Not just a doodle...

Jan Maddox always intended to teach art, but while an arts major at University of Nebraska she needed an extra class and there was this credit jewelry class offered at night. Although a very primitive class, they enameled over a Bunsen burner, here was a whole new world of tools, vocabulary and materials. Her first piece was a cabochon setting in a ring. The instructor was a talented watchmaker trained at Elgin National Watch Company. Years later Jan taught the course.

Quarter Circle Pin with Damascene Inlay from The Art of Jewelry Making by Alan Revere

Graduate school took her to Indiana University where she had the opportunity to study under Alma Eikerman who had established an exceptional metals program which trained many of the country’s top jewelry teachers and jewelers.  On her own, Jan found that ceramics was too demanding in space and equipment and painting wasn’t quite doing it for her, but jewelry she could do in her kitchen (she used to make copper ashtrays on her stove). With a primitive set of tools she created a line of jewelry that “didn’t look like it came out of a jewelry store”. 

1967 found Jan teaching part time at Montgomery College where she set up the Art Appreciation courses and in 1971 upon completion of the Arts building in Rockville she went full time, teaching art appreciation, two and three-dimensional design, jewelry and general crafts over the next 25 years. All the time creating her own well received body of work.

In 1984 she joined Joke Van Ommen in opening Vo Galerie in DC, now Jewelers' Werk Galerie. This small space focused on contemporary jewelry, primarily from Europe, but also featured many American jewelers. Although only there for a short time, Jan learned about retail, what suits different people and as a result feels her pieces are only complete when she sells them and they become “someone else’s treasures.”

The challenge of the design enthralls her. “I like to start with something in hand, 2 squares and a bunch of circles of different sizes lead to sketches of different ways to arrange them.How big are the elements, what patterns are where? I follow the sketches very closely, but sometimes shit happens and you have to make adjustments.” The next challenge is often figuring out how to make it, what techniques to use to create the texture and attach the elements. Fabric provides a lot of inspiration for the textures of her metals.

Jan served on the board at Rockville Arts Place (now VisArts) and now at Waverly Gallery in Bethesda. She joined Pleiades in 1989 when they were still exhibiting in Garrett Park Town Hall. Jan describes her work as classical – intellectual, romantic – emotional.

If you would like to see more or contact Jan to purchase a piece check her facebook page, Jan Maddox Jewelry or contact her by email at janmaddox0000@yahoo.com. Jan will also be participating in Metalworks 2014 the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths show in November, JRA Day on December 6. She is also participating in a "Teacher's Pet" show with two of her former students at the Pearson Legacy Gallery in Deer Isle Maine October 8-26 and showing 71 pieces as a guest artist at the Iona Center for Creative Aging until October 10th.

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Hey, kids, my Uncle's got a barn....

"...let's put on a Show!"

Maybe not in a barn, but in 1985 a group of women jewelers were talking and that was essentially the suggestion. “I originally met Marie Susinno at Montgomery College, back in 1981. Later she, Pat Perito and I took lessons from Deborah Dubois, as did most of the other founders at one time or another. At a certain point, everyone who makes jewelry on a regular basis, is faced with a growing inventory, so we decided to try to sell it. . . even though that's not what motivated us [to make jewelry] in the first place,” says Judy Sugar.

“Since I live in Garrett Park, I knew that our town hall, a charming space (formerly a small church) was available for rentals. So I suggested that a small group of us rent it for a show. There were seven of us: Haesun Chung, Deborah Dubois, Joan Levy, Desi Midgett, Pat Perito, Judy Sugar, and Marie Susinno. A woman I worked with suggested the name: Pleiades, the Seven Sisters. It was fairly successful for a first-time effort. . . and so, we continued, growing and expanding into a larger space.”

Judy has always admired beautiful jewelry. The idea that she could make it herself, plus the opportunity to learn under Komelia Okim’s direction in a first-class program at Montgomery College was too thrilling to pass up and a new path was taken. “I was fascinated by ancient-looking jewelry and tried to made jewelry that looked like it came from a different age. Then I became interested in unusual stones, and made simple jewelry that featured the stones. Now my work takes me to simpler forms, without stones, often oxidized a dark color.”

When finding it difficult to come up with new ideas, Judy begins by playing with the metals to see where it leads. Most begins life as sheet metal, wire or tubing (usually sterling, occasionally gold). An accidental result can send her off in a completely different direction and one piece can lead to another. The materials alone often prove inspirational, a beautiful stone, an interesting texture or shape also play a role. “It’s always good to challenge yourself to make something new—try new techniques—keep it interesting.”

If you'd like to purchase or commission jewelry from Judy, please contact her at jbs20896@aol.com

Please join us November 15-16, 11am-5pm at the Women's Club of Bethesda, 5500 Sonoma Road, Bethesda MD (Just south of the beltway on the corner of Old Georgetown and Sonoma Roads). Admission is free.