lewis and one that I'm
sure the guys and girls who wear his self labeled 'androgynous jewelry' will be
glad to hear.
Working like a true artist, Lewis Allen is devoid of any dreams
of fame or even quests to market himself. Rather, he sits at his bench crafting
a new design for the sheer love of making jewelry. Although, he does take a few
moments to post pictures of his work on his blog and
may even be willing to customize a cuff or necklace, that is if he is honestly
interested in the idea...
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