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Jewelers’Werk Galerie is pleased to present Manual for Small Repairs, an exhibition of new and recent work by Argentine artist-jeweler Jorge Castañón. The show opens on Saturday, September 23rd and will remain on view through October 13th.
Endearing, whimsical, heartfelt, poetic, and powerful are some of the words that describe Castañón’s work in this collection, which comprises pendants, brooches, rings, and earrings. Castañón—a bricoleur of sorts—uses found wood and other materials to create his expressive, sculptural pieces. “In my work, I combine jewelry and carpentry techniques. I assemble with delicacy many materials which I find, especially wood, small discarded pieces. They come back to have a second chance, to tell a new minimal story. I give them a new voice,” he explains.
In Manual for Small Repairs, Castañón communicates the fragility of his fellow humans and the world around them and makes an urgent plea for people to examine and mend themselves and take care of each other. Like his chosen materials, Castañón sees the value in things that are weathered, broken, used, and abandoned, and the need for rescue and rebirth. “I use basic, simple materials, worked lovingly, with patience and in silence,” he reflects. “If it breaks, I try to repair it. They did that to me many times.”
Based in his birthplace of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Castañón has a degree in biological sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. A former marine biologist, Castañón also trained in sculpture, carpentry, and goldsmithing. In 1990 he founded Taller La Nave (The Ship Workshop), one of the first spaces dedicated to contemporary jewelry in Argentina, where he serves as curator. Castañón has exhibited internationally and his work is part of the permanent collection of the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Germany.
The exhibition is open during gallery hours: Monday through Saturday 11 am – 5 pm or by appointment. Jewelers’Werk Galerie is located at 3319 Cady’s Alley, NW in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. It is the longest-running and only contemporary art jewelry gallery of its kind in the greater Washington DC area, where owner and industry veteran Ellen Reiben shows precious and non-precious works by international artist-jewelers. For more information, contact the gallery at 202-337-3319, or go to: http://www.jewelerswerk.com
