Circles of Change: Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
July 2, 2008
“Two-of-a-Kind for One-of-a-Kind Jewelry”
Guests: Ken and Barbara Newman, Newman Design Mine Jewelry
www.newmansdesign.com (520) 529-9102
Anchoring Points:
- Jewelry is a great field because there is always a new technique to learn. We tend to use more traditional methods rather than the high-tech stuff that is popular now, to retain our authentic artisan contributions to each piece. We are “homo faber” from the word fabricate. Man, the tool user.
- Our business model is around really connecting with our clients … not traditional customers. “Make a sale and make a friend”.
- A large part of our business is custom wedding bands. We offer couples unique designs that are as individual as they are. It is a wonderful time for us to be around people at that special time in their lives.
- The community is important to us. We like to help support non-profits like the Tucson Museum of Art and the Sunstone Cancer Center. Both provide fund raisers in the form of art shows that we participate in.
- We want our work to be unique – one-of-a-kind pieces, many using unusual techniques. Non-commercial looking, different, but not completely off the wall. Well, sometimes off-the-wall!
- We had a shop and gallery for 30 years, and closed it three years ago to pursue our dream of working from our home studio and doing art shows. This allows us large blocks of time to explore technique and design – personal growth. The downside is loss of regular cash flow that the retail front provided; yet, the internet has opened up an entirely new venue and communities for and to us. On-line presence is required in this day and age to get access, plus build legitimacy.
- We do local shows, as well as Scottsdale, Prescott, and in New Mexico, Colorado and first show in Jackson Hole this month; our work is also on consignment at three galleries (Santa Fe, Sedona and Boulder, CO) as well as the Tucson Museum of Art Sales Gallery.
- Ken was Barbara’s original teacher, but she soon went her own direction to explore techniques (such as repousse) that Ken does not do.
- Ken is currently re-exploring sand casting and modume gane, both among his first disciplines in the 1970’s, returning to his jewelry roots – completing a circle.
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