Valerie James

I am fascinated by our tendency to leave marks and gather them as we wander – how our bodies are marked physically, emotionally and psychologically. Walking is how I observe transitory moments and time at my work- bench generates and sustains the same ritual atmosphere. Through carving and engraving silver or graphite, I am able to both reveal the sublime surfaces and embed myself into the work.
Form is not the goal, but an outcome that enables a tangible relationship to the ephemeral. Jewellery is the ultimate format for continuing these intimate moments through the experience of each wearer. The body stands within the form of a necklace. It is not placed on the body but brings body into place – tracing the curves and landscapes of our physical existence in the same way our bodies conform to existing paths when walking.