Deities

My travels to India inspired jewelry that aims to reflect the spiritual nature of the country from Mumbai to Udaipur, Jaipur and Delhi.

Every town offered brilliant textiles, impressive traditional crafts and various forms of garments found in “ethnic” stores here in the US. The challenge wasn’t trying to find the markets (they were ubiquitous), it was discovering something not mass-produced while navigating through the hectic streets, regal temples, street-side shrines, beeping rickshaws, choking pollution, breathtaking poverty and awe-inspiring survival and celebration.  

I made a series of pendants that resulted from a day I wandered pretty clueless in Mumbai looking for something that was just bound to catch my eye. My friend and I finally came across the "gold market” where I drank way too much Chai tea while trying to get the vendors to show me something interesting. By mistake, they pulled out silver Buddha, Shiva and Ganesha pieces that were worthless to most people, but treasures to me. The Buddha sits patiently as only the Buddha can, Shiva is active --  ready to destroy and rebuild -- as Ganesha inspires good fortune.