Randi Chervitz is a new jewelry artist that we added to Art Jewelry Online. She is known for her elegant crocheted jewelry. Her education includes degrees and studies from Vassar College, Parsons School of Design, Penland School of Craft & the Paris Fashion Institute. Please read her artist statement and visit us to view more of her work.
I first picked up my grandmother’s crochet hook while taking a metal-smithing class in college. She taught me to knit when I was a child, and I always had good feelings about the individual stitches that make up a larger whole. Crocheting silver to make wearable objects quickly became my signature.
Manipulating the crochet stitches, combining them with other weights of metal to act as various weights of line, and adding stones, allow me to create satisfying visual patterns that also function as wearable jewelry.
Design-wise, I adore repetitive pattern. Many of the objects around my home, photographs, ceramic dinnerware, picture frames and even furniture feature strong black-and-white contrasting pattern. With this in mind, I’ve focused my exploration of pattern by limiting my use of color in gemstones. Freshwater pearls have always been my favorite. They’re the perfect accent to a long, smooth line of metal. I particularly love the cool, icy look of pearls against the dark contrast of the oxidized metal. My oxidized pieces offer an aggressive, “gutsy” look.
