Kate Eickelberg

ARTIST STATEMENT

In my work I explore the idea of preciousness; the things we've collectively agreed have monetary value and those that are special just to a few of us. Many materials I've chosen because they are valued by others, and through working with them I've grown to more fully see their beauty. I especially love the little details that go unnoticed but hold our lives together. By pairing traditional goldsmithing techniques with found and given objects, such as steel ball bearings and antique iron nails, I aim to design pieces that surprise, provoke thought, and hopefully delight others. The juxtaposition of those things to which we pay little attention with more widely accepted or traditional objects of beauty offers the opportunity to stop for a moment and have a small shift in perspective. Engineering the interactive parts of my pieces also delights me; wearing them is as much about the physical experience as the refined aesthetic or concept.

ARTIST BIO

Kate earned a BFA in sculpture from Pratt Institute and worked as a production assistant for some wonderful jewelers afterwards. The years as a modern apprentice were an incomparable learning experience that she draws on in her own creative life. Kate pairs traditional goldsmithing techniques with found and given objects that aren’t usually noticed for their beauty, such as steel ball bearings and antique iron nails, designing thoughtful pieces with a different perspective. She is delighted by engineering the interactive parts of her pieces; wearing them is as much about the tactile quality as the refined aesthetic. Kate is very lucky to live and work in beautiful Oakland, California, where there is a strong, welcoming community of makers.

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