Artist Personal Statement

   Jody Sachs
   Rockville, Maryland

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 I have two great passions, my love for science and my love of art. They have always grounded me. I have lived in Rockville, Maryland for over 20 years. I came to the area as part of my medical training and scientific professional development in 1989, and became interested in public health. I married and had a family and worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), NIH, and FDA in the areas of clinical translational science, and drug and vaccine development. In 2014, I found myself returning to my love of metal smith and jewelry design. I focused on medicine and science for the last 25 years, now I choose to focus on my love for art. I am most excited to work with precious metals like silver and gold to create 3-dimensional forms from 2-dimensional flat metal.

When I started to make jewelry in the 1970s, I was excited and inspired by cells, at a microscopic level. . The connections these cells make, and how all life forms have many cell structures and connections in common. I am inspired by nature and the beauty of the simplest forms.  This includes the way light reflects off of objects and creates colors and patterns. I like the permanence of metal, and creating something you can use and enjoy wearing for a very long time.

I grew up in a wooded area, and now enjoy living in a secluded wooded area. I still draw my inspiration from nature and my surroundings, and the changing seasons. Sometimes it is the leaves and trees, other times the plants and insects, and other times water, and underwater life forms. I like forming metal by hand in silver and gold, transforming them into literally “precious” objects and am enjoying playing with the interaction of their shapes, to make earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

About 10 years ago I wanted to explore and learn different techniques and textures created in metal. I was fascinated how you can take a woven fabric technique to textile metal. I started knitting in gold and silver, which is called Viking knitting. Viking knitting, one of the oldest known forms of knitting, is a looping technique that precedes traditional knitting by centuries. I also enjoyed creating an overlapping texture and pattern by creating a rope of precious metal by joining metal wire loops and connecting them, and then pulling them through descending small holes in draw plates to narrow the loops, creating a chain or a webbed mesh necklace or bracelet.

I continue to use and learn metal techniques to spotlight gemstones. I have used some traditional large semi-precious stones too. I have chosen unusual shapes on the back of the stone settings, sometimes not visible to the admirer, only known to the owner; like their own secret under the stone. Each one therefore is a unique compliment to its owner.

Curriculum Vitae

2014-present
  Metalsmith Class, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
2012-14
  Senior Scientist, The National Vaccine Program, DHHS, Washington, DC
2003-12
 Research Scientist, FDA and NIH, Bethesda, MD
2005-06
  Jewelry and Metalsmith Class, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
2002-03
  Jewelry and Metalwork Class, Glen Echo, Washington, DC
1993-2002
  HIV Research in Public Health,  NIH, Bethesda, MD
1989-93
  Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Washington, DC (licensed in MD and DC)
1987-89
  Post Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine, Washington, DC
1983-87
  Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
1979-83
 Anesthesiologist Assistant, Cleveland, Ohio, Washington, DC, and Denver, CO
1975-77
  Anesthesiology Assistant, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio  
1973-77
  Bachelor of Science, Health Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
1975-77
  Ceramics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
  Metalsmith and design, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
1972-74
  Welding Workshop, Art Course at Albany Academy for Girls, Albany, NY

Member of:
Washington Guild of Goldsmiths
Washington ArtWorks
Society of North American Goldsmiths
JRA Member
Artist & Makers Member