May at Sutter Creek Gallery: Jewelry Artist Sandy Morgan

 Jewelry artist Sandy Morgan takes discarded materials and converts them into one-of-a-kind wearable art.  Her necklaces, bracelets and earrings are made from sterling silver, silver plate and copper that have been salvaged and repurposed.  Come see these unique items in May when Morgan will be the featured artist at Sutter Creek Gallery.  A reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, May 7, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Upon retiring from teaching elementary students, Morgan started making wire-wrapped jewelry as a hobby and eventually progressed to metalsmithing and lapidary work.  While she was a teacher she learned to function with a limited or nonexistent budget.  As a result, she had turned “making do” as a jeweler into an art form.  Her creativity led her to use such objects as silver-plated trays, serving utensils and silverware from flea markets and thrift stores. Morgan’s inspiration comes not from what these objects are but what they can become to adorn the wearer.  This vision extends to rocks, shells, beads and other found objects.

To further her expertise, the artist joined the local Gem and Mineral Society and enrolled in metalsmithing courses at Folsom Lake College.  She has also participated in workshops by known silversmiths Al Bolshazy and Aleris Hart.  In addition to working with silver and silver plate, Morgan enjoys creating with copper as its rich, warm color lends itself to nature-inspired pieces. Many of her designs have won awards at the Amador County Fair.

The artist has taught classes for the Amador County Gem and Mineral Society and the Amador County Arts Council.  On Tuesday, May 24, she is offering a “make and take” class in copper etching at the Sutter Creek Gallery, where participants can learn how to etch copper and create their own unique copper cuff.  Those interested should contact the gallery at 209-267-0228 for more information and to sign up for the class.  The gallery, located at 40 Main Street, Sutter Creek, is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  In addition to artwork created by 20 local artists, the gallery offers a diverse array of frame styles and a large variety of mat colors for all your framing needs.