Meet the artist: 5 questions for local jewlery designer Amy Siem
Amy Siem is a jewelry designer who creates wire wrapped jewelry. She has been designing jewelry for the past five years. It all started when a friend of hers brought back a wire wrapped pendant from vacation. When the wire broke on that pendent, Amy thought she could re-wrap it. She currently sells her work locally through her business Awake My Stones.
1. How long have you been creating jewelry?
I have been creating jewelry for over five years now. I started doing it in my free time for fun. Wire wrapping came very easy to me.
2. What inspires you?
Everything inspires me. I see something, I have to create it. Or I see an object and think that would be awesome to wire wrap.
3. What materials do you utilize to create your jewelry?
I use anything I can. For my wire I use silver, gold, copper, bronze and brass. I have wrapped semi-precious stones and precious stones. I like to also go outside the box and wrapped skeleton keys, gears, arrowheads and spoons.
4. Why do you think it is important to share your work with others?
I think it's important to share my work because it is art — art that you wear. When I do a custom piece for someone and they love it, well that's awesome.
5. Do you think jewelry is a craft or a fine art form?
I do think jewelry is a craft, as well as fine art form. It's a skill you have to learn but it is also art that you are able to wear. It's a dying art form because people rarely get paid for their worth. In every piece I have created I have never made the same thing twice.
C4 is seeking subscribers to launch its second season of Community Supported ART (CSA) program. A one-year subscription or "share" for $325 will include 4 crates. The crates, which will be distributed at quarterly events, are centered around local artists' work, with additional creative/local items to enhance the experience. Interested subscribers should contact crbuckrose@hotmail.com.
About Cassandra Buck: Cassandra is a middle school art teacher, as well as a full-time artist. She is involved with the local art community and is an advocate for women in the arts. She is also the creator of the city's first contemporary artist collective, Gallery 24. Cassandra lives in Rochester with her husband and daughter.
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(Cover photos courtesy Amy Siem)
