Behind the Design: Cynthia Eid
Cynthia Eid names her favorite jewelry designs
Everyone has a favorite restaurant or uncle. But a favorite piece from your own collection? How do you choose? This month, Cynthia Eid of Lexington, Massachusetts, shares one of her favorite designs, as well as one of her favorite pieces by another artis
What’s one of your favorite pieces that you made and why?
My favorite piece is Cresting, an Argentium and 22k bracelet. It conveys a feeling of movement that engages people, evoking different reactions. Some tell me that they see waves of water; some see mountain peaks and valleys; some see the granules as explosive bursts; others see the granules flowing down like droplets, rocks, or snow. This perceptual ambiguity is something I strive for. I prefer to invent something that nature could have made, rather than copying nature’s designs.
As I placed the spheres of gold and silver, I thought of them sometimes as droplets, other times as little beings—rushing and surging to a peak, gathering to enjoy the view and sense of accomplishment before continuing the journey. The gold granules are the leaders: Many begin at the top of the form, but fewer and fewer finish the journey to the ends.
I love the paradox that this lively, fluid form has evolved from a stiff, flat, lifeless plane of metal. Though I’ve worked in metal for over 40 years, this transformation still entrances me.
What’s one of your favorite pieces that someone else made and why?
Betty Helen Longhi’s work has drawn me for years. It is expressive, graceful, flowing, inventive, and begs to be held. While sharing an elevator at a SNAG conference, I read her name-tag and introduced myself. We quickly became friends.
My favorite works of Betty’s are her Vessels for Tears, which exemplify her elegantly flowing forms. The concept is equally beautiful. She says: “This vessel is a talisman for the grieving process. Crying is a cleansing experience—the tears wash away our pain. Therefore, the vessel cannot contain liquid—the openings allow the tears to flow away. In a broader perspective, life is change, and cannot be contained or it will stagnate. This vessel is symbolic of this letting go or flowing through of life. Wear it—hold it—let it remind you to be open and to move forward.”
Top photo by Cynthia Eid; bottom photo by Michael Cunningham.