Techno Romantic Jewelry by Thomas Mann

Louisiana artist Thomas Mann has been represented by Gallery Fifty from the beginning. You could even say he had a hand in its creation, but more about that later.

Tom describes himself as an artist working in the medium of jewelry and sculpture. I describe him as the father of art jewelry. For over thirty years he has reshaped the way we think about ornamentation, and has elevated great design with non-precious materials to the status of fine jewelry. His one-off pieces are highly collectable and we've done extremely well with his limited production line.

Tom's primary design vocabulary combines industrial aesthetics and materials and with evocative romantic themes and imagery. He calls this design system "Techno Romantic." Though it is not the only design mode in which he works, it is the one for which he is best known.

The artist lives and works in New Orleans where he oversees a jewelry design and production studio, a sculpture studio and gallery.

Please contact us for more information: 231-932-0775.

Note: I took a week-long class from Tom at Peters Valley Craft School in July 2004. I'd been planning to open a gallery, but still had serious concerns. Not only was he an excellent instructor, he was an invaluable resource for my gallery questions. I left the school with several beautiful Thomas Mann knock-off designs and renewed ambition. We opened Gallery Fifty at the Commons five months later.

New Pins by Thomas Mann

Ladybug Pin
Ladybugs are said to bring good luck so keep this brooch on a jacket at all times. Silver, brass and plexiglass. 1 5/8"
$145

Hands Full Pin
Resin with brass backing, nickle, steel and acrylic. 2 5/8"
$185

Fly Like A Dove Pin
Resin with a brass backing. Ours is red. 2 5/8"
$165

New Necklaces from Thomas Mann

Hammered Heart Garnet
A sterling silver or bronze heart capture garnets for the center of attention. Sterling silver, bronze, brass, acrylic and garnets. Toggle closure. 18"
$275

Heart Lock Toggle Necklace
Sterling silver, bronze and brass. 17"
$180

Heartbox Toggle Necklace
Sterling silver. Ours has a red crystal heart. 17" chain.
$140

Resin Heart Necklace
Sterling silver and resin. Toggle closure. 16"
$135

Shadow Rococo Heart Necklace
Sterling silver and bronze. 16" with lobster claw clasp.
$150

Be Here Now - Pod Necklace
Sterling silver and brass. 18"
$185

Small Bee Necklace
This is the latest buzz... Sterling silver, brass and laminate. Hook closure. 17 1/4" ball chain.
$135

Small Ladybug Necklace
Ladybugs are said to bring you good luck! Sterling silver, brass, acrylic and laminate. Hook closure. 17 1/4" ball chain.
$135

Confetti Necklace
Inspired by Mardi Gras, this necklace is our most popular necklaces because of its versatility. It can be worn 3 different ways: as a long necklace, wrapped twice as a double choker or the toggle inserted into an element to make a "Y" necklace. Silver, brass, bronze and various colored acrylic. 34 1/2".
$325

New Earrings by Thomas Mann

Lock Heart Earrings
Unlock a heart! Sterling silver, brass and bronze. 1 1/4"
$105

Small Cat Earrings
Cute little kitties. Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$70

Small Dog Earrings
Perfect little pups to show your love for animals. Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$70

Pagoda Lantern Earrings
Sterling silver, bronze and brass.
2 1/2"
$140

Rococo Heart Earrings
Sterling silver. 1 3/8"
$90

Island Cowgirl Earrings

Baby Cross
Hand hewn baby cross earrings with twirling vines and a puffy heart on a sterling silver post. 5/8". $28





Baby Heart
Organically formed baby hearts sway from French ear wires making a romantic statement. 1/2". $44





Baby Peace
Baby peace signs hang from french ear wires. $32







Big Heart
A hand carved big heart hangs from sterling ear wires while a tiny sculpted heart decorates the back. $48





Flutterby
Two playful butterflies dangle from french ear wires. $32







Hearts & Keys
Organically formed keys with tiny hearts sway from silver ear wires. $28






Lotus
Two small lotus flowers represent rebirth and regrowth. 1/2". $32







Peace
To remind us to believe in peace, our peace earrings are adorned with tiny hearts on both sides. ¾”. $36





Seek Peace
Tiny charms sway from delicate french wires. A dove representing peace flys on one side while a bursting heart adorns the other. 1.5". $32

Call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775 to purchase.

Island Cowgirl Bracelets

Big Heart
A big heavy heart is tied with chocolate leather cord with tiny etchings encircling the heart. Closed with Heather's trademark toggle. 7.5" $96



Courageous Heart
A silver puffy heart dangles romantically from this chocolate leather harness strap and represents love. 7.5". $88



Dream with Faith
Heather's popular free-spirited cross is strung on black leather. Written on the back are the words "dream with faith." A sterling clasp closed around a circle link is adorned with baby hearts. 7.5". $88



Heart Felt
This bold bracelet features a collection of the artist's hand hewn beads etched with sculpted hearts and the word“love”. 7.5". $150



Peace Sign
A hand hewn peace symbol is sculpted with a tiny heart and strung on chocolate brown leather. 7.5". $88

Call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775 to purchase.

Island Cowgirl Pendants

Grow Wise
A large playful flower hangs from a leather cord. The message "grow wise" is etched onto the back. 18". $88














Happy Heart
A hand hewn “happy” heart is strung on knotted chocolate leather. Heather's signature button closure is encircled with tiny hearts. 18” *Also available in black leather. $76











Live True
A free spirited bird soars from a leather cord. The words "live true" are etched onto the back. 16-18" adjustable. $76














Om
Om is the universal sound of peace and a favorite of yoga students The Om symbol is etched onto the front and the word "om" is carved onto the back. 18" unisex. $76












Peace Sign
A hand hewn peace sign is sculpted with a tiny heart and strung on chocolate brown leather. Toggle closure. 18". $76














Key to My Heart
A hand hewn key is sculpted in the shape of a heart and strung on chocolate brown leather. Toggle closure. 16". $76














Awaken the Dream Within
A lotus flower representing growth out of struggle is carved onto the front. Written on the back is the massage "awaken the dream within"... 16". $76.













Dream with Faith
By popular demand Heather has strung her best-selling cross pendant knotted on chocolate brown leather. Inscribed onto the back is the sentiment “dream with faith”. Closed with our signature toggle. 18”. $76

Call Gallery Fifty at 231-932-0775 to purchase.

Original paintings as personal adornment

Ananda Khalsa draws inspiration from Asian art, natural forms, and the cool sleekness of metal. Each of her pieces contains an original painting on paper, which is set behind hand ground glass in fine and sterling silver. Much of her work is accented with the highest quality semiprecious stones and/or high karat gold.

Another important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint. At Gallery Fifty, we're representing her jewelry with the following images...

Bluebird: This little bird is a universal symbol of happiness and the coming of spring.

Crane: The elegant courting dance of the crane has made this graceful bird a symbol of love and romance.

Dragonfly: With its delicate and graceful wings reflecting and refracting light, the Dragonfly represents new light and joyfulness.

Koi Fish: According to a Chinese legend, a Koi was once turned into a dragon after fearlessly climbing a treacherous waterfall, making them symbolic of courage and strength.

Lotus: Sprouting from the murky mud at the bottom of the pond, the lotus rises above the water to create it’s exquisite bloom. This makes it a symbol of purity and enlightenment in many eastern philosophies.

I've admired Ananda's work since before we opened the gallery nearly three years ago. We've been testing the waters with our inventory of "art jewelry" and finally feel ready to take the plunge by bringing her unique pieces in. Our shipment is expected by Thanksgiving 2007. You can preview the selection on our web site: www.galleryfifty.com.

Modern and easy to wear

Michigan jewelry artist Kristin Perkins has been drawn to the pure and natural beauty of glass all her life. Her jewelry is among the most contemporary that I have seen. While the colors make them fun to wear, the geometric glass shapes or silver shapes that she uses to accent them make them very modern and easy to wear.

Kristin makes each of her distinctive glass beads using a process called lampworking. Lampworking is an ancient term referring to melting glass and forming beads and other small glass sculptures by oil lamp. Glass bead makers now use a special torch to melt the glass, but the term lampworking continues to be used today for this type of art.

To make her beads, Kristin uses colorful rods of glass and heat them with my torch, which is fueled by natural gas and an oxygen generating machine. When the glass becomes molten, she winds it around a steel rod that has been coated with a clay-like mixture that will later allow her to remove the bead from the steel rod.

Kristin shapes beads by evenly applying the glass to the steel rod, keeping the molten glass constantly turning, and allowing gravity to do most of the work. What is not achieved by gravity can be done by using graphite and steel tools to attain the desired shape. Rods of glass in other colors are used to decorate the surface of the bead. Once the bead is complete, she properly anneals it in a kiln. Annealing is critical to the glass bead making process because it allows it to cool down slowly, which removes stress in the glass that could cause it to crack.

As a jewelry designer, she considers her lampworked beads very special because each bead is created with an end use in mind. Kristin is a trained silversmith, so she has the advantage of customizing each piece exactly as she envisions. What further differentiates her work from other lampworkers is the use of clear or transparent glass in every piece so that the fascinating properties of glass become the focus.

Her prices are extremely reasonable: $34 - $50 for earrings; $56 - $95 for pendants; $95 for cuff links. Contact Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Art Lasts, Life is Brief

New York artist Eduardo Milieris has always been fascinated by the integration of art and time. Originally from Uruguay, he studied photography, video art and sculpture before creating his unique line of watches under the "Watchcraft" name.

From a young age his mantra has been: "Ars Longa, Vita Brevis" (Art Lasts, Life is Brief). And you'll enjoy counting life's brief seconds with his artful designs.

Eduardo's collection with its antiqued brass, copper and silver bands, and the hand painted dials, creates the feeling of a wristwatch long lost, now found.

Each watch is weathered and oxidized, using carefully researched techniques. The metals are left unsealed so that they continue to age gracefully.

The pieces are unisex in design and we're able to add or remove links right here at the gallery. They come with a one year warranty and use a sturdy Citizen watch mechanism.

Gallery Fifty always has a nice selection. Call 231-932-0775 to see what we have in-stock.

Note: I've owned one of Eduardo's watches for over three years and I can honestly say it looks better with age and wear! It allows the wearer to become a participant in the evolution of the piece. Air, temperature, and the skin of the wearer all change the inherent molecular structure of the metals, resulting in a wristwatch that is most uniquely their own.

Raw • Uncut • Unpolished

Colorado studio jeweler Todd Reed has made his name working with raw diamond cubes and other natural diamond shapes. "It started as a way to question society about the idea of perceived value. In particular how it relates to our ideas of beauty or perfection," he says.

There are certain ad campaigns including, "She'll like you at a half carat, but she'll love you at a carat" that prompted Todd to make this line of jewelry. His uses the most perfect diamond in the world, the actual raw diamond. Uncut. Unpolished. Natural, with perfect geometry.

Todd is a self-taught goldsmith who enjoys the hard work that goes into each piece. He has won many international awards, and is frequently included in books, trade publications, and consumer magazines. His work can be seen at the finest shows and exhibitions in the world, and Gallery Fifty is proud to present his jewelry.

I especially love the pieces that mix raw and cut diamonds — the juxtoposition and contrast is especially effective.

We have a few examples of Todd's work in stock, but expect more of his jewelry in the coming months. For more information or images check out www.toddreed.com; or contact us at 231-932-0775.

Natural appeal

Washington studio jeweler Rebecca Bashara has established a loyal following of groupies since showing her work at Gallery Fifty. Her organic designs and natural materials definitely appeal to the northern Michigan woman.

"I combine miniature carvings with forged silver to create these contemporary artifacts," says Rebecca. Her jewelry drips with simplicity and the worn, rounded river stones are held together with an almost-asian design asthetic.

The river stones are set "as found" — no tumbling. And the oil from one's skin is what keeps them looking polished.

We always have a nice selection of Rebecca's jewelry, so contact us to find the style that's right for you: 231-932-0775.

Real Women Wear Concrete and Pearls

Seattle artist Frances Smersh designs jewelry utilizing rather unconventional materials. Her work currently incorporates concrete, which is colored with dry pigments before being poured into sterling silver bezels and paired with fresh water pearls.

"What IS this?" our customers often ask. They are always thrilled and delighted to learn that this gorgeous jewelry with its clean lines and spicy color is actually make of cement. As Frances likes to say, "Real women wear concrete and pearls!"

Gallery Fifty always has a great selection of earrings, pendants and bracelets. We can also special order rings and cuff links. Give us a call if you're interested in learning more: 231-932-0775.