Randi Chervitz, goldsmith, jeweler, artist. It’s not hard to define who she is, it shows in her jewelry.
He studied at Parsons School of Design and then transferred to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, considered the “Harvard” of goldsmithing, under the teaching eye of Richard Mawdsley, an American artist internationally known for his work in goldsmithing, who has exhibited His works at the Vatican Museum in Rome and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Randi Graduates Cum Laude with a Double Major in Fiber and Metal; the two tools that he will embrace to arrive at what is known as his signature work.
In 1991, Randi begins to sell his work; pieces of jewelry that explore metal fiber techniques. As she continues to grow, she finds herself working in leadership roles at national and local retailers, attending art, craft and jewelry shows. These experiences taught him to respect the consumer, as well as created an understanding of how high-end exclusives influence the mass market. Developing this knowledge has given him a unique perspective and understanding of how the various market segments influence each other and the impact he can have on artists who choose to earn a living through their art.
She says she is influenced by haute couture fashion, its history, expressiveness and relationship with everyday life, and looks for inspiration in fashion trends, media and interior design. “As silhouettes change, new forms of jewelry become more important. Sometimes I try to follow trends, designing jewelry that ‘works’ for a season. But more often, I look for pieces that respond to more subtle cultural cues. Soft shapes, hard lines, and the sizes of the work speak of how we feel in our lives at a certain moment. My job as an artist is to reflect these feelings.”
Randi feels privileged to make a living through her artistic creation and is constantly exploring new ways to create texture through metal. Ella’s crocheted surfaces are her trademark, and linear hammered and welded techniques constantly reveal new directions. “Throughout my techniques, I examine formal artistic concepts such as line quality, pattern, composition, and ease of use in jewelry. Lately, I’ve been leaning towards graphic, symmetrical pieces with obvious pattern references.”
Chervitz begins the fabrication of each piece using traditional goldsmithing techniques such as sawing, filing, and soldering. Then he ends up knitting patterns of stitches that determine whether the piece has a smooth or linear character. “I first picked up my grandmother’s crochet hook while taking a blacksmithing class in college. She taught me to knit as a child and I always had good feelings about the individual stitches that make up a bigger whole. Knitting silver to make portable objects quickly became my signature. From that exploration, I have continued to add hammered metal and a linear welded technique to my repertoire, while continuing to explore how assembly lines create something meaningful.”
This artist attends and participates in various shows each year such as NY Gift and Philly Alternative. November 7 and 8 mark the dates of the second annual Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show. Twenty-five of the country’s top contemporary jewelry artists will present exciting artisan work at the Defoor Center in Midtown Atlanta. Randi will be performing alongside artists such as Lena Marie Echelle, Ben Dyer, Thomas Mann, Lee Marracini, Helen Blythe-Hart, and Danielle Miller, among many other talented artists.
Randi Chervitz lives in St. Louis, Missouri.
