“The women I have known in my life, starting with my grandmother and my mother, have been this exquisite mix of strength and elegance. I make jewelry for women and men to pay homage to the harmony of that power.”
Deborah Klezmer’s passion for tinkering with tools was in evidence by age 8 when she rewired a phone jack. A lifelong obsession with taking things apart led to the embrace of upcycling antique objects, primarily those related to time, which she often incorporates into her fine jewelry. With equal love for the realms of both nature and steampunk technology, she synthesized these two worlds in her work. Whether working with precious metals and gemstones or reimagining a historical object. Klezmer first works out were as many of the details of a new project as possible in her mind’s eye. She then turns to whatever technique will best translate that vision, from use of the most ancient hand fabrication tools and torches to the most cutting-edge 3D computer design. The journey to becoming a jeweler took Klezmer through a career editing historical biographies, including the 17-volume Women in World History (Dartmouth Medal, 2001). She was mentored in stone setting by Donald Lanzer in Santa Fe. Adhering to the philosophy of “do the least harm,” she has developed her own system for setting antique elements in her jewelry. Her work has been seen in shows from Lincoln Center to the Recycled Art Show in Santa Fe. Most recent honors include Featured Artist at the Thunderbird Fine Art & Wine Festival in Scottsdale, AZ.
