Copper Chameleon
Brittany Sondberg
brittanysondberg@copperchameleon.com
http://www.copperchameleon.com
Brittany is a jewelry designer and
metals artist with a B.F.A. in Metal Design from East Carolina University.
Currently living in Greensboro, North Carolina, she works out of a studio
located at the Lyndon Street Artworks, a truly awesome collaboration of artists
with a vast array of mediums and styles all working under one roof. The gallery
at Lyndon Street offers a broad variety of works for sale by local artists,
including, but not limited to, jewelry, stained glass, sculpture, painting, and
pottery. Brittany is new to this location, but already finds it inspirational,
and she plans to stay for a while.
Brittany’s jewelry is one of a kind
with no- to low-repeat production of silver, gold, enamel, big rocks, found
objects, etc. She creates wedding bands; uncommon engagement rings; commitment
ring sets; enamel earrings; bold cocktail rings; forged bangles (in copper,
silver, and gold); latch close cuff bracelets; Etruscan-style, fine silver,
loop-in-loop chains; distinct enamel wall art; cake knives; original flatware;
copper enameling and etching (jewelry to large wall plaques); and perfect gifts
for all occasions.
Some of the materials Brittany tends to use are copper,
sterling silver, stainless steel, unlikely semi-precious stones, and 14-18Kt
gold. Enameled copper discs and plates, cabochon-like enamels, ocean jasper,
Chinese turquoise, petrified palm wood, shiny and bright faceted gemstones, and
various species of wood—from oak to ebony—are found throughout Brittany’s work.
She uses strictly 100% recycled
sterling silver, copper, and gold, and is as conscious as possible when
selecting materials for her work, always keeping in mind the side effects of
mining metals and stones. A broad spectrum of sources inspire the design and
palette that informs the jewelry: the surprising contrast found in landscapes
where unlikely materials commingle, like wind turbines in the desert; the bold
styles and bright kitschy colors of the 1950s; home decor of the Danish modern
movement; and the befuddling array of objects with unexpected details found
among the odds and ends in a flea market.
When Brittany started at East
Carolina, she intended to major in Photography, until the fateful day when she
registered for freshman year classes. She was late, and all of the Graphics and
Photo survey classes were full. The only survey level class available was the
Metals survey. For some reason, though Brittany had loved fashion and jewelry
her whole life, it had never dawned on her that she could design and create her
own jewelry, real jewelry.
Today, Brittany’s favorite adornment
to create is big, chunky rings. Other than metal art and jewelry design, she
practices culinary arts, painting, tattoos, fashion, woodworking, ceramics,
photography, gardening, and so much more. She hosts jewelry parties, which are
always a blast.
