SEAGLASSWEAR JEWELRY

Boston, MA…When Valerie Gates’ aunt passed away six years ago, she left a 40–year collection of beach glass. Though intrigued by the worn beauty of the pieces, Gates, an Emmy award-winning art director, at first was not sure what to do with the buckets of the discarded pieces of beer bottles. But five years later, the simple gift has turned into two collections of jewelry that have gained critical aclaim and are featured in over 20 museums and fine galleries and stores across the country.

“I like the statement it makes on many levels about recycling and the simple beauty in nature, mixed with sterling silver to create an elegant piece of jewelry. I love helping nature recycle these ocean gems…what once was rejected is now revered and we get a second chance to see its beauty," said Gates.

The necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and cuff links are all one-of-a-kind and hand-crafted, creatively mounting pieces of genuine seaglass in sterling silver settings. "My work is purposefully simple. I create my jewelry lines with only naturally-found or recycled materials such as smooth beach stones and sea glass.

SEAGLASSWEAR, features The Nobska Collection and The Nauset Collection. Both can be seen at http://www.seaglasswear.com

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

I have also been a commercial photographer for 20 years in LA, Italy and Boston and I studied photography at Rhode Island School of Design and with Joyce Tenneson at the Maine Photo Workshops.

FINE ART NUDE PHOTOGRAPHY

This series of nudes was influenced by turn of the century masters such as Julia Margaret Cameron. It is an exploration of mythology, spirituality, and gender. The double exposure images were done in the camera and shot with 35mm and 4x5 film.

Seaglasswear Jewelry

Seaglasswear is a unique line of handcrafted jewelry incorporating silver and a 40 year collection of genuine seaglass and sea stones that was inherited from a Cape Cod aunt by New England designer Valerie Gates.

Fine Art Nude Photography Series

This series of nudes was influenced by turn of the century masters such as Julia Margaret Cameron. It is an exploration of mythology, spirituality, and gender. The double exposure images were done in the camera and shot with 35mm and 4x5 film.

Fine Art Photography

I have been a commercial photographer for 20 years in LA, Italy and Boston and I studied photography at Rhode Island School of Design and with Joyce Tenneson at the Maine Photo Workshops.