Among the many things 2020 is turning out to be, it is a year of in-betweens. There are days when the rapidly evolving news cycle seems to have some of the restless, high speed energy of a hummingbird, one that is suspended between earth and sky, with no roost in sight. Some of this mood is captured in the work of Brooklyn-based jeweler Rachel Weld Newton, particularly her Caged | Uncaged collection, made of gold, diamonds, and black jade. The delicate construction of these curvilinear pieces requires a combination of handwork and 3-D printing. The resulting pieces play ephemerality against substantiality at a time when sure footing is difficult to find.
As a former ballerina Newton understands the importance of balance; and she knows the strength and technical prowess required for a dancer, en pointe, to effect the ability to walk on air. As an architect, Newton also understands positive and negative space, and how parts fit together as a whole, and she brings all that together in structured pieces that leave space for the wearer to insert herself into their design.