The Jewelry of Mary Galanche

Carolyn Henderson: Talk About Art

 

Courtesy Photo

A display of Galanche's jewelry creations at the Wenaha Gallery.

Few elements in life are 100 percent universal, but jewelry is one of them. From the dawn of time, humans have adorned themselves with beads made of everything from bone bits to precious gems. And once people learned to work metals, the options multiplied exponentially. Whether we're a pharaoh or peasant, a financier or just a regular person without billions of dollars at our disposal, we're all attracted by bling.

Dayton artist Mary Calanche has been creating jewelry for more than 25 years, and the techniques she uses are as varied as her materials – some are old, some are new, and all are challenging to master.

"I do stringing, bead weaving, wire work and bead embroidery," Calanche says. "I also occasionally do kumihimo, finger weaving, metal work and anything that piques my interest."

In creating her bracelets, earrings and necklaces, Calanche chooses from an astounding variety of beads, semi-precious stones and glass, which are clear or opaque, and in shapes ranging from cubes to triangles, peanuts to paisley, curved to symmetrical.


"I never know what I will work on next," Calanche says, explaining that each of her creations is unique. "Sometimes an old project will say, 'Do me in this colorway, or try that bead.' Or I will pick up one of my magazines or books and realize that I have learned enough to try a new project."

Working out of a studio packed with beads, Calanche describes her favorite project as whatever she is working on that moment.

"I just love to bead!"

An abundant array of Calanche's jewelry art is presently on display at Wenaha Gallery through June 16. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.


 

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