We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexandra Jamroz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexandra below.
Alright, Alexandra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I did a lot of self learning and experimenting with the materials along with taking workshops and classes. I honestly knew ahead of time what I had hoped to achieve before taking the more educational route. Taking more classes I am sure I would have experienced things quicker but it wasn’t a race but rather a marathon. Patience is important along with observations and learning from mistakes.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Alexandra Jamroz, a Chicago metalsmith, uses Argentium silver, brass, Horween leather, semi precious stones, pearls, delica beads, and crystals to create her OOAK pieces. This includes earrings, necklaces, rings, leather cuffs, and leather rings. Introducing in 2023 canvas and leather guitar straps and brass metal picks.
I have changed my studio name over the years. Previously I used Among Beads then MAKA designs as names but once I grew into working with silver I thought it best to change my studio name and now go by Alexandra Jamroz Designs.
Organic and bold, simple and textured these are the words one can use to describe the work of Alexandra Jamroz jewelry. The pieces are inspired by walking in the woods, visiting the lake in the summer, and urban gardening.
Each piece is created one at a time: hand shaped, hammered, cut, sewn and drilled to create a truly individual piece, which can be used everyday and by everyone.
I recently achieved the status of a Star Seller on Etsy which is a proud moment for me as I have had an Etsy shop for a long time…
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Its so important to express ones self in art as I have a philosophy that everyone is an artist of some sort.
Life is full of stresses as we just experienced as the whole world changed during and after covid. All of a sudden we couldn’t socialize and were faced with just ourselves in a very small and tight inner circle of people.
I know that I was one of many people that immersed into art as I started to learn about ceramics and throwing on the wheel.
Art drives me and I love doing it. I love the process of it and finding solutions to produce something. If I couldn’t do it I really don’t know what I would do!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I believe that society is already supporting artists and creatives as I see it everywhere when I travel. I see public displays of mural artists on sides of buildings, creatives in art markets all year round, dance performances, and theaters reopening.
Art will always be here no mater what is going on in the world and I believe that it will be always supported as long as people see it happen.
At heart I am an optimist and the glass is always half full.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/axjamroz
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MAKAdesignsaccessories/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ajamrozdesigns
Image Credits
Gerard Jamroz