Fine Jewelry Meets Fine Art

By julia MChugh • Photos By Bill Boyd

Glittering diamond rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are artfully arrayed inside a display case at Churchill Jewelers. On the wall above, a large painting shows informally dressed, young classical musicians preparing for a concert. The loose, free-form composition glows with warm tones of terra cotta, ochre, chestnut, grey, and khaki.

Throughout the long narrow Churchill showroom, carefully selected works of art complement gold, silver, platinum, precious gemstones, fine watches, and more.

This combination of fine jewelry with this fine art is simply stunning.

“It may sound like a contradiction, but bold paintings near small things helps give focus to the space, and compartmentalizes it visually,” says

Dianna Bottoms, who has curated the State Street store artworks.

“We want to add to, and not take away from, the jewelry,” she adds. “To make it more luscious.”

Exhibiting art at Churchill’s is not new, she is quick to point out. The space has often been used to display artworks as fundraisers for local nonprofits. “They’ve been very generous with their walls,” says Dianna.

Store patriarch, Richard Kerns, now aged 92, worked for Churchill’s original owners after World War II. He later purchased the store, which celebrates its 97th anniversary this year. Daughter Lexie is now in charge, though Richard still comes in most days.

Local artists are well represented in Dianna’s current exhibit design. Several works, including the musicians above the diamonds, are from

Ruth Ellen Hoag’s “Music” collection. “Her studio is right down the street,” says Dianna. “We send people to her and she sends others to us.”

Hoag is a former French horn player, and Dianna a former professional ballet dancer. “I like working with living artists, and like seeing them evolve,” she says. “Their passion comes from the same place that I felt in my heart for dancing.”

She has been following Kelli Fulsom, a painter from Oklahoma, for several years. “I’ve watched her go from school to teacher and into galleries,” she recalls. “Something about her work just struck me.”

Fulsom’s small still life and landscapes echo the Old Masters, with dramatic lighting, infused color, and graceful compositions. Their golden tones are picked up in the nearby case of rings and earrings.

Dianna previously managed three Santa Barbara art galleries with her then-husband, artist James “Bud” Bottoms. She later organized large scale art, antique, and jewelry shows in major cities around the world.

“That proved to me that the future is to combine genres,” she says, looking around the showroommeets-gallery. “Fine artists don’t have as many outlets as they once did, so putting them with fine jewelry makes perfect sense.”

Churchill Jewelers 1015 State Street 962-5815 www. churchilljewelers.com Open daily, except Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flagstone finish

Natural stone patios and pathways are an obvious choice for those seeking one-of-a-kind design. Cherokee flagstone (shown here) found in Eastern Oklahoma is known for unique patterns and hues. The patio was nestled into a “rockery” and each individual stone hand-cut which highlights the distinctive colors and shapes giving the feeling of being hewn from the surrounding mountains. The fire pit at the patio’s edge gives the impression of having been fashioned by nature herself. –Lisa Cullen

Cherokee flagstone is available through Solid Rock Stone & Tile, 624 East Haley St. 805-617-3310.