It’s a cold snowy afternoon when I stroll up to Jean Gordy’s place to see her work, and talk about her jewelry. The first thing I notice is the music in the background, she’s playing some kind of hippy meditation track that’s honestly pretty relaxing.
All around me are beautiful batik hangings she has done, and amazing pillows and stuff on the floor. I can see she has just finished doing yoga or something.
Jean offers me tea; it’s an amazing blend she created herself. Mint, lemon balm and nettle, with just the right amount of honey. Do I need to tell you it was served in a beautiful mug?
I sat for a while, sipping my tea, just absorbing the ambience.
I’m not sure what questions to ask a jeweler, so I just started.
How do you see yourself as an artist?
“Am I an artist? Can I see myself as an artist? It’s more like a path.”
I realize quickly that Jean is not one to differentiate her life from her creative work. It’s all one thing. She is not the commercial artist at all. Jean speaks more about the healing properties of the stones. About where they come from in the world. About how most of the turquoise in the world has been mined out. She knows a lot about chakras and the history of jewelry making.
I ask about the spirals that are so present in her work.
“When I started working with metal, I became obsessed with spirals. It’s the magnetic way the feminine moves. The feminine universe moves in spirals. All forms in creation reflect the spiral. I wanted to see how far I could take the spiral in my jewelry making.”
Jean continued to speak about the milky way, how it spirals. Eternity. And always about healing. About the healing properties of natural stones. Jean explains that gemstones are piezo electric and can affect your electromagnetic field. I don’t know anything about the healing properties or meanings of different gemstones, but handling the pieces was enough to convince me these things are more than just pretty rocks in beautiful settings. I am prepared to believe they are magical somehow.
After spending a lot of time touching the jewelry, noticing the sturdy craftsmanship and attention to detail, my mind turned to more pragmatic things. I asked about her process.
“This is not casual stuff. Metal has to be heated to red hot before it’s malleable. You need a torch and the right set up. Ventilation. Masks. Tools. Gas. Magnification.”
Jean explains the technical side of metal smithing. She is knowledgeable, and talks about flow temperatures of different metals. About how some pieces require three different temperatures because they are made with multiple metals. She talks about the importance of patience, and creating quality that lasts.
“The objective is the jewelry feels good to you, wears well, and could last a lifetime. You can always carry jewelry with you no matter where you go, or how life changes. It’s a timepiece, a memory keeper. Psychics can learn about you from holding your jewelry.”
I ask about the form her work naturally takes.
“It’s ancient and earthy. Like Pagan royalty. I don’t follow trends, I like to do showpieces, Goddess pieces. You have to be open to the attention it draws. My work is not for wallflowers. It’s for women who are comfortable being seen.”
We step outside so I can take a few snapshots of her. She casually piles on a few necklaces, and adds the bracelet as well. It all looks amazing together. I look at Jean through my lens and see a woman completely at ease with herself.
I spend a bit of time photographing her jewelry while she talks alternately about thermal conductivity, and the more esoteric aspects of the finished pieces. About how the stones vibrate and affect your chakras and stuff like that. I am mesmerized by it all.
I am imagining this woman with blow torch and goggles and grubby hands. Right now, she is wearing jewelry and looking divine.
Jean Gordy is at once spiritual and feminine, and a woman who bangs on red hot metal to create Pagan Goddess jewelry.
Jean Gordy accepts commissions, and will work with your special stones. As I mentioned, she’s not very commercial. Look her up on Hornby. No website. jeaute@yahoo.com
