Tessoro
Deborah Bushinski, artist
Tessoro - Italian for treasure - brings with each collection, my interpretations of nature, some unexpectedly extravagant, others serenely simple. It is my hope to encourage those who wear my jewelry to pause, ponder and enjoy the natural world embodied in each piece.
"Evolution
and the seasons along with fashion and creativity all flow together in a grand
river of change. Its perpetual current carries my inspiration. While the designs
evolve, my mission does not. I continue to create art jewelry for every day,
every woman.
I began designing birchbark jewelry over 25 years ago. My first designs were
experiments done alongside the paintings I was doing at the time and incorporated
the techniques I was using on canvas. Birchbark replaced the canvas with its
unique and varied surface texture. The natural lichens with intense green and
copper hues forming intricate patterns became a focal point in many of my designs.
Over time the jewelry began to include copper from car radiators and smooth
glossy hematite and sterling beads. As I searched for ways to reflect the variety
of nature’s surfaces and colors, gemstones were selectively added.
My design process is a playful spontaneous one. I design with an eye to the
future, a nod to the past, but most of all firmly planted in the joy and excitement
of the present. I begin by gathering a few materials, which attract me by either
their color or texture. Sometimes I have a shape or form in mind. I then let
the materials dictate to me how they best work together."
Deborah begins with birchbark salvaged from
the logging industry in Northern Minnesota. The bark is carefully selected for
interesting features, then cut or torn into the shapes needed. The jewelry is
painted with a clear acrylic polymer to enhance the color and to bolster the
natural durability of the bark. Semi-precious gemstones, as well as pearls or
simple hematite and sterling beads add contrast to the birchbark. The flat copper
used is recycled from car radiators. The copper is stripped from the radiator,
washed and sanded before it is ready to be used. Sterling silver and copper
wire are hand hammered. The polish of the smooth metals against the matte birchbark
provides textural contrast.
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