Mountain Jewelry by Tom Reardon & Kathleen Doyle

Tom Reardon & Kathleen Doyle, TRKD

Metalsmithing, Jewelry

Asheville, NC

Married in San Francisco on Valentine's Day in 1985, Tom and Kathleen spent their early years teaching at university level for a decade before they met. Since then, they've built a reputation as world-class metalsmith/jewelers and created a full-time American Craft business that flourished nationally.

In 1995 they were invited by Grovewood Gallery to become studio artists in the historic Biltmore Industries complex (now Grovewood Village) in Asheville, NC. In the last 22 years, they transitioned to exhibiting in local galleries, working in their studio showroom, and using technological innovations.

About TRKD

When did you first start making your craft?

Tom and I are both artists-metalsmiths with MFA’ s in Metals, 45 years each, of which 35 years we have shared the experience of creating and building a business to sell our jewelry and metalwork.

What mountains/state park to you most identify with? Weird question... or what region are you from?

Our studio overlooks the Pisgah Mountains and we are adjacent to the GrovePark Inn , so our work has reflected that view for many years . Our Pisgah view mountain rings are more literal, while others reflect the textures of the mountain, streams and fauna.

How do you incorporate the mountains into your work?

The pendants in this Mountain series are cast and fabricated. The cast frames are designed to enhance the mountain scapes ( imagined ) , textured 14kt Gold fill sheet-metal varies in shape and form reflective of our use of recycled metals from our other designs. The clear night sky’s and beautiful sunsets of our mountain city are suggested in the layer of enamel, or niobium we set in place with prongs.

Favorite season? Spring

When did you join the Guild and why?

We joined Shcg in 1996 once we settled into our Grovewood Village studio on Sunset Mountain. Wherever we have lived we find galleries and communities that are strong supporters or their artisans.

What is your favorite part of being a Guild Member? What is your participation in the Guild?

Our ability to be part of the shops and galleries, and all guild shows for 25 years, as well as some demonstrations.

Do you teach workshops?

We decided while both teachers at the University level , that we preferred to make and sell our work, which is all consuming and rewarding.

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