The inspiration for Diana Kirkpatrick’s beautiful work draws on her lifelong fascination with unique gemstones and on her travels, particularly through the American West, the Florida Keys, the Peruvian Andes, Egypt and North Africa.
Not for the shrinking violet, these dramatic designs are beautifully bold and confident. I particularly like jewelry that makes a statement and the Art You Can Wear collection speaks volumes.
Diana’s background is ecumenical. After earning a PhD in chemistry from George Washington University, she spent 15 years as a successful chemist before she transformed herself into “Chandra of Damascus”, an acclaimed professional Middle Eastern dancer and dance teacher. She also ran her own Middle Eastern dance costuming business. She now lives in Gainesville and travels in a 40-foot RV “bus” with her husband, Bob Siegel, a retired IBM senior communications executive and former newspaper reporter and editor.
As Diana tells her story:
“For the last few years my husband and I have been traveling in our RV through the American west. As we discover little treasures, I have been collecting gorgeous and exciting semi-precious stones and beads to include in my jewelry designs. We also love the Florida Keys and the southern Appalachian mountains and I find the glorious colors and textures of these magnificent landscapes inspiring.
Each of my pieces embodies elements drawn from a different natural scene: the muted but rich pastels and textures of the desert...the stunning seascape of the Florida Keys, where the ocean is magically transformed into emerald and turquoise...the vibrantly brilliant fall colors of the North Carolina mountains. My creations also draw inspiration from the magnificent lost cities of the Incas and from a lifetime in Middle East dance. In 2008, we will travel to Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti plain and the Ngorongoro crater where we will immerse ourselves in the ageless rhythms and colors of the African landscape and the restless migratory herds and the big cats who prey upon them."I’ve been fascinated with jewelry and jewelry making my whole life. My love for art, nature, and jewelry making began at an early age. As I was growing up, my family spent many happy times exploring the Appalachians and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The crafts and jewelry I saw during these years inspired me to learn all I could about enameling, weaving, macramé, and beadwork.
I started studying jewelry techniques seriously in the mid-1970s with classes in lapidary arts, silversmithing, and lost-wax casting. In the 1990s, I explored bead weaving and needle weaving as well. Over the years, I’ve continued to explore a variety of jewelry and beading techniques, studying with a number of renowned teachers.
After earning a PhD, I became fascinated by Middle Eastern dance and in the 1980's I began a long term love affair with this wonderful dance form. Eventually, I left my career in chemistry to dance professionally and start my own costuming business. I created costumes and accessory pieces using my beading and jewelry making skills.
Over time, my designs have become increasingly complex and my pieces have come to include many different materials and a variety of elements from different techniques. Some of my pieces are traditional weavings using either vertical or horizontal warp threads to achieve different patterns. Other pieces involve wire warps and woven wire segments. Each design incorporates textures, motifs, and color combinations that reflect my interpretation of a particular place or culture.
I constantly experiment with new materials and approaches when I construct pieces, so every design has unique characteristics and qualities. My designs are often inspired by the colors and textures I observe in nature, but special stones and beads play a role as well. I find the rainbow of colors exciting and inspiring. Crystals and the forms they take have always intrigued me and I include crystals in many of my pieces for their texture and eye-catching qualities.
In creating a piece, specific shapes and color combinations start a concept that leads to an overall design, then beads and fibers are selected. In every instance, my goal is to create a work of art that brings enjoyment whether it is worn or displayed.
I work in my studio, fabricating each element of a design. Last year I added a website so that people could see my jewelry and wearable art online. My site also includes information and lore about the many stones I use in my work. I’ve recently added an e-letter to friends and customers.
Many of my customers see and try my pieces at home-jewelry parties. It is wonderful to see someone become excited about a special piece of jewelry. The party setting is informal and relaxed so people have an opportunity to try on a variety of pieces in a casual, friendly setting.”
