Criscarfi collage jewelry is the fusion of an artistic vision and a fundamental respect for the environment. I started out working in large collage format. While foraging for interesting elements, I was drawn to  jewelry remnants lanquishing on thrift or vintage store shelves: pieces or sets that were broken, undesirable and generally pretty uninspired. I began to see all kinds of compelling design possibilities. This attraction to cast-aside objects (now more popularly called "reclaimed") was the genesis of Criscarfi Designs. Old cultures value history : chips, cracks, patinas and layers of paint are elemental effects of time that tell a story. By reclaiming, deconstructing and reconstructing, I not only create unique works of art, but also pay homage to the artists who made and valued the originals. My work showcases small pieces painstakingly shaped by anonymous artisans, their beauty so often obscured in a sea of mass-market kitsch. By preserving and reviving cast-aside materials, I try to respect the earth, reclaiming what's readily available rather than tapping into precious resources. All artists have a point of view: Imperfection and difference animates my imagination, and I reject the stultifying sameness and circumscription of beauty valorized in popular culture. Each design is unique; each set of components presents a array of problems and possibilities. I draw on a variety of visual and intellectual experience with the world: for example, many of my designs reflect  archetypal and totemic iconography.  I often synthesize stylistic elements of different periods to create interesting and, hopefully, new ways of seeing. Metal finishes are exaggerated or dulled to create light play and chiaroscuro qualities; negative space is integral to many pieces, creating a visual dynamic with the body of the wearer; small dings, patinas and oxidation are intentionally preserved.  Most pieces employ an array of media, and many are deeply dimensional. Since the pieces are "multi-media" conventional metal fusing is not always possible: I engineer each one differently, using a variety of techniques. Claims of one-of-a-kind are used carelessly and often dishonestly; most "one-of-a-kind" designs are actually duplicated again and again and mass- marketed. Because my pieces are made from elements that have been collected randomly, no piece is (nor can ever be)  the same: each is conceived and assembled spontaneously. While some pieces may have an emblematic feel, no design is ever repeated; no piece ever duplicated. Every work is entirely hand assembled and artist-signed, and I also make the presentation cards. My designs don't have mass appeal, but I hope that if you share my aesthetic you'll enjoy looking at and wearing my jewelry. In some ways, each piece continues to evolve as it ages and changes in subtle ways through wear over time. I will happily repair a piece if needed, with the understanding that it may change in some small, but always interesting way! Pam Criscione Photography by Ani Katz