Heidi Abrahamson, a beautiful balancing act

Heidi Abrahamson

a b e a u t i f u l b a l a n c i n g a c t

by Marbeth Schon

Ring
Sterling silver, white coral, Tahitian Pearl

I've been showing Heidi Abrahamson's jewelry in my gallery since I first met her in Fort Wayne, Indiana last May during the exhibit "American Modernist Jewelry" at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. (We knew each other only through emails on SilverForum.) I was immediately impressed by her tall, classic beauty and her sparkling personality. Heidi's jewelry completed the picture--the designs are stunning, large, bold--the elements perfectly balanced.

Heidi uses sterling silver, gold, precious and semiprecious stones. She juxtaposes coral, pearls, agates and stones of every type and color to create unique and what may sometimes appear to be incongruous combinations that, in her hands, meld into designs that please and excite the viewer and, of course, the wearer.

Pendant
Sterling silver, star diopside and cultured pearl

Heidi is the daughter of German immigrants who came to the United States at the height of the mid-twentieth century explosion of modern design. Her parents appreciation for the architecture and design of the period was passed on to her. While still in high school she developed a particular fondness for modern silversmiths of the that era. She began collecting works of N.E. From, Georg Jensen, Andreas Mikkelson, Esther Lewittes, Ed Levin and others. The collected works of these silversmiths continue to be the inspiration for Heidi's work today.

Heidi studied fine arts and interior design at Indiana University. When she left Indiana for Seattle, she began a career in visual merchandising for I. Magnin, The Bon Marche, Burberrys of London and other local retailers. A desire to create on a more personal level, however, lead Heidi back to her early love of jewelry.

Ring
Onyx, phrenite, blue agate ,quartz cabochons

Heidi began by creating beaded jewelry, but soon grew dissatisfied with what she saw as limitations of the medium. Her design sensibilities demanded a medium in which she could construct and sculpt jewelry to create modern architecture for the body. In 2003 she began working in the metal she came to love as a child-- silver. Heidi is now also working with 14kt and 18kt gold.

With just three basic courses completed in casting, smithing and stone setting, she is primarily self taught. Her studio is at home in central Phoenix, Arizona.

Ring
Sterling silver, onyx and Tahitian pearl ring

Heidi has shown her jewelry in various exhibits in the United States and has been invited to be in a show in Paris this fall.

In Phoenix she has shown at:

The Gold Spot Gallery, 2004
The Herberger Theater , 2005
The Red Door Gallery, 2005
Tilt Gallery, 2005
The Wellness Community Arts Festival 2008
SMoCA (Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art) "Alchemy" Jewelry Trunk Show, 2005 - 09
Phoenix Modern Expo '09

Other venues:
Masters of American 20th & 21st Century Jewelry," M. Schon Gallery, 2009, Natchez, MS

Upcoming Shows:

Orhopa "TheLAB" at the Paris Parc Floral, Paris, France, September 6 - 8 2009

Ring
Sterling silver, 14k gold, Tahitian pearl

Her work has been shown in many publications:

Scottsdale Magazine
Arizona Republic
Java - Arts and Culture Magazine
East Valley Tribune - Scottsdale
Stylehive.com
Carrotbox.com
Coppersquare.com
ModernPhoenix.com
MODERN SILVER magazine (modernsilver.com)

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Photographs courtesy of Marbeth Schon and Shirley Byrne
Web design by Marbeth Schon
Copyright © Modern Silver magazine 2009

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Ring Sterling silver, Muscovite, cultured pearl
Heidi's website: http://www.heidiabrahamson.com