Artist Makes New Jewelry Out of Old 'Gems'

What do you do with that box of old jewelry and bric-a-brac? If you are Gail Chrisse of Oswego you make new jewelry out of it. Chrisse is a local artist who specializes in 're-purposing' old jewelry. She is the featured artist at 7 West Studio in Aurora for February.

'Re-purposing' refers to deconstructing old jewelry and reworking them into a completely new piece. Chrisse enjoys giving new life to beautiful old jewelry work she refers to as 'up-cycling'.

“I find neat pieces that I want to use and I start putting things together," she said.

Recently Chrisse has begun to expand her repertoire. She now uses large hand-inked washers to provide the base for some of her pendants. She has, also, begun to use resins in some of her work.

Perhaps the most challenging new project is creating earrings in the same way she does pendants. Whereas each pendant is unique, earrings have to match. For an artist who prides herself on the uniqueness of each piece, making two identical pieces per earring set is difficult.

Chrisse began making her own jewelry in middle school, but didn't begin up-cycling old pieces until five years ago. After receiving some old jewelry that used to belong to her grandmother, Chrisse began taking some of it apart and making new things.

Originally, the pieces were just for herself, but in time she began to make pieces for sale.

“I've tried selling at other locations before,” said Chrisse. “But it never felt completely right. Here at 7 West Studio everything seems to fit.”

7 West Studio, at 7 W. Downer Place in downtown Aurora, showcases the work of more than 20 local artists in a boutique setting. Owner Lisa Gloria describes her store as “art made by your neighbor.”

It is a place where crafting meets fine art. All of the pieces can be touched. Works at 7 West include handmade jewelry, mixed media collage, paintings, altered clothing, soap creations, screen painted t-shirts, prints and more.

7 West Studio will be participating in several upcoming community events. The studio is active in the Aurora Art Walk, the Alley Art Fest and the Louche Puce Market. Both Chrisse and Gloria say that Aurora is a great place for art. The community is very supportive. Chrisse's work will be featured throughout February.

“She has an exceptional eye for creating one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage finds," Gloria said.