Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 372

HORAM 16 NORTHEAST VALLEY LIVING 9 SCOTTSDALE REPUBLIC FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2008 Artist's love with nature evident in jewelry pieces By Barbara Yost Susan Crane said was designed THE REPUBLIC AZCENTRAL.COM to offer patrons high-quality Jewelry Trunk Show jewelry in their backyard. What: Annual show of artiSCOTTSDALE Check In a way, she said, the show is san-made fine jewelry. out Kim Nikolaev's Web site, an extension of the museum and you'll discover she's half shop, as artists set up their ta- When: Noon-5 p.m. Russian, half pixie. bles in the lobby.

April 5-6. Really? Nikolaev will showcase ear- Where: Scottsdale Museum Kim She does claim to have one rings, bracelets, pins and "neck of Contemporary Art, 7374 Nikolaev will pointed ear. pieces" that include traditional E. Second St. show pins, And there is a sense of the pendants and neck wraps that earrings and sylvan glade in her jewelry fit around the neck without a Admission: Free.

bracelets at vine-like and leafy in silver and clasp, as if a vine dropped from Details: 480-994-ARTS the Jewelry gold. a tree. They're fast and easy to (2787), www.smoca.org. Trunk Show. But maybe it's just a whimsi- put on, she said, also slightly cal sense of humor for a woman offbeat but delicate works of born in the Rocky Mountains.

art; "more natural and orga- "They actually come to buy," "I love nature," said Niko- nic." she said. laev, who attended the School "It's doubtful I totally in- While Nikolaev's pieces are of the Art Institute of Chicago vented it," she said, believing ethereal, one of the other feaat age 17 and now lives in the she might have been inspired tured artists, Heidi AbrahamValley. "I love the natural order by antique jewelry. son, creates fierce pieces she community. For years, Abra- Square and Phoenix Metro you find in nature and the va- Nikolaev uses the lost wax calls "little mini sculptures." hamson looked for an art me- Retro in downtown Phoenix, riety, the surprising things that method to craft her precious Her rings and pendants are dium in which she could excel "it's going really well," Abrahappen in the desert." metal pieces of gold and ster- strong works with sharp angles painting, design, beadwork.

hamson said. Nikolaev is one of the artists ling silver. A newer metal she's and have what she calls a mod- Nothing felt right. As she, like many artists, featured in the Scottsdale Mu- using is a rosy hued gold. ern Scandinavian look.

She said that when she re- spends a lot of time working in seum of Contemporary Art's She enjoys the trunk show She's been a jewelry artist turned to that first craft, she her studio in isolation, coming annual Jewelry Trunk Show for the clientele it brings in since she was 12 and made her felt at home. to a show is exciting, Nikolaev April 5-6. museum members and those first peace symbol out of gold in Now, with her work sold in said. This is the third year for the who ordinarily wouldn't shop 1968. She grew up in Brown several Valley shops, including "I just love talking to peoshow that museum director in a museum store.

County, known for its arts Duo at Scottsdale Fashion ple." JOIN US FOR OUR GALA ARTIST RECEPTION CHALLENGER JD 02008 SPIRIT" HORSE BLACK FRIDAY SUNDAY March 21 6-9pm March 23 3-6pm Gala Artist Meet the Artist Reception Poster Book Signing FEATURING Island Cuisine Refreshments served Live entertainment by Live music performed "The Screamin' Javelinas" by local artists Jd Challenger Gallery 37555 NORTH HUM ROAD CAREFREE GALLERIA CAREFREE, AZ CALL FOR MORE INFO (480) 575-1546 A OT HAMRA 15435 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480.946.5110 hamra.com.