Julie Sanford is an award winning jewelry designer, actively designing jewelry in the West Michigan area for the last 17 years. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Western Michigan University, studies at The Kalamazoo institute of Arts, Oxbow Summer Institute of the Chicago Institute of Arts and Kendall College of Art and Design.
Julie’s experience includes teaching visual art in the classroom with a curriculum emphasis on jewelry design, leading classes and workshops at The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Oxbow-Summer Institute of The Chicago Institute of Arts, The Michigan Art Education Association Conference, at participating galleries, National Trade Shows and also providing artist residencies at schools and businesses.
Her work has been featured in books, articles, trade magazines and gallery exhibits.
ARTIST STATEMENT "I became interested in the art of jewelry making at an early age, my father was a silversmith and lapidary artist. Developing my skills and working with the metals gives me a sense of closeness with him.
My designs are organic in nature. I like to start with a stone that has unique character and build the metal around it spontaneously, often using scraps and pieces from previous work. In a sense each piece is a continuation of my previous work, evolving, recreating itself into new forms."
Much of the studio work is done by soldering metals together. An acetylene torch is used to heat solder which flows at a lower temperature than the pieces to be joined. The solder acts as "glue" to join the components. The metal comes in sheet and wire form and is cut, hammered, sawed and soldered to create one of a kind original art pieces. Added inspirations come from unique and distinctive stones, glass and beads.
