News Archive January 2011

Ginette Henri Loves To Create
From: Times & Transcript
Posted: January 25, 2011

Ginette Henri's jewelry designs are not off the wall - they're part of the wall!

Calling Moncton home for most of her life, it was obvious from an early age that Ginette had considerable talent in several art forms - including jewelry making. She also participated in dramatic arts as a teen, acting with Theatre Amateur de Moncton and pursuing it as well at the university level.

Artistic experimentation quickly became a driving force in her life, as she continued to create what she could imagine. She worked with Indian beads, leather, drawing inks, painting on silk, macrame - and finally metals which set her in an exciting new direction with silver, copper, brass and precious stones (Silver Treasures). She says of her work:

"It enriches me, it makes me happy. If don't do art I might as well lay down and die."

Some of Ginette's showpieces have been enjoyed by thousands. Her necklace "Let's Twist Again" was part of a Canada-wide travelling gallery exhibit with the Metal Arts Guild. Subsequent work also won her prestigious recognition. Her Acadian Janus Head was highly acclaimed during the Retrouvailles en Acadie in 1994. Serving as president of the Les Mètiers d' Arts Acadienne du Nouveau Brunswick was also a highlight; she currently works as a full-time goldsmith as well as operating her own part-time workshop, Ginette Henri Jewellery (www.ginettejewellerydesign.com).

Her Jewellery On the Wall concept is dazzling and innovative - a bold step away from wearable art. Whereas jewellery has traditionally been used for personal ornament, she combines jewellery design with visual arts to serve as room dividers, wall hangings - or other imaginative decor accents.

Ginette enjoys the essence of jewellery making while pushing the boundaries of how it can be enjoyed. She herself developed the process by designing in black and white abstract drawings, fabricated using semi-precious stones, copper foil and various wires (copper, brass, stainless steel) and then worked into fascinating shapes. One of her most recent creations is a panel struck in the likeness of KISS great, Gene Simmons, and she intends to continue to explore that theme with artists such as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and the like. She will also be the feature artist at a summer 2011 gallery show at Moncton's Le Teraz. For inspiration, motivation and some pretty savvy advice and help, Ginette throws a bouquet to her three daughters: Chantal, Crystal and Cheryl.

Ginette also has seven grandchildren. In earlier days she suffered from agoraphobia and a panic disorder (she has now recovered), and to prevent debilitating attacks, she doodled. She saved those artistic doodles, which have gone on to serve as some pretty interesting groundwork for pieces.

Ginette Henri can envision large works of art for public places done in her unique style, taking tradition in a fascinating new direction.

"A lot of people say well I don't wear jewellery, and I say you don't have to wear this. It's on the wall. You can enjoy a piece of art," she says, "it's jewellery on the wall."