The River of Time

There are sublime moments, little pieces of time that we inhabit in such a way that we are reminded that our existence is part of a flowing river that never ends. When I touch the river in one place I experience it in that place. Wetness movement, motion the current, sun light on the ripples the here and now of the river in this moment in this place. Yet if I let myself rise to a higher understanding I realize I am also touching the whole river everything connected together in one long stream that has existed for a very long time..

Certain moments connect us to the river of time in a way so powerful that we catch a fleeting glimpse of a distant future or an ancient lineage. Suddenly we “know” that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves and we know that as much as things have changed in other ways they haven’t changed much.

Most recently this happened to me in a jewelry class. Specifically, it was a wire working jewelry class at a local community college that took place over a Saturday and Sunday. The moment began as we started by learning tools. We examined chain nose pliers, half round pliers, jewelers’ saws, files, and small hammers. We hefted the weight of a four by four inch square block of steel used to beat on. It continued as we examined materials looking at square wire, round wire, half hard wire, silver brass and copper wire and the gauge that taught us how to measure the size.

The instructor told us that the type of jewelry we were about to make was sometimes known as ‘gypsy” jewelry. She said she preferred the name ‘nomadic” jewelry. She went on to explain that way back in time small hand tools not so dissimilar were rolled up in leather and carried by ancient artisans from place to place where they would find small bits and pieces of metal or precious stone. They worked the pieces of metal with hammers, sticks and stones transforming it into metal jewelry that was wrapped around the stone. In turn the jewelry was traded for food clothing and other metal to continue the craft.

Of course she said, “we can teach you how to do all of this with power tools, with drills, and dremel tools, and saws and cutters, but that is not what we are here to do today.” “We are here today,” she said, “ to do what they did in the tents at night and in the bazaars in the day time.

Patiently under her careful watch, we bent twisted and beat on spirals and circles of wire making jump rings, bangles, and baubles and yes beads. Making figure eights, “S” hooks and catches to put it all together. No electricity no special tools everything worked by hand. Everything including tools and materials fit neatly into a shoebox size Tupperware container. I could have taken it anywhere.

In the end I created jewelry. It was brass wire with a natural beaten look, primitive and attractive. Everyone who has seen it seems drawn to the natural shapes and forms. It is hard for me to believe I made, yet it has a resonance a true hand made look that is ancient and old.

The primitive style suits me, gaps and dents and scratches are all part of it. Some finishing work enhances it, but I am comfortable with the tools and the techniques.

More than anything though I was set free. Loose drifting in time, creative and engaged in the moment I came to understand that this craft, this skill has existed through the history of mankind. Jewelry and decorative pieces have been found at every ancient site burial and battlefield. Jewelry is in fact a piece of who we are. Creating on this day felt good and right and quite fulfilling. It was magical to touch the river in such a small way.