Welcome to my brand-new website! I am grateful that you took the time to visit. My name is Jerome Nakagawa, and I am a Navajo and Japanese silversmith based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A few weeks ago, I launched my first jewelry arts small business, Jerome Nakagawa Jewelry.
There is an “About Me” section of this website that includes my biography, artist statement, and curriculum vitae. I prepared them as part of my “Senior Projects” coursework while a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts. As much as I welcome and encourage you to read them, I have to admit that these documents have somewhat of a stiff and stuffy tone. I rarely speak about myself in the third person, and am interested in creating more of an approachable relationship with my future clients and supporters of my silversmithing journey. Therefore, I am introducing this accompanying blog that will be conversational in tone, and hopefully fun for you to read. I aim to use this quarterly platform as a way of sharing news about my jewelry making adventures, and providing concise information about some of the techniques I use when creating handmade work. I am not a master bench jeweler or an expert. My view is that the study of jewelry making is a lifelong endeavor, and I will always be a student of the craft. One of the possibilities for which I am most excited is using this blog as a way of introducing you to Indigenous and Asian experts in the field. Many of them have spent a lifetime creating incredible jewelry artwork that have inspired me for years. While it may be a little unorthodox for a business owner to lead visitors toward other Indigenous and Asian artists’ work, I believe that if one of us achieves, our entire community thrives.
Thank you, again, for exploring my website. I hope to have the pleasure and honor of helping you in the future through the creation of handmade, storytelling jewelry. If you have any questions, comments, or want to discuss a potential jewelry making project, please get in contact with me.