Que Genial!
Brilliant!
Celedonio shouts startling the woman working diligently at the computer beside us. About 6′ 2″ tall, Celedonio is a statuesque man with a thin beard and French appearance wearing a navy blue sweater and red scarf folded into his collar.
He directs me into a small room with which is lit only by a submarine shaped window. The room is lined with shelves supporting many tokens of Celedonio’s life, inspirations and comical relics. Some of these include porcelain bunny sculptures, bronze candlesticks, a painted glass egg, a roman profile statue and magazine cut outs. Many might gasp at the eclectic mix, but the stream of relics transmited a unique warmth and beauty that Celedonio captures in his designs.
As my eyes take in all of the stimulation, Celedonio’s apprentice comes into his office with a ornate, metal tray, holding a delicate china tea set – the perfect prelude to Celedonio.
Sensations.
An architect by trade. The natural sensations of Celedonio’s childhood in the countryside are translated both into his designs and the environment where he creates them.
“Tomo las sensations de la naturaleza y materializarlos…las doy vida y trasmitir las sensacion a una joya.”
“I take a sensation of nature and materialize it…I give it life and transmit the sensation to jewelry.” ~ Celedonio
Lost in Translation.
He began translating his love for nature and the countryside into his arquitectural designs. In 1995, he took his designs from the macro design (architecture) to the micro level (jewelry design) and quickly became a sensation in Argentina.
“Cada pieza representa un momento en mi vida.”
“Each piece represents a moment in my life.” ~ Celedonio
Celedonio recounted his time in the countryside raising cattle and absorbing the beauty of nature until he moved to the city of Buenos Aires.
“Nunca volví de vivir en el campo, pero todavía me encanta la naturaleza y el verde.”
“I never returned to live in the countryside, but still, I love nature and green.” ~ Celedonio
Celedonio’s Garden.
Celedonio’s garden of jewelry design begins in his workshop. Celedonio takes an image or sensation that he has in nature and sits at his jewelry bench until he is able to feel the same sensation that he felt when he saw the image originally.
“Empiezo con 0 y seguí hasta que tuve éxito con el diseño.”
“I began with 0 and continued until I had success with the design.” ~ Celedonio
Working with 4 apprentices on a large wooden table with beads of all shapes colors and clarity, the spark and natural visions of Celedonio come to life. Each bead selected and wire molded to compliment the lines of mother nature.
Spiraling down the staircase to Celedonio’s show room (local), bouquets of necklaces line the walls. In full bloom, Celedonio’s intricate designs are one-of-a-kind combining hundreds of beads in each piece of jewelry.
Inspiration.
Celedonio has not limited his designs to nature.
La verdad es que cualquier cosa que me da sensación – hago un diseño.”
“The truth is that anything that gives me a sensation – I make a design.” ~ Celedonio
Most recently, Celedonio was inspired by the design on a priest’s rob. He took this concept and created a pattern of pearls and stones mirroring the traditional rob design.
The Journey Continues.
The journey doesn’t end at jewelry design. Celedonio’s local continues to freeze the beauty of nature in time. Leaves of paper are positioned on the walls leading to the patio of his local as if they are in the process of being blown away by a large gust of wind. This entrance leads the viewer to his garden which is lined with white pebbles, trees and organic shaped wooden benches. A full tea and dinner is set on the metallic gold wall and 60s/70s surreal art posters frame the couch. There are no limits. Watch out Alice & Wonderland…
Simply put, Celedonio, like some of my favorite jewelry designers in Argentina, is his designs. He is a lover for detail, natural beauty, exploration, spontaneity and experimentation in the unknown realms of art and design.
Que Genial!
Brilliant
