SETTINGS & FINDINGS N.15 WITH Stefan Gougherty
by matt lambert
Stefan Gougherty’s work comes with a humor around the mundane or everyday life, giving it a sharp edge to jab at our lives with a bit of laughter and offers a moment of consideration. Behind the simple, obvious and clean lines Stefan unpacks a bit here the buzzing chaos that occurs in order to create the appearance of ease. Making the object the visible part of more active processes that occur before and during making. Something we should always consider and value when looking and wearing. Enjoy! -ml
Some thoughts on ‘Settings’ and ‘Findings’
"Traditional jewelry ‘settings’ are methods of holding onto something– tiny gold prongs clutching onto a diamond like greedy fingers, or a thin ribbon of silver folded over the jagged edge of a coin taming it into something wearable. As someone interested in unconventional jewelry, how can one hold onto immaterial things, like laughter for example? Settings are often overlooked as scaffolding to prop up the shiny things, however these mechanical connections between precious material and body often have the most to say. These are some of the mind games at play as I try to discover new expressions– it’s a never ending process. ‘Findings’ are like the hardware aisle of the jewelry industry. Readymade components such as clasps, jump rings, ear posts and other unsung heroes–findings string a piece together, like the conjunctions in this sentence. Instead of browsing the supply catalogs of Rio Grande hoping to find that perfect component that ties a piece together, it’s much more interesting to get lost and question everything. My process is erratic, disorganized and spontaneous, yet I strive for outcomes which seem effortless. What might at first glance seem to be an industrial ‘finding’ is often the complete opposite–hyper customized and labored over–all to make you look twice."Stefan Gougherty
Instagram: @instagougherty
Website: www.stefangougherty.com
Email: [email protected]
Studio Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
Born: 1986, Arizona USA
Stefan Gougherty’s work comes with a humor around the mundane or everyday life, giving it a sharp edge to jab at our lives with a bit of laughter and offers a moment of consideration. Behind the simple, obvious and clean lines Stefan unpacks a bit here the buzzing chaos that occurs in order to create the appearance of ease. Making the object the visible part of more active processes that occur before and during making. Something we should always consider and value when looking and wearing. Enjoy! -ml
Some thoughts on ‘Settings’ and ‘Findings’
"Traditional jewelry ‘settings’ are methods of holding onto something– tiny gold prongs clutching onto a diamond like greedy fingers, or a thin ribbon of silver folded over the jagged edge of a coin taming it into something wearable. As someone interested in unconventional jewelry, how can one hold onto immaterial things, like laughter for example? Settings are often overlooked as scaffolding to prop up the shiny things, however these mechanical connections between precious material and body often have the most to say. These are some of the mind games at play as I try to discover new expressions– it’s a never ending process. ‘Findings’ are like the hardware aisle of the jewelry industry. Readymade components such as clasps, jump rings, ear posts and other unsung heroes–findings string a piece together, like the conjunctions in this sentence. Instead of browsing the supply catalogs of Rio Grande hoping to find that perfect component that ties a piece together, it’s much more interesting to get lost and question everything. My process is erratic, disorganized and spontaneous, yet I strive for outcomes which seem effortless. What might at first glance seem to be an industrial ‘finding’ is often the complete opposite–hyper customized and labored over–all to make you look twice."Stefan Gougherty
Instagram: @instagougherty
Website: www.stefangougherty.com
Email: [email protected]
Studio Location: Richmond, Virginia USA
Born: 1986, Arizona USA
Stefan Gougherty
Pictures List & Credits
All images are photographed by the artist
Boom Brooch
Materials: stainless steel, enamel
Bug Brooches
Materials: anodized titanium
Burr-oches
(velcro-like, nature inspired brooches)
Materials: anodized titanium, rubber
B.Y.O.B. Necklace
(Refillable wine dispensing necklace!)
Materials: Plastic
Cannabis Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Continuous Spiral Bracelet
(Spring loaded bracelet)
Materials: 10ft of coiled anodized titanium wire
Experimental Sandcast Rings
(formed by pouring molten silver into the negative spaces between clusters of spheres)
Materials: sterling silver
Flytrap Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Fragment Brooch
Materials: Smartphone fragment, CZ, anodized titanium, stainless steel
Furry Necklace (detail)
Materials: Polyester fiber, anodized titanium
Geometric Flower Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Human Chain Necklace
Materials: sterling silver
Lip Brooches
Materials: sterling silver
Nitrous Trophy
Materials: Recycled laughing gas canisters turned into chain and carabiner
Party on a String
Materials: Euro bezel, sterling silver, stainless steel, polyester fiber, plastic
Social Credit Brooch
Materials: stainless steel, enamel
Stretched Quarter Brooch
Materials: stretched US quarter, anodized titanium
Stretched Quarter Earrings
Materials: stretched US quarter, sterling silver
Tab Necklace
Materials: sterling silver
Target brooch
Materials: found US flag pin, stainless steel, enamel
Venus Bracelet
Materials: sterling silver
Boom Brooch
Materials: stainless steel, enamel
Bug Brooches
Materials: anodized titanium
Burr-oches
(velcro-like, nature inspired brooches)
Materials: anodized titanium, rubber
B.Y.O.B. Necklace
(Refillable wine dispensing necklace!)
Materials: Plastic
Cannabis Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Continuous Spiral Bracelet
(Spring loaded bracelet)
Materials: 10ft of coiled anodized titanium wire
Experimental Sandcast Rings
(formed by pouring molten silver into the negative spaces between clusters of spheres)
Materials: sterling silver
Flytrap Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Fragment Brooch
Materials: Smartphone fragment, CZ, anodized titanium, stainless steel
Furry Necklace (detail)
Materials: Polyester fiber, anodized titanium
Geometric Flower Brooch
Materials: anodized titanium
Human Chain Necklace
Materials: sterling silver
Lip Brooches
Materials: sterling silver
Nitrous Trophy
Materials: Recycled laughing gas canisters turned into chain and carabiner
Party on a String
Materials: Euro bezel, sterling silver, stainless steel, polyester fiber, plastic
Social Credit Brooch
Materials: stainless steel, enamel
Stretched Quarter Brooch
Materials: stretched US quarter, anodized titanium
Stretched Quarter Earrings
Materials: stretched US quarter, sterling silver
Tab Necklace
Materials: sterling silver
Target brooch
Materials: found US flag pin, stainless steel, enamel
Venus Bracelet
Materials: sterling silver