COLLABORATING W/ AGLAIA
When I received a note from Elisa of Aglaia Jewelry, I was delighted to hear more of her story, then to meet her and spend time with her, unpacking her process and adventures in life… all circling round our shared love of creative process and it’s accompanied forces.
“It’s an eruptive time,” we agreed, while letting off steam and talking about forging full steam ahead. “That must have been what prompted me to reach out to you on a whim…” she said. “That must be the reason for this unrelenting, burning hope,” I replied.
It can feel like a dare. Like, do I dare reach out? Do I dare show up? Do I dare share?
In my experience, Instagram is a fantastic apparatus for self-expression and connection, even if you are, like me, traveling through a time where you’re less sure of social situations and/or media.
I happen to be in a cycle of solitude while (working on a very big personal project)… but I still gotta admit, its so good to put your neck out there! Thank you to Elisa for prompting this work…
Shout for beauty. Join around collaboration. Hit send. After all, to leap in this life is to hope.
The SHAPE OF BETWEEN… THE HOLE
The shapes of between. Silhouette saltation, with tempt to put in hand the mirrors reflections, like a sculpture works.
Beside the spaces and holes, pathways, and hideaways… Within the moments and gestures, cobbles and crannies… Noise is carried, wobbly and unresolved, echoing with sound in the silence. An ear tries to listen to this sight of vertigo. To be of notice. If there’s a question to be heard, what is it you can or will do?
I touch the dust, the silver, the flour…
while reaching for eggs. I catch the light, the dark, accept the flour, the milk product, the bravery.
I take the putty in hand, palm pressed to palm, just so I can feel and hold her. I need, you knead. Just the right patience and pressure things take their form.
Yes, I grind the pepper. Yes, I take bitterness and sweetness with the greens and tree meat. Yes, I burn through candles. Yes, I wear reflectors, adorn myself with armor. It’s an answer, and I must confess… what else is it I can do?
AGLAIA PIECES FEATURED IN THIS STORY:
BUCO EARRINGS BIG : LINKED HERE>
I was drawn to the big buco earrings when I realized the translation means “hole” or “the space between two things.” How it that you fill the spaces between in your life?
O BANGLE: LINKED HERE>
The O Bangle made me think about things not losing sight that thins come full circle,
VERTIGO RING: LINKED HERE>
The Vertigo Ring feels metaphorical in reflection on how life has felt lately- a beautiful grounding tool and reminder to stay present, don’t spiral.
CUCCHIAINO (SPOON): LINKED HERE>
Hold me closer… Salt of the earth on a tiny silver spoon!
MORE ABOUT AGLAIA
Elisa Finoli, the Founder of Aglaia Jewelry, is an Italian designer who lives and works in NY.
Her creations are born out of her passion for clean aesthetics, elegance and the beauty of nature.
She gets inspirations from both her surroundings and far away cultures: her Italian roots and her life experiences living in beloved countries such as India and Nicaragua. Elisa also sites Japanese culture and the 'Wabi-Sabi' philosophy as a source of inspiration. A philosophy based on finding beauty in the imperfect. Imperfection becomes a form of freedom and acceptance, a celebration of nature.
Her aesthetic connection to balance and shape is a clear heritage from her background in design, architecture and photography.
An essential ingredient in her life and work is the consciousness of the world: respecting it, making it better, giving back.
All her pieces are handmade using recycled precious metals or fairmined gold, pearls and stones are ethically sourced, use of chemicals is limited, her packaging is as sustainable as possible and in her studio uses renewable energy.
"I realized the jewelry profession was giving me personal satisfaction, independence, an opportunity to fully express myself, and an opportunity to follow ecological and social values of importance to me. And I fell in love even more.”
STORY PRODUCED BY THE FOLKLORE HOUSE
PHOTOGRAPHY \ PROPS+STYLING \ WORDS+COPY