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Artist Statement:
Alohi Lani is Hawaiian
for “Heavenly Light.” When I chose the name for my jewelry
line, mainly characterized by my passion for the earth, I
was living and working on the North Shore of Oahu. The
colors and themes were inspired by the Hawaiian ocean
culture. The name seemed appropriate, and this influence is
still within me today.
While I have a fine arts
background ranging from photography, drawing and
watercolors, to fiber work and clay, it wasn’t until I
started working with artists in the field while managing my
art gallery in Florida after college that I discovered a
real enduring love for cloisonné enameling. I was so taken
with the beautiful and meticulous works that I decided then
and there that this was the medium to which I would dedicate
myself. In 1985 I moved to Hawaii and it gave me a chance to
change gears. What a beautiful place to be influenced in the
arts! There is color and beauty everywhere! Along with the
love and respect the Hawaiian people have for their land, it
gave me inspiration and something to say. After four years
of practicing with the book Enamels, Enameling, Enamelist
in my hand, I was finally ready to learn settings. The
Honolulu Academy of Art was available for beginning jewelry
classes, and it was there that I began my journey as a
metalsmith. My husband's work took us to Puerto Rico, and
whether or not there were classes to take there, my Spanish
was not ready for prime time. So Oppi Untracht - the
jeweler's bible - became my new best friend. Afterwards we
moved to Canada for several years, where I continued to
teach myself by reading and experimenting. As you can
imagine, when we returned to the U.S. in 1999, I was anxious
to learn more, one on one, so I took advantage of the
opportunity to study under some of the best artisans in the
country.
By the time we arrived I was
well into honing my skills as a cloisonné artist. However,
these last few years of learning and working with other
artists has helped me take my work to the next level. My
work to date has been represented in Hawaii, Grand Cayman,
Atlanta, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia.
Cloisonné enameling is a
painstaking process - creating the design template by fusing
fine silver and 22 karat gold in a kiln of 1000 degrees
Celsius for only seconds, and then firing up to 25 layers of
enamel, of which each firing increases the chance of failure
(cracks, bubbles, etc.,) is a process that takes up to
several weeks of dedication per piece. Today it remains one
of the most underappreciated art forms. However, it is a
process I truly enjoy. The finished products are so
beautiful! I am proud to make jewels that will last for
generations, jewels that are not simply fashionable for a
short period of time, but works of art that are unique,
special and each truly one of a kind.
My works of art are made only
with the finest quality silver, gold and enamels imported
from around the world. I love creating custom designs – if I
can help you capture a moment or special occasion in a piece
that will last a lifetime, let me know! |
Artist's
Website:http://www.alohilanidesigns.com/ |
