Wherein The Plume Discusses The Price Of Silver


Spring.
I think it’s finally here.
I was just laying out in the grass in the sunshine after spending most of the day in my studio and I had a realization.  Everyone is in a flap about the price of metals right now — with good reason, prices are off the chain!  Today silver is priced at $45.86/oz.  When I bought my first sheet of sterling silver in 2004, it was priced at $7/oz.

It’s a real pain in the neck.

But this idea dawned on me: the current price of silver will be responsible for a new movement in the metalsmithing realm, worldwide — everybody is scrambling to find new materials to work with, affordable materials.  I realized that this could be the start of something amazing!  In a while, some of us will be categorized in the art history textbooks as artists who were part of a new movement in the realm of metal!  During this decade they might say artists exhibited a sudden return to working with non-precious metals…I think it’s somewhat exciting…

This is the start of a movement.
So much innovation stems from necessity. 

This is a time for metalsmiths to dig deep, come up with sustainable options, in terms of materials and it’s a time to be even more creative about what we’re making and what we’re using to make it!!!  I know what I like to create.  I like to make BIG pieces of sculptural jewelry crafted from sterling silver.  If metal prices continue to soar, there might come a time when I can’t afford to create with silver on such a large scale, which begs the question, what can I work with, in terms of materials, that I can afford to purchase and you can afford to claim?

It’s a big question
and I for one am delighting in the effort it’s taking to 
find my answers!
I have new tools coming, new techniques for the learning, new materials for plying…the future is looking bright!

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It’s spring!
It’s Friday!
Good Friday!
This is a season thick with grace.
Have a beautiful weekend, little cheepers.

xx