One Man's Trash... by Erin Tagan
If we look closely at the materials we initially presume to be worthless, we may find that it is easy to transform them into something useful, or in this case, even something beautiful. With uses for recycled material in mind, I set out to learn more about making recycled jewelry. I sat down with Matt Cirello, owner of Cirello Gallery in North Park and Jasmine Lee, a Cirello jewelry designer, and also talked briefly with an artist from Regeneration Art. These jewelry artists consider all of their resources at hand, and are able to make “treasure out of another man’s trash.”
Nine years ago, Matt became interested in sacred geometry and began to utilize it for design, direction, and inspiration in his jewelry making. Using recycled wood and reclaimed stainless steel as his primary mediums, Matt clears and opens his mind so he can channel design. He says he is a vessel for his connection to the divine, and it is this connection which allows him to manifest designs and better connect him to humanity through the art of making jewelry. It is the evolving nature of the geometric patterns that is directly reflected by the growth and changes in his jewelry which embodies the way in which all individual beings grow and change.
The lack of resources and viable commodities available in recent years is what triggered Matt’s interest in using reclaimed materials. He explains that since the resources are shrinking and humanity is growing, the only way for us to survive is to use something that would normally be disregarded as a resource. In the midst of our struggle for resources, Matt began to think differently, not applying the same rules with regards to materials, and things he wouldn’t normally think to do or use, he did. As a result, he encountered great opportunity in what was previously considered “useless.”
Each year, Matt and the other designers at Cirello come up with a new line of jewelry, based on teachings of sacred geometry. He’s noticed the best selling pieces have been in the “seed of life” line which is inspired by sacred existence. The stainless steel cuffs and earrings are the most popular. Their “lotus flower” line, which is new this year and based on the design of a lotus flower, has also been getting plenty of great feedback. The simpler pieces that Cirello offers represent the “egg of life” line, which is even before the seed of life, so the pieces are characteristic of the basic lines and curves that are incorporated into the more complex pieces of jewelry. The pieces with the most tightly wound patterns are part of the line referred to as the “lace of life” line, and are available in small or large cuffs.
After also speaking with Jasmine Lee, a designer with Cirello Jewelry, I gained a better understanding of the actual process involved in making the jewelry. Jasmine also gets her inspiration from sacred geometry. After sitting down and putting her thoughts onto the page, the process of jewelry making allows her to put her ideas into something three-dimensional and share them with the world. For the stainless steel pieces, the artists enter their ideas into a design program. The laser works with the program to cut out the pieces of the reclaimed stainless steel into the designs they have come up with, which are then hand-polished. To create the wood pieces, which are hand-carved, and made with recycled wood, they first make a design on metal. The metal design is then pushed through the wood by hand so they are able to really put their energy into making the pieces, which are then sanded and filed into the final product.
I also went to the Farmer’s Market in Ocean Beach (every Wednesday starting at 4 p.m.) to speak briefly with a few of the artists who also endorse recycled materials in their jewelry making. The designer I spoke with who represented Regeneration Art also uses recycled metal. Finding “a cool new use” for everything from bicycle spokes to forks and knives, the artist maneuvers materials by hand into art of all different patterns. He also sells bracelets made out of recycled neck ties and earrings made from broken sunglasses. Concentrating on materials from San Diego, the less he needs to spend money, on the better. He’s not interested in buying something new; he is taking something unappreciated and finding a new use for it. The jewelry stands at his booth are made from knives and gears, welded together to hold up and display his creativity. His business cards are made out of recyclable boxes and pieces of paper and are very small to conserve the amount of paper he uses.
Having explored these overlooked resources, these artists have been able to innovate through recycling. The creativity and inspiration to find a new use for older materials is something everyone can learn from and open their minds to. Especially in a time when resources are so valuable, it is vital that we take advantage of those we tend to ignore, so open your eyes and convert something from trash to treasure!
Cirello Gallery is at 3808 Ray St., San Diego, CA, 92104. Visit www.cirellogallery.com. For more information on Regeneration Art, go to www.regenerationart.com.
Originally from San Clemente, CA, Erin Tagan moved to San Diego five years ago to attend SDSU. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and is now working as an intern for Vision Magazine. Please contact her at eetagan@gmail.com.
