Jane D’ Arensbourg Discusses Her “Craft”
Jane D’Arensbourg, an emerging glass sculptor who got her start in 2002, did not plan to become a jewelry designer. In fact, until recently, she described herself as an artist who designed jewelry. Now, she sees her jewelry design work as one of the many hats that she wears. The fruits of that work can be found in high end shops throughout the world. DIY City recently spoke with Jane about her jewelry design work and the flame-working technique she uses.
A New Orleans native, Jane currently works out of her studio in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Her journey into jewelry design began when an art collector noticed some work she had completed for a friend and suggested that she contact a design store in NYC. Over time, Jane realized that she had found the right path for a portion of her work. She notes that her jewelry designs are often a reflection of her sculptures. During our conversation, I became very intrigued with the process she uses and the notion of how interrelated her jewelry designs are with her sculptures.
As we discussed the process, the conversation moved to a broader discussion of “craft.” Somewhere along the line “craft” became a dirty word with a lot of negative baggage. Shedding the craft label is seen by some as an effort to be perceived as more sophisticated and savvy. Jane observed that just when many venues, such as The Museum of Arts and Design, were dropping craft from their names, Generation X was leading a dramatic resurgence in craft.
Jane takes great pride in the notion of craft and feels that an artist must have a great skill level in their area of craft. She believes that “People are starting to realize the importance of real craftsmanship.”
Jane is continually striving to learn new techniques. Her glassmaking skills continue to evolve and she is mastering her craft by taking classes from master artisans when possible. Last summer she took a course that allowed her to learn a new technique involving bending neon tubes.
The debate continues about distinctions between art and craft. However, my experience is that the debate is often centered in academia and that artists themselves feel that it is much ado about nothing. It seems that Jane would agree. If you get an opportunity to see her work, you might also wonder what the fuss is about.
Finding Jane
janedarensbourg.com/jewelry.html
NYC Boutiques –
Auto, thisisauto.com
Spring Gallery, spring3d.net
Erica Tanov, ericatanov.com
Project no. 8, projectno8.com
J a n e D ‘ A r e n s b o u r g
Here is an article about when the museum changed its name.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/22/arts/design/22desi.html
