Amanda Hunt - April 2, 2019
SS19 | The High Desert Collection
The landscape of the self...
"I seem to be hunting for something of myself out there — something in myself that will give me a symbol for all this — a symbol for the sense of life I get out here —”
- Georgia O'Keeffe
Born from my travels through the American Southwest, the stories and images that stayed with me, and the way they manifested into metal and shape. The High Desert Collection is my Spring/Summer 2019 release of designs inspired by a road trip I took in the winter of 2018.
My goal was to gather inspiration for my 2019 collection by exploring the landscape of Arizona and New Mexico. Hiking the land and taking time to paint the little things that drew my attention with my set of watercolors. Like a journal, watercolor paintings are one way I like to remember things, drawing inspiration from them later on for my jewelry designs.
My husband and I had finally found our desired travel vehicle, a 4 Wheel Camper pop-up that sat in the bed of our Toyota, Tundra. The little traveling home was to take us on a 2 week adventure through Arizona and New Mexico, allowing us to sleep under the stars and explore the landscape with as much time in nature as possible.
Destination No. 1 | Tucson, Arizona.
This was our first stop. As a jeweler, this was a must for me since the Tucson Gem Show was underway, the biggest gem and jewelry show in the country. This was my first time and it was super overwhelming but equally awe inspiring. I did a little shopping for my business then we skipped town.
Destination No. 2 | White Sands, New Mexico.
This landscape was otherworldly and I felt like I was on the surface of the moon. The white sands seem to go on endlessly in the shape of gentle rolling hills and wave-like drifts. I kept thinking of how it acted a little like water with its ripples and rises. The sands are actually ancient pulverized selenite once deposited in dried up lakes and transformed over time from centuries past. The air that day was crisp and cool, but the sun was out and it reflected beautifully off the pure white sands. I would love to go back someday and camp, I heard at night, the sands reflect the sky like a mirror, as if you are standing on a surface of stars.
Destination No. 3 | Valley of Fires, New Mexico.
Only an hour or so north, but the other side of the world from the pure white watery sands we had just come from. Valley of Fires consists of miles of ancient blackened lava formations, arroyos, and cacti of all shapes and colors.
Destination No. 4 | Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Santa Fe, you stole my heart. A town of warmth and culture and home to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum which had been on my list of destinations for a long time. There I got to immerse myself in the fullness of her work, experience her journey and process, and step inside her world for a little while. (An experience I imagine only to be outdone by visiting her home, Ghost Ranch…also on my list…) I enjoyed having an un-rushed day of viewing her early drawings, paintings, and sculptures, and seeing rare footage of her in her daily life. I was especially thrilled at getting to see a set of her used paint brushes and paints, I am always fascinated by the tools of other artists, as I covet my own so dearly.
Destination No. 5 | Sedona, Arizona.
As we made our way home, a stop in Sedona was last on the list. The red rock and blue skies warmed us from head to toe as we did a day long hike around one of the big red beauties. I loved the landscape and mix of forest and mountains that exist together there.
The Spring/Summer 2019 High Desert Collection was born from my travels through these lands, the stories and images that stayed with me, and the way they decided to manifest themselves into metal and shape. I hope this collection embraces you as this landscape embraced me.
