MOOSE JAW — The Moostletoe Artists Spotlight is coming this month and eight local artists will showcase a selection of their works — including unique Christmas gift ideas — demonstrate their technique, and answer any questions curious art appreciators might have for the people behind Moose Jaw’s artistic creations.
Moostletoe will take place at the artisaNGrounds studio and the nearby Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Jude Radwanski is one of those artists. She’s the owner of Firefly Art Jewellery and will showcase her latest project as she attends her fourth Moostletoe experience.
“(I look forward to presenting my) new medium of paper (and) just to show you what I’ve been doing,” she announced. “I love variety and I love learning, so this fits me perfectly to show… how something from a tree can be turned into something very personal, and (how) we can put it onto our bodies and celebrate our life.”
Radwanski describes herself as an artistic “late bloomer.” “I worked in design for my entire career, and then, at the age of 50, I went back to school to study jewelry design,” she said.
“I was looking for something that I could do with my hands and something that I was absolutely passionate about.”
Radwanski’s creativity was always evident and continues to shine through in her work. For instance, she’s brought alternative materials including polymer clay, leather, rubber, and even parachute cord into her unconventional jewelry designs
Radwanski also loves to travel and finds it inspiring. After touring Europe during “the trip of a lifetime” this summer, she returned home with a renewed outlook and hit the studio.
“I was just shocked by how much garbage there is, and I just started thinking about using more recycled material in my work so that I’m not a contributor to the garbage in the world,” she said.
After some brainstorming she found a way to incorporate recycled paper into her works.
“I took a lot of… hand textured and hand designed paper. I love colour and I love contrast, so I simply layer the paper, make it rigid with glue, and then I coat it with a water-resistant coating so that it’s durable. I add the silver, mount the beads, and also use ear wires.”
The result: really fun, lightweight earrings that’ll also be available for sale at Moostletoe.
Alongside her new paper and silver earrings and other jewelry, Radwanski is introducing small four-inch by four-inch inspirational books. “They’ve got a few pages in them, and (they contain) inspiring quotes and things that are good reminders — even to me — about living life mindfully.”
She’ll also participate in one of the hourly demonstrations and bring her hand tools to show how she assembles a pair of earrings.
No two pieces of her jewelry are the same and each one tells a story.
“I think each jewelry piece is a celebration of the person that’s wearing it, and that person shows their personally by how they present themselves to the world,” she said.
“So, to wear something that decorates the body shows honour and respect for us as individuals, and it’s also a way to be joyous and spread a little bit of happiness.
“When you’re looking at some of my work, I hope it brings a smile to people’s face and joy to their heart,” she concluded.
To learn more visit FireflyArtJewellery.com or follow ‘Firefly Art Jewellery’ on Facebook or ‘@fireflyartjewellery’ on Instagram.
The artisaNGrounds studio is located at 262 Athabasca Street East and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
