Nadine Zenobi

Skyrivers Studio – Jewelry & Painting – Chapel Hill

This is one in a series of posts about artists in the Orange County Artists Guild.

What is your medium?

I have been working as a jeweler for the past 48 years. I was traveling in Europe when I began to know that I wanted to work in silver. When I moved back to the U.S. after four years, it was like magic that happened and I knew it was my pathway to make silver jewelry. I moved into a room where the woman had a small jewelry setup and I started there. It was like eating chocolate… so wonderful!

I never trained in jewelry, except for a short time with a Hopi silversmith, and it just came out so naturally as I taught myself to work in the metal. Then followed another gift that was literally handed to me from the family of an older man who passed on leaving his jewelry equipment behind. Then came the insatiable draw to stones that propelled my work. I studied with an Apache medicine woman, learning about stones and their healing qualities and to this day I am passing on the information she taught me. I feel so honored to have been given these studies with the beautiful gemstones because I know their abilities to heal.

I use my intuitive abilities, healing skill along with my artistic gifts for the perfect combination to create special jewelry pieces!

What are the main subjects in your artwork?

All of my creations stem from the natural world, especially the ocean, which brings the flow for the creative process. I never know what the finished piece will look like; as I work, it goes into place in an organic way. I love that it is not so planned out but gives freedom for change in the creative process. The natural world of plants and flowers fill the jewelry and paintings. Inspiration from ocean life is also a large subject matter, even if it is simple waves or the flow in the work.

Tell us about your studio.

It has a dream to have a beautiful magical studio! I saved dollar by dollar in my career to make this happen. I lived in California before North Carolina, and moved around from several rental houses and converted garages into studios. When I bought a home here in North Carolina, I had a studio built, implementing my vision of design and placement of space, as the builder did the manifesting of building it.

When I drove into the driveway, all the way from California, I arrived here at night and there was a little light on that shone from this sweet little studio. It literally brought me to tears! It is a most delightful and inspiring space and has so many windows it is like you are creating outside.

After traveling for so many years with the shows, I have a wide scope of the art world in conjunction to mainstream life, and living most of my life without a permanent place to land and create, I am beyond grateful to have lived here for the past 23 years with such a beautiful studio to work in.

What could people expect to see at your studio during the OCAG Studio Tour?

Open studio is a special time here with beautiful fall leaves and crisp, fresh air. When you drive down to the end of a country road you will find the most magical sweet studio and it will make your heart smile! Upon entering, you will feast your eyes on sparkling jewelry creations and very colorful paintings. Everyone who comes here can feel the amazing energy of Skyrivers Studio. I do hope you will plan to come visit during the tour!

Do you do commissions?

One of my favorite things to do is commissions. Being a jewelry piece, they are deeply personal to the wearer. I listen and use my intuitive skill to work closely to the customer. Rings are especially a focus for commissions. I have created many wedding rings and also used precious and sentimental stones from a customer to re-create a piece. I have taken apart and recreated new piece of jewelry many times throughout my career. There is nothing like a customer who comes to pick up a custom piece with a heart full of gratitude! I am always honored to create such a piece.

Where else can we see your work?

I love being part of a cooperative of fine artists in the Pittsboro Gallery of Art. I am very comfortable being in the gallery and communicating with the public and it feels like a new expression of who I am as an artist. Informing the public about my jewelry and paintings is only one aspect of working there. It is exciting to share information about all the artists, as I have explored almost every medium exhibited. Being able to give back to the art community is wonderful and a perfect way to share all those years of experience.