Erica Rosenfeld's bold statement pieces start off as patterned molten and fused glass that is stretched into long rods called murrine. The rod is cut into slices, carved and drilled to give us the familiar pieces of murrine we see in her various designs.
Her detailed, awe-inspiring glass jewelry goes on an amazing journey from the UrbanGlass studio facility to the UrbanGlass|ware storefront. It is such a pleasure to learn a bit more about her and her studio practice.
Where do you draw your inspirations from?
I draw inspiration for my jewelry from mid-century modern design and my collections. Throughout my life I have been a collector and a hoarder. I am constantly reorganizing, cataloging and creating shrines with the objects that I find. I think that this ritual is part of my art making process and inspires the materials I use. Since 2007 I have created an ongoing installation, made from objects that I find and make, in my studio. The room has turned into a large-scale shrine made up of 1000’s of objects and drawings ranging in size. These "artifacts" end up in my artwork and sometimes in my jewelry work. Being surrounded by them keeps me immersed in my artistic disciplines and keeps me constantly thinking about my artwork. I think of this room as my “Eden”. It is my sanctuary and serves as a means to preserve perceived memory. It enmeshes different artistic disciplines in a memory-based, magical realism scaffold-ed by nostalgia.
When did you launch your first collection?
I have been beading for 35 years, since the age of 7 and working with glass for the last 18 years. I began selling jewelry to my friend's parents at the age of 11 and launched my first collection for stores at the age of 22.
Are you excited about any new projects?
I am excited about a solo show I will have next year at the Heller Gallery in NYC. It is part of an ongoing time based installation I have been working on since 2012. The exhibit will be comprised of different installations in the gallery that describe the memory of a dream that morphs and becomes more abstract over time. The next segment of the dream-scape will take place in a forest at Twilight.
Which artist/designer do you wish you could meet?
I would love to meet Jennifer Rubell and Marina Abromovic.
What's your favorite snack after a long day in the studio?
I have a few favorite snacks- Haribo raspberry candies, goat or sharp cheddar cheese with fruit and a glass of whiskey (if I have been cold working all day).
You can see our full collection of Erica's work at UrbanGlass|ware and click here to see select pieces from our store. Additionally, Erica is scheduled to teach a class this Spring called Wearable Pattern: Kilnforming and Coldworking Jewelry.
--Bianca Abreu