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Inspired by life: Kara Avedisyan’s jewelry is eccentric, unique, and utterly playful

by Nyree Abrahamian

Published: Saturday February 28, 2009

Kara Avedisyan.

Yerevan - Does art imitate life or does life imitate art? While the age-old debate carries on in classrooms and galleries throughout the world, for Kara Avedisyan, one of Armenia's premier jewelers, the answer, undoubtedly, is art imitates life. Her beautifully crafted collections of silver jewelry vary in style and show off her range of techniques, but they all bear one thing in common: they are inspired, very directly, by life.

From teapots to telephones, from harmonicas to handbags, Kara has the unique ability to turn ordinary objects into extraordinary jewelry. "I find inspiration in life, just from the everyday," says the artist with a smile.

And Kara has every reason to smile. She is the proud new owner of a jewelry boutique on Pushkin Street in central Yerevan, called Kara Jewellery Boutique. Since its opening in September last year, the store has become the talk of the town. "I've been in this business for almost nine years," explains Kara, "so I already had a strong client base. But since I opened the store, I have gained a lot of new clients, mostly through word of mouth. Somebody will walk in by chance and tell her friend about it, who will then tell her friend about it, and it just grows from there."

Before opening her store, Kara displayed her work every weekend at the Vernissage market, where she still likes to go on occasion, and at various exhibitions. Now, in her spacious, well-lit, and stylishly decorated boutique, Kara doesn't have to cart her jewelry around in a suitcase anymore. Instead, she can focus on crafting new creations while her completed collections rest safely in their beautifully arranged display cases.

Kara works with different designers, though she collaborates most with Nur Design, a Yerevan-based jewelry design studio. Her rings, by far her most popular and unusual items, are usually based on various objects and often have unique moveable features. Her sewing machine ring, for example, has a little needle that goes up and down when you turn the wheel. Her drum ring comes complete with cymbals that actually clap down and make noise, and her snake can slither around your fingers in a myriad of different positions. Kara's jewelry is fun, spunky, and interactive. It's based on the idea that inanimate pieces of metal can indeed come to life.

One of her latest collections, "Yerevan," is a series of rings based on Yerevan landmarks and Armenian symbols. It includes the Garni Temple, Zvartnots Airport, Lake Sevan, a map of Armenia, and a scroll inscribed with the Armenian alphabet. "I love this collection," says her sister, Gayane Avedisyan, who helps with anything from assembling bracelets to fashioning gift bags. "It's a truly patriotic collection," she continues. "These rings are great as souvenirs, even if you don't wear big jewelry. They can simply be displayed, and of course, they can be worn too."

The "Yerevan" collection is a great alternative for any visitor to Armenia looking for unusual souvenirs, who wants to bring back something that is truly unique, wearable, yet unmistakably Armenian.

The "Musical Instruments" collection is another favorite. It includes a piano, a French horn, a violin, a drum, an accordion, and even a gramophone. What's striking about this collection and the majority of Kara's rings is their construction. They are not simply molds of objects attached to bands. The objects themselves, twisted into just the right angle, are the rings.

Poised for international exposure

Kara Avedisyan didn't just stumble into making jewelry. She grew up surrounded by jewelers and naturally developed an interest in the trade. "I have many friends who are jewelers, most of whom work with silver, and I thought to myself, ‘I can do this too. I want to do it,'" she says. "So I learned the craft, and here I am. I like working with silver the best. It's a versatile material to work with, and since the metal is not as expensive as gold, I can make very large, creative pieces."

In Armenia, as in most countries, making gold or silver jewelry is a very male-dominated profession. "Kara is one of the few women in her field," boasts Gayane. "Her workshop is a very harsh place. She has to use a lot of strong chemicals, which often have toxic fumes. The work that comes out in the end is beautiful and dainty, but the making of it is a very rough process."

Now that the boutique is up and running, Kara anxiously awaits what this year will continue to bring. "We have a lot of clients from the United States and Europe who come see me every summer when they return," she says. "This year, I think they will be excited to see the store."

While she is enjoying the early success of her boutique, Kara does not take a moment to rest. Always aiming high, she says her next goal is to participate in jewelry exhibitions around the world. "There is a big [exhibition] in Moscow that will take place this September and we definitely want to be a part of it," she explains. "Some of the biggest jewelry exhibitions in the world take place in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, and, eventually, we'd like to participate in all of them. We want the world to recognize our work."

Recognizability is one thing this jeweler does not need to worry about. Her playful take on simple concepts and exquisite artistry made her work immediately stand out during her early days at the Vernissage. Today it continues to catch the eyes of curious passersby at her boutique, and, as life offers Kara an endless amount of inspiration, the future holds a multitude of exciting possibilities.

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kara.am