ornament magazine

Alexandra Hart ALL ABOUT FORM
by Jill A. DeDominicis
Standing or resting on the table in her San Diego studio, Alexandra Hart’s metal creations look more like undersea creatures or species from some futuristic terrarium than wearable jewelry. Her mostly gold, bi-metal and sterling silver pieces twist, writhe and unfurl, and are “all about form.” Examining each one, holding them and allowing one’s fingers to sweep over the bumps, spikes and curves, the viewer is left with an indirect notion of the intricate forms of nature. For centuries nature has been muse to artists the world over, to those who hope to invoke its boundless beauty through their modest hands and materials. Of course, beauty in nature is easy to find—in the bright colors of a bird’s feathers, the geometric patterns of a beetle’s markings, the sensuous forms of an orchid. But perhaps our fascination with nature, and the very reason it remains an undying source of inspiration, is not simply its endless splendor, but its deeper paradox of beauty and danger. Photographs by Ralph Gabriner and Robert Weldon.