Kirk Sklar

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I started making jewelry in 2000. I was teaching at a school that requested I offer a jewelry class. Having an M.F.A. in sculpture was very useful in starting a jewelry practice. It wasn't long before word got out that I was making jewelry, and people started asking me to make things for them. Each project pushed my skills and developed my aesthetic. In 2007 I opened Metal Heart Jewelry, my own studio dedicated to the advancement of jewelry making. I offer private classes and workshops and produce my own work which I sell at art festivals in the Midwest, and on Etsy.

Through jewelry making I have connected with hundreds of people, shared experiences, swapped stories and knowledge, formed friendships and celebrated life's greatest moments. 

I am interested in the way organic forms complement the body. Much of my work is natural, flowing and soft edged. The gold surfaces are hammered, cracked, scraped and oxidized to resemble the natural processes of weathering and decay. There is a richness and versatility to the look of my work. Rich in textures, layers, and relationships of form and space, the work leaves room for interpretation. Easily worn with blue jeans or an evening dress you will find new ways to express yourself and enjoy ornamentation.

I use two ancient methods of metal working one from Japan and one from Korea. Mitsuro is a Japanese method for rendering organic forms in metal. Originally used 1300 years ago to simulate bamboo leaves in metal, mitsuro is found on the Diabutsu, Great Buddha of Kamakura it is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, nearly 14 meters high. I have taught myself this technique and adapted it to my own jewelry designs.

Keum boo is a Korean method of bonding pure gold to silver. The term Keum boo means "attached gold." Some exquisite examples can be found on ancient swords and sheaths, some of which date back to the early part of the first millennium A.D. I appreciate Keum boo for its deep golden hues and its soft glow. 

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