Collection: CICLO DE FUEGO (Cycle of Fire)

Statement: It was my first holiday sales event; La Hoguera de San Juan. Scores of people packed the street in Leon, Spain for the annual holiday, a celebration of fire and light on the night of the summer equinox. All over Spain–and indeed, in countries all over the world–enormous bonfires burn through the night, based on an ancient belief that this gives power to the sun in its coming struggle against the inevitable winter. The fires are also believed to purify those who contemplate it, and worries, wishes, and other such sentiments are cast into the fire on small pieces of paper, thus liberating participants of their burden.

The pieces in this collection honor this “cycle of fire”. The world we live in revolves around constant cycles of dark and light, warm and cold, rain and sun. So too do we experience cycles in our personal lives: periods of work and play; of deep soul searching and joyous exuberance. It is imperative to be open to the regeneration happening within and around us, taking in to account that some parts need to be “burned” in order for others to grow anew.

Works in this collection have “regrown” from used chains, cogs, cables and spokes; the very heart of the bicycle’s drive. The addition of silver, gemstones and other adornments demonstrates that regrowth can take on forms beyond our imagination, and the results are as unexpected as they are beautiful.

Materials and Process: All pieces are made entirely by hand from re-worked steel bicycle parts recovered from bike shop scrap. After extensive cleaning and dis-assembly, the parts are combined with sterling silver using age-old south-of-the-border wire wrapping and soldering techniques. All ear-wires are hypoallergenic, all copper and brass bracelets are coated so as not to tarnish or mark the skin.