THE ARTS

LEWALLEN & LEWALLEN

CREATING JEWELRY FROM THE HEART

By Anya Sebastian

Laura LewAllen is part of an exceptionally accomplished, artistic family, whose name has become synonymous with contemporary art in Santa Fe. Her mother, Arlene LewAllen, was a teacher, painter and art dealer, who established her own gallery, LewAllen Contemporary, in the early 1990s. The name lives on, to this day.

Her father, Ross LewAllen, a jeweler, artist, world traveler and a shaman, invented the earcuff, right here in Santa Fe. Innovative and original, the idea caught on fast, and before long, earcuffs were being featured in Vogue magazine and sold in department stores around the country. They are now a familiar sight around the world.

Following in their footsteps is their daughter, Laura, who began working with her father in the late 1980s. Ross sadly passed away, several years ago now, but his spirit and his legacy live on, preserved and expanded, in the capable hands of his talented daughter.

LewAllen & LewAllen creates jewelry which is not only memorable, but meaningful as well. From the start, Ross’s work was inspired by his spirituality, his passions and his life lessons. Designed to promote healing and wellness, his designs include moving parts, images, and places to touch or push, in order to remind us of our own power.

Laura has brought a different and more lighthearted kind of magic into the mix. Her main focus is family, and her designs, whether whimsical, fanciful, or practical, are clearly heartfelt. In fact, one of the symbols she consistently uses in many different forms, and which has become like her trademark, is the heart.“ It has always been a favorite

of mine,” she says. “A heart can be used to reflect and convey so many different things, from everlasting love to friendship and even grief. Love and kindness are things I really believe in.”

The small store manages to display a wide range of jewelry, designed to cover every member of the family, young or old, human or animal. Dog collars are hugely popular, and Ascent bracelets, created by Laura, are consistent best-sellers. Made of climbing rope, in a variety of different colors, they are embellished with a combination of semi-precious stones and Laura’s unique sterling silver beads. Customers can build their own bracelets, either in the gallery, or online.

There are also necklaces, earrings, rings, pins, pendants, dog tags, key rings, and, of course, earcuffs. “We have many customers that span generations,” says Laura. “Three generations will sometimes come in, wearing ear cuffs or our original bracelets. We make things for men, too, and many of our customers are, in fact, men.”

Everything is made by hand in Laura’s small studio nearby, and her son, Takis, is now making jewelry, too. All pieces are either sterling silver or 14K gold, often including precious stones or gemstones, and if possible, things can be made to order as well. LewAllen & LewAllen really is a wonderful example of the ‘real Santa Fe.’ Owned by an established, local family, making unique pieces by hand, created by Laura and a few skilled craftsmen, this magical place has been drawing people from near and far for going on 50 years now. What they find, and what keeps them coming back, is a one-of-a-kind, family business, focused on creating memories made to last.

LewAllen & LewAllen Jewelry 105, E. Palace Avenue Tel: 505.983.2657 lewallenjewelry.com

TERRELL POWELL

Whimsical Artwork Guaranteed to Brighten Your Day

Anya Sebastian

Terrell Powell started drawing at the age of three—robots, cars, spaceships, imaginary things…Unlike many parents, his mother encouraged him and he went on to study art at the University of Texas in Austin, where he grew up.

He then joined an ad agency, becoming a commercial illustrator, but continuing to work on his own paintings at the same time. He would often include his own art in advertisements he was putting together and that caught the attention of Southwest Airlines, who happened to be one of the agency’s clients. They were so taken with his work that they commissioned him to paint some of their airplanes, including a special jet to commemorate the airline’s 25th anniversary. Some of those planes are still flying today.

Terrell did have art shows in local galleries and he toured the country doing shows and art fairs. That brought him into contact with folk artists, with whom he felt an immediate rapport. He had always been drawn to depicting scenes of nature—birds, animals and flowers in particular—and

he became very involved with primitive art. That connection had a major influence on his work and is clearly evident in his images, which are a delightful combination of primitive and contemporary.

He had been coming to Santa Fe since the early 1980s, having fallen in love with it on a trip from Texas to Durango. “I was just blown away by the mountain views,” he recalls. “There are no mountains in Texas, just trees, and the views here are so vast. I was determined to come back, and I have been coming here ever since.”

While still based in Texas, Terrell had connected with galleries in Santa Fe and Taos, who began showing his work, and he finally succeeded in moving here with his family in 2018. He was glad to find a house with enough land to build a large studio, because, while still in Texas, he decided that he wanted to add to what he was doing and began making metal sculptures. He had taken a welding class in Texas, so since they started out small, he was able to put them together himself. People loved them and they just took off.

But they gradually grew bigger over time, necessitating the need for a professional welder, a partnership that continues to this day. Terrell designs the pieces, which the welder puts together in steel, and he then paints them. If intended to be placed outdoors, they are given a special, weather-resistant finish.

Some of Terrell’s paintings have evolved to become three-dimensional artworks as well, combining metal and paint on canvas, or wood panels. He favors bright colors and his paintings often include childlike images reminiscent of folk art, with universal appeal. He also likes to incorporate native American symbols which he often comes across on hiking trips, engraved on pieces of old pottery, or inscribed on rock.

He recently started experimenting with metal strips and whirls, both individual and in groups. Fashioned by his welder in different sizes, he paints them in a variety of different, brilliant colors and no two are ever the same. He uses acrylic and enamel paint, coated in resin, so they can be hung either inside or out and they are currently among his most popular items. Terrell is also open to accepting commissions.

Interested parties are welcome to set up an appointment, either by email or telephone, to visit his studio. Samples of his work can also be seen at Dominique Boisjoli Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe, and Calliope Fine Art and Craft Gallery in Madrid.

Terrell Powell terrellpowellartist@yahoo.com 512.826.1399