Jenny Foulkes
Jenny Foulkes
Metalsmith
instagram.com/jennyfoulkesjewelry
What made you want to join Art Gym? I am new to the Denver area. I moved here about eight months ago from Portland, Oregon. I started searching for shared studio spaces and found Art Gym! I was a little worried about sharing a studio. I have had annoying experiences in the past. But from the moment I toured Art Gym I knew this place was different. I love the huge open bright space. I love the people.
How has Art Gym helped with your art practice? Art Gym has all the basic tools I need in metalsmithing: jewelry bench, flex shaft, torches, lapidary equipment, hammering equipment, etc. I feel focused on my work while I’m here. The atmosphere of community with other artists who are serious about their process, helps me stay focused. And I have made friends who are also passionate about their work. We chat and help each other when the moments arise.
What are you hoping to communicate through your work? Jewelry is very intimate. It is worn on the body and holds special meaning to the wearer. I am told there is a spiritual quality to my work. It is my hope that the wearer feels an intimate connection to the piece of jewelry they choose, and that they can feel the breadth of intention I put into each piece.
Who and/or what are some of your biggest artistic influences? I have always been drawn to tiny objects of art. I grew up in a small mountain town outside of Los Angeles, California. As a child I would find skulls, rocks, bird nests. I found art in the nature all around me. In my 20’s I moved into a warehouse studio in the heart of downtown LA. I found beauty in the grittiness of the city. Today I am drawn to both the delicate refinement of nature and the harder lines of the man-made world. I like this juxtaposition. In my work I use both these elements.
What does your artwork mean to you? I love making art through jewelry! I have been doing it in one form or another since I was a kid. When I graduated high school I did not go to college right away. Throughout my 20’s I was searching for my passion. I knew I wasn’t the kind of person who could hold down a “regular” job. I knew I liked making jewelry, so I just went for it. When I was 27 I move to Portland, Oregon to go to art school. I have been creating full-force ever since. I can’t wait to get into the studio everyday. I am in love with the process. It excites me. My artwork is an expression of my inner voice. It’s my soul in solid form.
