Creative Artistry

For Christmas, I asked Santa to re-set my engagement diamond (the old setting had 2 of 6 prongs broken), and enlarge the band of another favorite ring showcasing a family diamond.  The first was a matter of necessity; the second a matter of comfort since that ring had become too small for the ever-enlarging knuckles of my aging right hand. 

Santa was agreeable, but urged me to do the preliminary decision-making.  This involved a visit to Ralph Privoznik’s studio, which I think I mentioned in a blog back in November.

As a refresher, I’ll just say here that Ralph is an artist who makes his living in a tiny downtown second-floor studio in our old hometown of Lafayette, Indiana.  At my recent visit, he had dyed his hair (what there is of it) a shocking bright blue.  His friendly eyes spoke beyond his quiet words, as usual. 

Ralph is not your typical businessman.  His records (scribbled 3x5 cards) are filed in shoeboxes; at the time of my visit, he looked up his previous work in 1992 on the ring needing enlargement in such a box.  He loves and studies turtles.  In fact, he has a beloved 20-year-old specimen as a pet that evidently needs cataract surgery. 

“What?  Cataract surgery on a TURTLE?  With such tiny eyes?” I gasped.

Ralph smiled.  “Yes, I talked to a vet who said it is possible.”

At the time I thought yeah, right, this starving artist who is creating jewelry to eek out his daily bread can afford cataract surgery for his geriatric turtle.  But then I thought, how inspiring for him to see priorities so differently.

But that was weeks ago, and now I’m sitting here admiring the shiny artistry donning my stubby, work-worn fingers.  If I had a high-tech camera (which I don’t), I’d post pictures. But alas, I guess I’ll just have to rely on WORDS.

The engagement band is made of four strands of gold woven together, and is thus wider than before – just slightly narrower than the stone’s diameter.  The thin little gold ropes are almost-but-not-quite woven in a pattern, allowing for a touch of creative license.  I love it!

I’ve had many compliments on the other ring over the years.  The filigree setting (Ralph’s design) is striking in a one-of-a-kind sort of way that commands a second look. 

I have to wonder about the similar-but-different creative genius lurking within all of us, and what catalyst might set it free in each unique case.  Maybe a simple lifestyle devoid of consumerism, and a willingness to bestow mercy on the lowest of the low (as in Ralph’s turtle) - even, or especially, when personal sacrifice is involved.  Maybe THEN we might come closer to realizing our full potentials.