Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christie Calaycay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Christie, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I went to school for a B.A. in Anthropology and after graduating I worked for the Louisiana State Folklorist. I was trained to find folk artists and document them through interviews and photography, sharing their stories of how they learned their craft and what type of work they did. This information was gathered for exhibits and historical archives. I really loved that job and knew that I wanted to pursue this type of work. I just didn’t know at that time, that it would lead me to another type of creative path.
While in graduate school in Boone, I began working for a jeweler, I managed the store and was able to apply basic metalsmithing skills that I learned from past classes and workshops. The more I used those skills, the more I wanted to design original pieces and fell in love with the whole process and all the tools. Eventually I ended up moving to Asheville and doing an extensive apprenticeship with a master jeweler for several years.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My work is inspired by the graceful quality of nature, paying close attention to the patterns and structures it contains. I combine these aspects with clean lines, texture, mixed metals and modern simplicity to create intricate yet subtle designs. All pieces are entirely by hand, from first sketch through final craftsmanship.
I use traditional metalsmithing techniques including piercing all cutouts by hand, forming, forging, hard soldering, textural hammering, and riveting. Various metals are combined in order to enhance organic qualities and natural appearance. In a sense, my jewelry is meant to ground and connect the wearer to nature and the environment.
While many of my designs are nature based, I also have other collections that are based on specific themes such as my Filipino heritage, the relationship between motion and emotion, the five senses, etc. In addition to my ready to wear lines, I also offer custom designs.
I’ve been designing and making jewelry for over 15 years. Having an education in Cultural Anthropology and work experience documenting folk artists and cultural traditions in Mississippi and Louisiana, I knew it was fate that brought me an offer of an extensive apprenticeship with master jeweler Diannah Beauregard. Combining this invaluable experience with years of self-teaching, experimentation, and workshops, I have furthered my knowledge of working with silver and gold and refined my craftsmanship.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I view my creative journey as a way to document life and how I interpret things. It may be because of my past work experience with folk artists, but I also like being able to look at a piece and remember what inspired it, my thought process, what I was feeling, etc.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I find it very satisfying and rewarding to be able to come up with an idea in my mind and create a tangible piece of work that I love and actually looks like what I envisioned. Many times I have to tweak the process and/or adjust materials, in order to get to what I want. So when I end up with a piece that I’m excited to wear after all that–that’s an amazing feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.calaycaydesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calaycaydesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calaycaydesign
Image Credits
Chris Chromey – Mitred Opal Necklace (3rd photo) and Kindled Necklace (8th photo, necklace with citrine) Christie Calaycay – all other photos