speciAl
Wearable Art / statement pieces Photos and Story by Kristine Hartvigsen
ohumila Augustinova is perhaps best known
around
local
art
circles
as
the talented designer who won the Columbia
Design
Runaway
Runway
show
in
dress
made
bags.
But
most
dazzling
smaller exquisite,
upscale
2009
in
jewelry
League’s
annual
recycled with
of
some
a
plastic of
pieces
are
These are
shopping
Augustinova’s
creations
scale.
fashion wedding
much
days,
her
coveted
by
fashionistas all over town. Augustinova’s jewelry technique can be traced to a centuries-old Moravian craft called “ticking,” whose origins actually were quite utilitarian. The artist says men in the mountain region of Slovakia, which borders Augustinova’s native Czech Republic, once used ticking to reinforce clay pots and other clay cookware from cracking and breaking. It was a craft of necessity, as families of modest means could not afford
to
would
line
constantly up
to
replace have
broken
their
pots
clay
pots
and
reinforced
with
Page Left and Page Right: Works by Bohumila Augustinova
the wire ticking. “What I have seen in pictures, some of those designs were
leisurely hobby than a true artistic vocation. Her larger wire
incredibly beautiful,” Augustinova says, adding that she was
works – including warrior-themed garments, masks, and
introduced to the craft about 10 years ago on a whim while
even kites – have received accolades in the arts community.
visiting her friend in the Czech Republic, who happened to be
The artist says that inspiration for her designs is pretty
operating a summer camp for youngsters. The camp offered
random. She does not plan or sketch out anything but follows
arts and crafts classes, and Augustinova joined in.
the energy of the piece as she works with it until “something
“They were teaching us how to use the craft as a decoration
Even though some renowned artists enlist and train
us, and I picked it up. I immediately had so much fun doing
apprentices to produce their work for a larger commercial
it that it was an easy process to learn. It was second nature.”
market,
When she returned to Columbia, she purchased wire-cutters,
produced in quantity by anyone else.
pliers, and related materials. “I started with more decorative pieces, such as ornaments. Then, somehow – completely by accident – it became jewelry,” she says. “Someone would say, ‘that would look great as a necklace.’” And the inspiration took root.
Augustinova’s
jewelry
probably
never
will
be
“I am too much of a control freak,” she says. “I tried that once. I was so unsatisfied with every detail. I can’t do that to anybody.” For now, you can only find Augustinova’s jewelry at the Museum Shop, and she occasionally will indulge those
The happy accident has made Augustinova’s jewelry
wishing to place custom orders. “I have never made two of
a favorite among area women who value hand-crafted,
the same thing,” Augustinova says. “There may be similarities
one-of-a-kind statement pieces. It’s all a bit of a mystery to
in style, but each piece is original.”
Augustinova, who insists that her jewelry is much more of a
030
clicks. Everything is in my head.”
for Easter eggs,” Augustinova explains. “They started showing