The
Small Wonders of Stephen Clark's Jewelry
by Sally Hansen
Discovering
small treasures is such a wonderful part of being an arts
reporter for theHumm. A fresh snowfall made it difficult
to discover the entrance to the driveway as I drove uncertainly
past Stephen Clark's Small Wonder home studio near Perth.
And a pool table and collection of musical instruments distracted
my gaze as he ushered me into his first-floor studio. But
once I displaced the ubiquitous artist's cat from a chair
and settled in, I quickly discovered why people told me
"You have to feature Stephen Clark's work in theHumm".
Each piece of Clark's jewelry is a miniature masterpiece
of form and texture and colour. Steve's love of carving
sets him apart from so many other jewelers. He carves in
wood and stone to create distinctive one-of-a-kind pieces,
like an ebony dragonfly with translucent agate wings and
gold accents. He creates marvellous gold and silver pendants
and earrings designed to showcase semiprecious and precious
stones, some carved, others more conventionally polished
and faceted. He carves amazing wooden boxes adorned with
fantastic creatures and miniature landscapes.
He tells me, "I really enjoy designing unique work
that doesn't have to be terribly expensive. I like to produce
good quality work that people can afford." To achieve
that objective, he also carves in wax to create moulds that
enable him to offer cast silver pieces at affordable prices.
Sometimes he supplements a moulded component with a unique
carved feature to create that rare piece of jewelry - a
high-quality, affordable, eye-catching, one-of-a-kind adornment.
I am surprised at how reasonable his prices are.
The Lasting Pleasures of Small Treasures
Since I visited his home studio so soon after Christmas,
Steve had almost no inventory on hand to show me. But when
I reached the second page in his photographic portfolio,
I experienced a most pleasurable déjà vu as
I realized I already owned one of Clark's small wonders!
Many years ago at the Lansdowne Christmas Craft Show, my
husband bought me a marvellous brooch featuring a delicately
carved ebony hummingbird sipping from a trumpet flower.
There was no mistaking Clark's distinctive design and workmanship.
The brooch has always been one of my favourite pieces. Each
time I wear it someone inevitably comments on its beauty
and uniqueness.
Small Is Beautiful
Steve Clark grew up in the Toronto area, and became a grade
two teacher after finishing his degree in education. "It
was fun, but I felt like I had been in school my whole life."
So when his first marriage broke up, he decided to do something
completely different. He had always enjoyed working on a
really small scale, building models. He got started in the
arts as a self-taught wood carver. When he came to the Ottawa
area about 22 years ago, he supported himself by carving
wooden brooches and pins, selling them from a rented sidewalk
booth at the Ottawa Market building. "It was a real
hand-to-mouth existence," he remembers wryly.
Almost by chance he tried mounting a chipped opal in a piece
of wood and created a pendant, eventually branching out
(forgive me) into the world of designing and executing exquisitely-wrought
jewelry incorporating precious and semiprecious stones and
metals. Steve credits friend and fellow jeweler Steve Luckwaldt
(also displaying at Riverguild Fine Crafts in Perth, but
now working from Kingston) with helping him learn metalworking
techniques for precious metals.
Clark also works with jewelry designer Pamela Coulston of
Disegno, creating moulds to transform her designs into silver
objects like polar bear and humpback pins and pendants that
are very successful in gift stores across Canada.
It's In My Nature
The part of his work Clark enjoys best is creating commissioned
pieces for clients that are of real personal importance
and emotional value to them. He recently completed a carved
wooden mushroom adorned with the caterpillar from "Alice
in Wonderland" (commissioned, coincidentally, by a
former Humm featured artist as a gift to another featured
Humm artist!).
He is in his element living and working in the supportive
artist community surrounding Perth. "I'm perfectly
content to stay right here forever," he enthuses. "There
is so much talent and professionalism that people bring
to put together something like the Perth Autumn Studio Tour.
When I did the craft shows in Toronto, everyone pitched
in to help each other out." He sings tenor in the Perth
Anglican Church choir and plays both the clarinet and alto
saxophone in the Perth Citizens' Band that performs every
second Thursday during the summer. "It is so great
to be an amateur musician in a community that offers so
much opportunity to perform."
Visiting Wonderland
You don't have to slide down a rabbit hole to see Stephen
Clark's Small Wonders. His works are on display at the Riverguild
Fine Crafts store at 51 Gore St. East, Perth, 267-5237,
and pictured on their website.
He welcomes your call at 267-4614 to discuss the commission
of a special piece that will provide immeasurable pleasure
to you or your Valentine - one of his specialties is engagement
and wedding rings!
