Art of the Veils
with Erin Trumble of Independent Mountain Jewelry
Written by Anne Heart and Photography by Jennifer Morgan
Being invited into an artist’s studio, up the mountain, past the outskirts of town, quite a ways down a winding dirt road and into the forest, feels like a visit to a shaman. Artists straddle the worlds and live in the thinned veiled realms of the creative. Their homes and studios have a unique energy to them. They can’t help but imbue their space and working materials with an artistic magic; alchemizing basic materials into to icons, idols and keepers of human meaning. This making, interrupts the unseen realms of the human experience. It bridges the sight of the spirit world with the hands of the earthly plane. All who encounter the artistic work, give birth to a unique relationship and liberate an untold story with the piece.
As I walked past the skulls, skins and antiques into Erin Trumble’s studio, I felt that she is one such artist.
Muse: Landscapes…
Anne: What is inspiring your work these days?
Erin: I’m really enjoying taking my surroundings in. I feel like every place I go, I’m seeing the little details that I might have taken for granted in the past. It’s really inspiring to take a closer look at what the earth is creating around you, spending more time focused on little details and less time focused on the big picture definitely sparks my creative process.
I’m currently in the final stages of developing a new line that is completely inspired by landscapes. Primarily how the shapes, colors and textures that naturally develop in stones so closely reflect their larger landscape counterparts. Nature is pretty amazing that way, how patterns continuously repeat themselves all around us.
I’m also really enjoying all of the custom knife work that I’ve been doing these days. It often feels like a little bit of a juggling act trying to fulfill all the influx of custom work and trying to put out a new line, but that balance is something that I live for. I love being able to devote so much one on one time with clients to create their perfect piece, while in the back round being able to nurture this idea of beautiful landscapes translated in to wearable art.
“a reminder to pay attention to our wellness, not just our’s personally but the well being of the community around us as well”
Community: Paying It Forward…
A: How does your work connect to your community, family, and friends?
E: I can think of so many ways that I feel more connected to the community that continues to show up for me and support my small business, but the most important to me is the freedom that all of that support allows me to in return support other small businesses. As a consumer it isn’t always the least expensive way to spend your money by supporting small businesses, especially in a world of big box stores and Amazon prime. So when people decide to spend their hard earned dollars with me, knowing that it might take a little longer or cost a little more, I find it to be my responsibility to pay that forward to other small businesses.
As I’m typing this I am about to release two limited edition necklaces that will also have an impact in our community. One was created as a reminder to pay attention to our wellness, not just our’s personally but the well being of the community around us as well. A portion of the proceeds of the “Be Well” necklace will be donated to the Canyon Cares Foundation, a local non-profit that helps families in need directly in the Peak to Peak region. The second necklace,
The “Lydia”, was created to honor the life of my late cousin. She passed away unexpectedly last year and this necklace was created as a tribute to her life. Lydia was the type of person who wanted to feed everyone, she was the life of every gathering and when you were blessed by her presence the love and laughter (and food) was ever abundant. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of her necklace will be donated in her families name to Feed America.
Vision: Lifting Each Other Up…
A: If you have a vision for the future of your work or the work of artisans like yourself, what would it be?
E: My vision for the future of all artisan makers is to keep on this trend of lifting each other up. I think that it’s so amazing to see other artists and small business owners supporting each other in such positive ways. I recently read something that was directed at fellow creators that discussed the fact that we are not in competition with each other. There is enough room for all of us to succeed. I love that concept. The idea that just because one artist is finding a stride doesn’t mean that they are the only one that can hold that space. There is enough room for us all to win.
Visit Independent Mountain Jewelry to see all the beautiful creations by Erin Trumble.
