No 01: Ambrosia: DEFINITELY not late to my own show!
In 2019, I graduated from Dartmouth — clueless about what was next, I stayed an extra year working on a fellowship through the fellowship department
That same year, I started planning my first jewelry show as a recent grad to be held in April 2020
Long story for each of us reading — there was no show
Five years forward, now in New York, I decided it was time for the show — time to work on a singular focus. On something very personal and very meaningful and something which had been delayed too many years, presenting my work to a larger audience and having a dedicated space and date
It took a while to figure out exactly what I wanted and how I would make it happen — but I figured it out
My own show -- just my work in one space, all for me
I had so many ideas
I worked on these ideas day and night for almost half a year — I decided to name this first opening show — Ambrosia: food of the gods
Greek Mythology has been one of my favorite sources of inspiration since college, so the title felt very on-brand
Now that the details had revealed themselves, it was time to start construction
Order materials — get them delivered — order stones — work with my stone setter and make sure everything looked good and repeat
Fortunately, I had just been at the Tucson Gem show in Arizona in February, so I had a lot of beautiful stones to choose from
All natural, all rare and all unique — each one with its own story and I had the responsibility to make each one of them shine with my designs
I worked all summer, day and night on the pieces. Time felt like it was running faster and faster as the show date got closer
Every moment counted — design, make and then finish every piece and then repeat
I was getting pieces done I had planned and coming home up with new designs as I worked. Inspiration was hitting left and right but time was running and I had to focus
Even on the days I doubted myself or the show I kept working. There was a mission to accomplish
Not all ideas would get done and there needed to be a selective process as to what would get done and what designs would remain as ideas for now
As the collection became more complete it was time to start thinking about names — in honor of the tittle I named all pieces in that same essence — very romantic and very sweet
In high school and in college I loved headline writing so I dug through my writing archive and started typing up names for the pieces — water to wine, a drop from heaven, melting sea drops etc
One of the best parts of running a brand is choosing who you work with — for this occasion I I selected an Art Gallery downtown as the venue — Anita Rogers Gallery — the curators are some of the nicest people and I felt very supported before and after the show
As the show time came closer and closer, everything that was still left to do became even more stressful and apparent but there was a moment of realization where I felt like I’ve done enough and the moment was now
The gift and the curse of a deadline is that time is limited The invitations had been made and sent out, the name cards were ready, the ambrosia menu with all the pieces was ready and all the show materials had been put together
It was show time and the goal of the show was to create a beautiful ensemble of pieces — surrounded by beautiful art and beautiful guests
The time came - 6pm — and I was still working. I was late to my own show! Things came up last minute as is to be expected but then everything came together in the most magical way
Once I made it to the gallery at 6:20pm, everything felt complete even with the things left to finish — the crew I had assembled and trusted to help delivered
Yifan Yvonne Fang, Stangny Mendoza, Allison Mendoza, William McLarnon, Kevork, Griselda Gomez and Sam Newman
Thank you — what started as an individual endeavor turned into a team effort and was made so much more beautiful because of it
The jewelry was beautifully placed on fruit to honor the theme — Ambrosia — food of the gods and I completed more designs than I thought possible in the time frame
What could be better to push againt self doubt, procrastination and all the emotions of an artist than setting your own show date and knowing that some of your closest friends and important people in your life will be there to cheer you on and make it all worth it
Polaroid invitation featuring Ambrosia Gold Bee with Honeycomb set Diamonds and Platinum wings
