Jason's Pespective of the Jeanine Payer Studio

I asked Jason Joo, our intern, to take some pictures around the shop to see things through his lens.  Here are some of my favorite shots--they are the monochrome to my color!

From the Jeanine Payer Archives....

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

What barrier is there that love cannot break? -Gandhi

Over the years we at Jeanine Payer have been privileged to be asked to create wedding rings for so many couples; some of them gay, some of the straight, all of them deeply in love and joyously wanting to celebrate their tremendous sense of commitment through the act of marriage. In light of recent events surrounding the passage of Prop 8, we feel like it is time to take action, make something beautiful, and donate half the proceeds towards the fight Californians now face for equal marriage rights. Using the Gandhi quote, "What barrier is there that love cannot break?" on the popular Dale necklace design, we have made a piece that people can wear proudly in the knowledge that love can indeed overcome all obstacles.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from each sale of this piece will be donated to Equality California. Founded in 1998, EQCA celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of progress towards equal rights for all Californians. In the past 10 years, EQCA has helped change California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil rights protections in the nation. Visit them at http://www.eqca.org/.

Jewelry Solstice Inspiration

JP Jewelry Photo Shoot at Sven's House

Jeanine Payer Jewelry Studio From The Archives

Here are some shots of our studio that was in the historic jewelry mecca, The Phelan Building dating back from...who knows when. My studio and offices were there for 18 years.  We grew organically in that space- by just breaking through walls to add suites when we grew. It was a bit like a crazy rabbit warren at one point, but fun. Our new space is better organized, efficient and airy with big walls for artwork and a giant bookshelf.  I really love having people visit us here, but when I look back at these photos I feel nostalgic for the old days and for the people who worked there with us.

When Jewelry Books Are Hilarious...

My jewelry book collection is complete with this rare book by Paul Villiard!  No topic seems off limits for Paul, ceramics, plumbing, woodworking and even candy making! My favorite is 'Moths and How to Rear Them'--who knew the needed rearing!  To me his work is reminiscent of the great MFK Fisher's 'Consider the Oyster' or Brenda Euland's inspired classic, 'If You Want to Write.'

Here is an exert that exemplifies his prose, as he waxes poetic about the fiendish endeavor of polishing:

...This is characteristic of the buff.  It seems as though they are designed to snatch the work and slam it up against the wall, or dash it to the floor where it will bounce all around the room, each bounce putting a new bruise on your heart! Sometimes you will find a buff so fiendish that it is almost impossible to touch without this happening.
  
 And the book is also chock-a-block full of smart suggestions to ignite some big ideas!
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Mother's Day at Jeanine Payer with Abby and William

 










 

















Abby and William are little atoms that when joined together equal more than the sum of their parts.  I took them to be photographed by Sven in his Hayes Valley studio, and it was as if Thing One and Thing Two were let loose from their crate.  They felt instantly at home enough to jump on the couch and yell at the top of their lungs—they also ferret away Japanese yen sitting in a dish.  Soon they are on an adventure going from room to room, looking with wonder at tiny, unusual sculptures and figurines that were both mysterious and beautiful.  Abby’s mother and I are really happy to show them a glimpse into another world, a different aesthetic, which is all Sven, world traveler, accomplished photographer, and exceptional sock maker.  I love the part of his work that includes children. He captures that authentic child vibrancy, the moments betwixt and between-- they never look like they are in a ‘sitting’.  I have known Sven since we both lived together as warehouse mates in a very raw work/live space south of Market in the early 90’s. It is nice to have him take pictures of my son and his bestie, and have them become part of his work, and mine, it is a special connection all around.  When he meets the children he points to his Dogwood necklace and asks Will, ‘Do you know where this came from? Your momma's brain.'

I choose these two because of their relationship with not only each other but with us, their mommies—we are just off camera.  I want to capture an exuberance and love that they have for each other, their families and the generous dousing of joie de vivre that spills over, as everyone on our block can attest to.

The nosegay is from my own mom's garden which is a sweet touch.  One more thing.  A few days afterwards, William, finding a Mano necklace in a box that is to go to his school auction, decides to give it to Abby and after making this proclamation to his father, he scrambles over there and presents it to her.    Whether playing dueling harmonicas over the back fence or sending stomp rockets onto the neighborhood roofs, I just know these two will carry these sweet memories in their hearts forever

A Visit From The Little Prince

My son came into the studio today to work on some construction Legos. What a treat!

Everything is Transformed

This piece was inspired by a giant antler I took a picture of at the SF flower mart at a little place hidden in the back that carries all sorts of unusual odds and ends.  Any chance to carve something from wax, to make a representation of something that can be worn, this is my love, my meditation.  The 18k plate at the end of the antler carries the words of 18th century chemist, Antione Laurent Lavoisier from the book, Elements of Chemistry; 

Nothing is lost, nothing created: everything is transformed. 

Sometimes it comes together perfectly for the words and form.   It is tricky when managing a family, a business and a creative life, tricky to be present enough to even allow for the right words to appear. I found this in a book of poetry by one of my favorite poets and translators, Jane Hirshfield.

I have been stretching myself lately--- trying my hand at a few things I am not exactly naturally talented at.  For example, I just started taking my own pictures of my collection for the website.  You may notice a difference in how things look going forward. It may look funny for a while until I get better. With all due respect to our photographer, I just felt the shots were looking just a bit too enhanced-- so I thought I would try it myself using natural light.  Admittedly I am a total novice at this point.  My friend Sven Wiederholt came to the studio and gave me a crash course on photography and now I owe him a Black Dogwood necklace as a thank you.  Sven is infinitely patient, generous and talented.  I took the ones above and I really appreciate that the piece really does look like that, without enhancements, the writing is exactly that clear and the silver is darkened to that degree.

The Stag necklace along with other new styles, and a selection of fun new versions of classics are coming to our site soon, hopefully by the end of this week if we can get it together.  There is a lot going on here at the studio...pictures of our new showroom will be coming shortly!

Adieu To Market Street

 In my desire to streamline and simplify my personal and professional energies I have made the difficult decision to close my little store on Market Street.  The last day it will be open is December 24th.  I thank everyone for supporting me and my business over the years by coming in and trusting us to help you find not only the right pieces , but also the right words.

 I also am especially thankful to the wonderful people who have helped me run the store over the years. As the world’s tiniest retail space in San Francisco, it is a little boat with a one man crew!  I know it was off the beaten path and not the easiest place to find, even in plain sight!  As those of you who have visited the store will attest, we don’t have room to have a proper party to bid adieu to the special little place we called our jewel box.   Again, thank you for your continued support for what we do.  Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives, as we continue to put our energies wholeheartedly into our wholesale business and website. 

New Voices

 I understood love to be the very gravity holding each leaf, each cell, this earthly star together.

-Joy Harjo from The Woman Who Fell From The Sky

The excerpts I used in the last collection were primarily culled from the work of award winning Native American poet  Joy Harjo. Joy is a member of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation and of Cherokee descent.  Her book, She Had Some Horses is now considered a classic. Harjo has received several awards including the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society in America.  It is an honor to be able to use her work.

A few months ago, a friend brought me one of Joy's poems that he found on a San Francisco bus during National Poetry Month.  I put it up on my cork board in the studio to inspire me while I designed.  See that post here. Right away I knew I wanted to put her words on jewelry. I used parts that I felt reflected on hopefulness, awakening and resiliency. It is difficult to describe poetry but N. Scott Momaday does it well in his review of She Had Some Horses,  "The poetry here is of mythic and timeless character, native and lyrical in its expression, profound in its reflection of a worldview that is at once precise and comprehensive. There is much of the oral tradition here, much that is worthy of our closest attention and deepest respect.”

--Janice Mirikitani from Breaking Silence

 I recently started using the work of San Francisco Poet Laureate, Janice Mirikitani. Janice is described as a visionary, community activist, leader, poet and editor. She is also the Founding President of the Glide Foundation in partnership with her husband Reverend Cecil Williams.  My heart was warmed to hear that she was thrilled to have her words used this way. I am not a writer so I have a deep respect for the power of words, especially poetry.  I am always deeply honored to be able to work with these very distinguished poets and translators. I look forward to using more of Janice's poetry in the next collection as we only used it on a few pieces so far. Not only is she an award winning Poet Laureate, but also because of her work and commitment to the legendary Glide Memorial Church, Mrs. Mirikitani is a bit of a local celebrity here in San Francisco and we absolutely cannot wait to meet her in person. A visit to the studio is in the works for November.

We must recognize ourselves at last.
We are a rainforest of color and noise.
We hear everything.
We are unafraid.

Our language is beautiful.


-Janice Mirikitani from Breaking Silence