Ginger Allen
Ginger Meek Allen
Ginger Allen believes that narrative is a powerful force for good, and that jewelry is an intimate art form with the power to connect us to a loved one, an accomplishment, a history, or any number of other stories to enrich life. Her work carefully blends the shadows left by the hand with exquisite quality and attention to detail. The result is a deliciously distinctive and comfortable aesthetic.
Torches, hammers, and saws are in Allen's hands daily to create her body of work in her North Carolina studio. She often begins with a sketch, or sometimes just a handful of stones that belong together. She is known for her approach to stone setting, developed through the years using some tools she created herself, plus her favorite French hammer. Her signature matte finish is the final touch.
Ginger Allen found the bench as a young woman in her 20s, and never stopped making. Primarily self-taught, her understanding of metals came naturally, as did the nuances of her tools and their potential to craft pieces in her hands. She has studied in carefully selected hands-on workshops at Penland School of Craft and Arrowmont Scool of Arts and Crafts. She has also studied the arts of writing, design, and creative entrepreneurship.