Kari Woo Jewellery - About The Artist

background

In 1993 Kari discovered her love of making jewellery literally by accident. While recovering from a snowboarding injury she enrolled in her first jewellery class - it was love at first make! Though she had always collected jewellery through her girlhood she never imagined that she would make it. Now almost two decades later she is still at it and she still loves it. After a few initial classes Kari's beginnings were largely self taught until she returned to school in 1998. In 2003 she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree [hons], specializing in Jewellery + Metals, from the Alberta College of Art + Design in Calgary, AB, Canada.

Since then she's found a second love - collaborating with others to build small independent arts events and creative businesses. This was a natural fit coming from a long line of entrepreneurs on both sides of her family. In 2003 she co-founded the Shiny Fuzzy Muddy Collective of artists and makers based out of Vancouver, B.C. This group of five core members still works together annually to host one of Vancouver's finest curated independent arts + craft events.

In 2004 Woo co-founded a brick and mortar location, INFLUX Jewellery Gallery in Calgary, which she co-owned and co-piloted until March 2011 when the torch was passed on to new owners. That same year also saw the start of the New Craft Collective, an Alberta based initiative modelled after her successful collaboration in Vancouver. In 2007 she launched Made In Canada: Calgary Artist's Market which supported local artists with a monthly pop-up venue to show and sell their works at for the entire year.

During this time Kari has also developed and maintained her own studio based business. She designs and produces her work, distributing her line of contemporary art jewellery across Canada through independent boutiques and tradeshows. Another aspect of her practice includes working closely with clients on custom pieces in which they are an integral part of the design process. Occasionally she instructs workshops through the ACAD Extended Studies Program.

In 2010 Kari and her husband moved to Canmore, AB located in the heart of the glorious Canadian Rockies. They have successfully burrowed into a cozy little nest which includes her home studio and backs onto a mountain carpeted with forest. In early 2011 they became new parents and are embarking on a whole new collaboration of epic proportions… and she still loves making jewellery!

influences + inspirations

Observations of patterns + movements in nature . Ancient, modern and natural architecture . Quality of a simple line . Minimalism of modern sculpture - fave artists include Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder and Henry Moore . Vintage wallpaper and textile motifs . Ephemeral ideas, experiences or objects such as paper boats or shrines in nature . Beauty.

What inspires me most is Beauty so I make Beautiful things. There really can't be enough Beauty in this world can there?