Review

Earring, Birch and Copper.

Scarlett Garnet Jewelry
(Garnet Griebel and Katie Miller)

10 a.m.-5 p.m.
(Open studio)

Scarlett Garnet Studio
504 E. 18th
Kansas City, MO

Open studio ends today; studio also open 6-10 p.m. First Fridays and by appointment.

Artists'/Studio site: http://www.scarlettgarnet.com

Talk about your double bonuses.

I rarely get to feature collaborative work in this space, and today offers a rare chance to see both artists involved in Scarlett Garnet Jewelry in the same place.

Garnet Griebel and Katie Miller began collaborating in 2006, but didn't meet in person until a year later. They live on opposite sides of Missouri, Griebel in Kansas City and Miller (who was living in Charleston, S.C. when the joint venture launched) in St. Louis.

Their collaboration is still largely long-distance, which they say makes for "an interesting dynamic in the creative process," but the two occasionally get together — and this is just such a day, as Scarlett Garnet hosts an open studio from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the East Crossroads.

Best of all, it'll be a working studio day, so you can watch the new Spaghetti Western Sunset line take shape. (There's a launch party from 6-10 p.m. this Friday, with music by Nick McKenna and friends.

Miller and Griebel work both jointly and severally on Scarlett Garnet pieces, with a shared ethic of juxtaposing natural materials and unconventional bits of such artifacts as vinyl records, antique keys and chandelier crystals into bold, often asymmetrical compositions. (The asymmetry extends to the cuts of the gemstones they use, which is yet another attention-grabber.)

The two also incorporate brass and copper into many of their works, the resulting metallic glow markedly different from that afforded by gold or silver. The latest addition to the materials pool is birch wood, which can be seen in the earring pictured above — and yes, the wire elements are all copper, which adds an earthy element to the striking whole.

As ever, although long-distance collaboration between viewer and artist isn't a bad thing, the best way to see Scarlett Garnet's work is in person. And to see it take shape today, then go back on First Friday and view the completed piece?

Talk about your double bonuses ...

-re-

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