Meet the Artists

Carla & Dave Fox ~ History and Personal Stuff

Inspirations
Artists talk about being inspired by pathos, ethos, metaphysical journeys, abstract experiences. Not us, tools, materials, nature, and Eastern cultures are our inspirations.

Tools
We are fabricators. We work with our hands. Our jewelry is created out of flat sheets of metal and wire. We have tools that help us do magical things with metal. A rolling mill gives pattern and textures to the metal, a hydraulic press "poofs" flat sheets into different shaped pillows. At last count 12 hammers are scattered about the studio all with different jobs.

Rocks & Stones and Metals
The studio is filled with jars of rocks and sands from around the world, a drawer full of pearls, little boxes with cut gem stones, and large uncut boulders. Our trips to gem shows, antique stores, friend's homes, hikes in the mountains, the beach, all add to our collections.

We work primarily with silver, but also use gold, copper, as well as mixed metals like mokume-gane & shibuichi. We are constantly experimenting with patina’s . It is a rare piece that leaves the studio without some patina.

Nature
The studio looks out over central Oregon’s high desert of sage and juniper. We are Westerners to the core. We are watchful for coyotes at dusk and relish their howls at night. Deer, elk, badgers, coyotes, rabbits, porcupines, and cows wander our property. The West and its wilderness are part of our work.

The Pacific Rim & Japan
We also live in the area known as the "Pacific Rim." Asian culture, food, friends, religion, and travel are now indigenous to where we live. We are drawn to the aesthetic of Zen Buddhism from Japan, it’s honesty of line and form, its complex simplicity, the textures, and connectors. Beyond our current lives as metalsmiths, we both have done a variety of work... from wilderness instructor, teacher, special education director, basketball coach, ropes course designer, soft sculptor, banner and kite designer, creator of elaborate aerial sculptures, and most proudly we are parents.

Our studio is on the edge of the high desert wilderness in Central Oregon. Our two children are launched in their own life adventures. We are still married to each other after 3+ decades. Our kids think we're funny and dress "pretty good for parents." They occasionally question our taste in music.

Between the two of us, we work on the committees for 2 different art & craft shows in Portland, Oregon. We know and enjoy the business from both sides of the booth.

A Favorite rule for life.
"Beware of people who take themselves too seriously"
Ken Cory, Washington

Click on images below to see some photos from our shop.