Artists & Galleries / Jewelers
UPFRONT ASSEMBLING THE LOCAL AESTHETIC
Artistic Adornments
LOCAL JEWELERS MORGAN AMIRANI AND BETH KUKUK ARE SHOWCASING STUNNING DESIGNS AT LAGUNA ’ S SUMMER FESTIVALS .
By STEFANEE FREEDMAN
Crafting jewelry as a form of art has a long history , incorporating many different elements from the Earth as well as manmade materials in the design . Some believe that wearing metals or gemstones can enhance certain energies or bring them closer to nature . Others use these adornments to express their individual style , whether it ’ s elegant earrings , a necklace to match a particular outfit or a unique ring that has been passed down through generations .
This summer , festival crowds can find pieces to gift loved ones or to adorn themselves with as jewelry artists Morgan Amirani and Beth Kukuk showcase their work locally .
Timeless Treasures
J ewelry designer Morgan Amirani has always had an eye for design and loves working with her hands . An interior designer by trade , she started working for a commercial design firm right after earning her bachelor ’ s degree .
“ At some point , I saw a necklace and I just thought , … ‘ I can make something similar to this ,’ ” Amirani says . “ I took a two-hour beading class in Dana Point and just exploded [ with creativity ]. I couldn ’ t stop making jewelry . I ’ d stay up till 3 a . m . and lost 5 pounds making necklaces .”
She never planned to sell any of her creations , but quickly fell in love with making jewelry and soon realized that she had a lot of necklaces in her collection . She had to do something with them , but what ?
“ I decided to put on a couple of home shows , and I was so successful ,” Amirani reveals . “ I wanted to do more , … so I took three years of bench jewelry classes at Saddleback [ College ], … [ where ] I learned how to fabricate , … use a torch and cast metal .”
“ I didn ’ t want [ to create ] mass production things that you get rid of in a year
Morgan Amirani ( top ) switched careers from interior design to making jewelry ( like above ).
or two ,” Amirani says . “ So that ’ s where I found my niche — where I feel like I make things that are [ a ] keepsake , … things that you pass on but you also feel comfortable taking on a trip .”
Amirani works mainly with Argentium silver , which not many people are familiar with . Argentium silver is known for having a higher silver content than sterling silver and is a brighter , better material without any copper or nickel , so it doesn ’ t have elements that irritate sensitive skin .
“ It ’ s all reused silver , not mined . It came on the market in the ’ 90s in England . It ’ s interesting to me and a cleaner material ,” Amirani explains . “ I incorporate 18-karat [ gold ] accents . It reminds me of what I grew up with in Iran . I use precious stones , not the ones that are [ certified by the ] Gemological Institute of America ,
because I want it to be affordable .”
Although she now shows at Laguna Art- A-Fair , Amirani got her start in Laguna Beach with a booth at Winter Fantasy , the Sawdust Art Festival ’ s holiday show . After witnessing the town ’ s appreciation for art , Amirani became invested in doing more in the local community .
“ I still do other shows [ around Southern California ], but [ after ] realizing that … there is a community of art lovers in this city , [ showing here ] is important to me ,” Amirani says . Her jewelry will be on display at Laguna Art-A-Fair through Sept . 1 .
MORGAN AMIRANI JEWELRY DESIGNS MORGANAMIRANI . COM LAGUNA ART-A-FAIR : BOOTH A6
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