Photo above courtesy of Chukwudinma Anthony Nsofor (aka Chudi)

By Lani Gering

I have been wracking my brain trying to remember when I first met Leah. Am thinking that it has been at least 10 years ago when a mutual friend of ours introduced us while we were having cocktails at the same watering hole. At that time, we didn’t really talk about what she did for a living but I do remember being very impressed that she made earrings out of discarded guitar strings. I love people that are creative about repurposing everyday items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

In these last 10 or so years, we see each other fairly often at that same watering hole and, obviously, I found out early on that she indeed makes jewelry for a living. I have been blessed with two pair over the years, both gifts from our mutual friend. The first pair I had were so loved by another good friend that I gave them to her – not sure what I was thinking when I did that since I clearly could have sent her straight to the source but…it made her very happy so it was worth it. My next pair were given to me for my 70^th birthday almost 2 years ago and I wore them almost daily until I lost one a few months ago. I kept thinking it would show up but, no such luck.

However, I ran into Leah at our “place” a couple of weeks ago and while we were talking over a glass of wine, I told her of the demise. She very matter-of-factly told me to bring her the remaining earring and she would see what she could do to recreate it. Keep in mind that all of her works are legitimately “one-of-a-kind”. After seeing the remaining earring, she said she didn’t think she could match the stone/bead “exactly” so would make me another full pair as close to the originals as possible and would only charge me for one. They are pictured here!

This is when it dawned on me that the Old Town Crier had yet to profile her in this column so I made arrangements to meet her at the Adorn – Studio 226 in the Torpedo Factory here in Old Town. Leah shares this space with two other creatives – Janae Michelle who specializes in textiles and Susan Cohen whose concentration is ceramics.

Leah has been making jewelry full time for the last 20 years, 12 of which have been in the Torpedo Factory. I wasn’t quite sure how to start the interview so started with the old “where do you get your inspiration” and this is what I was told, “When asked that question, I find myself pausing…I’m not sure where I don’t get inspiration. It’s everywhere: in people, in places, in things, and in feelings. I am looking for balance, I find it in designing. My customers say they find my work peaceful.”

Leah was born in Chicago but decided to go “North to Alaska” at the ripe old age of 19 where her aunts had migrated when she was quite young. She told me, “My years living in Alaska inspired my work. I used materials I found in the woods; naturally shed caribou and deer antler, porcupine quills, sea urchin spine, pebbles and fish bone.

My parents used to say ‘If you give Leah enough paper and tape, she will build a house.’ This comes through in my design process. I think of designing as making something from nothing, of using otherwise discarded, overlooked or ordinary materials to create something commanding.

My Mom used to take my family to pow-wows. I was captivated by the tiny glass seed beads and dancing leather fringe on the native regalia. Now I use old leather garments to cut and form new creations, sewing on bead accents and giving my materials new life. I love making art.”

I think you will find her jewelry making process interesting and when asked about it, she told me, “My jewelry sculptures are made using “cold construction”. I am inspired by Alexander Calder, a master of this technique. I use non-electric hand tools to bend, form, hammer, file and weave these sculptures. I use a variety of materials including recycled sterling silver, gold vermeille, fresh water pearls, semi-precious, polished and rough-cut stones. Cold construction means joining without heat. I enjoy challenging myself with the use of these techniques to achieve an interesting piece. The result is creations with a strong sense of design. ‘Sometimes less is more’. I seek to create a sophisticated design with simple basic techniques. I learned to sew at a young age and get great pleasure from it. For me it’s a “meditation” of sorts, hand-sewing tiny glass beads onto recycled leather pieces. A more recent process for me is the lost-wax casting technique, which involves carving hard wax to create a mold. This method allows me to produce multiple pieces that can stand on their own or be incorporated into my other techniques and pieces. I use silver, brass and varied stones.”

She is currently working with another medium – plastic. In order to get the ins and outs of that, you need to stop in and see her at the studio. It’s very interesting.

When asked what she saw for herself in the future, she just smiled and said that she dreams of becoming a nomad and taking her show on the road. She says all she needs is her bag of tools and a small bag of supplies and a Post Office in the places along the way. She can source her materials from wherever she lands!

If you are in the market for unique pieces for yourself or an amazing gift for someone else, you won’t be disappointed with an original Leah Sturgis. Her creations are not only sold at Adorn, she participates in several Trade Shows and Art Fairs in the region. You can also find her jewelry online at leahsturgis.com.