Martina Noble
Artist Statement
I tell stories, not with words but with metal, gems and “found objects”.
While I love gem stones, especially Turquoise, Labradorite, Tourmaline and Pearls, I am always intrigued by everyday treasures aka ‘found objects” - be it a pebble, shell, logic board, a bone or a bug. (pick-pockets beware of what you might find in mine). And I collect bits and bobs on my travels to “weave” into my work.
Mostly I work in Sterling Silver, using Gold as an accent. I “hand fabricate”, using silver sheet and wire to build my pieces: piercing, hammering, soldering, filing and polishing stone settings, ring bands, bails, clasps. I recycle gems, melt down metal scraps to make my own sheet and wire.
In the studio I typically pick a focal gem, choose accent stones and start sketching. Next I build the main setting. As I compare my design, my vision, and lay out the pieces, I often find that the actual materials, gems and settings don’t “feel” right - they want to tell their own story. So, I adjust my design.
Many of my pendants can be worn either way, or hide a little secret…tell a story.
Artist Bio
While my passion was art and art history, I followed a more ‘sensible’ career path, via an MA in International Relations and Economics.
Many moons (of working and raising a family) later, I studied at the Revere Academy in San Francisco to become a goldsmith. Back to art.
My life’s path has meandered through Germany, the Middle East, the US, Italy, France and back to the US, where I love life in the PNW.
My studio process is a lot like my life, not a straight line but many turns, wiggles and cutbacks. One constant: I have always been a maker - through childhood, university and career-marriage-children I worked with many materials, only to come back to metal.
I enjoy the challenge of coaxing this unyielding material into fluid forms.