Paso Arts | Beads, Baskets, Bison, and Wolves

PASO ARTS

Beads, Baskets, Bison, and Wolves

BY DEBRA JUREY

Growing up, Debra Jurey spent endless hours in her room painting, drawing, working with clay, macrame, and knitting projects. She is still most happy and comfortable when immersed in a creative project. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she enjoyed the ideal California climate. When not making art, she could be found swimming in the ocean, camping in state and national parks, or hiking the Sierras. It is no wonder that Debra’s jewelry designs are inspired by the colors, patterns, and light of the western landscape. Today she is a retired librarian and teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State University Northridge and a teaching credential from Cal Lutheran University.

Debra began making jewelry 20 years ago, working with silver wire and found objects. After a few years, she began to explore off-loom bead weaving because she found the abundance of bead colors and shapes inspiring. Bead weaving patterns also opened up a wide array of subject matter to explore. Though Debra is most recognized for her off-loom beading, she is also known for her wildlife sculptures in silver clay and, more recently, pine needle basketry. Collecting pine needles in Yosemite and the eastern Sierras gave Debra a new connection with the creative process. Debra’s love and passion for the outdoors continue to be the spark that drives her work. Her jewelry encompasses a mixture of fine craftsmanship with organic naturalism using a variety of materials and a demand for quality. “If one bead breaks or is out of place, I unravel and start again.”

Camping with her husband in a 16’ Airstream Bambi trailer for months at a time has changed Debra’s perception of her place on the planet and her artwork. “Last fall in Yellowstone, I came into close contact with the wildlife and was fascinated by the behavior of certain animals. I began to appreciate their beneficial qualities and uniqueness as wild creatures”. As she explained, “Once you’ve seen a wolf hunting in its natural environment, you have crossed a threshold of connection. One morning I observed five wolves meet up, do a happy dance greeting, then sit and howl in unison. It was an exhilarating experience”.

Last year on a first spring trip to Yellowstone, Debra was ecstatic to find a herd of bison and newborn red dog calves had moved close to the campground, enabling her to visit them at all hours of the day. “I spent a three-day period walking with the bison, observing, listening to the sounds of the mothers and red furry babies communicating.” Debra was lucky to be able to follow them for miles, immersing herself in their activities and becoming a part of their daily migrations.

The howls of a wolf pack, the piglike grunts of a red dog calling for its mother each can open a deep connection to the wild. These experiences are woven into the fabric of everything Debra creates.

As she said, “Once you’ve experienced such a connection, your life and work are forever changed.”

Debra’s work is on display and can be purchased at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles and the coast in Cambria at Amphora Gallery. 