Critical MAS: W. Adam Orth on Neva Gruver’s “Corvid Necklace”
Written by W. Adam Orth
Writing about art isn’t something I do. I work with my hands, as do most of the people I spend most of my time with, both on and off the figurative and literal clock. Over the years, I’ve come to learn that competence in any field takes time to establish. I’ve also come to appreciate the work that goes into building, painting, writing, film, art, and the list goes on. So here I am, writing about art, taking the time to understand and appreciate the work that goes into it, along with the final product.
In Neva Gruver’s piece, the craftsmanship of both the metal work and aging process suggest being worked by hands that care. Without knowing the details of the artist’s experience, I can assume they have a few years of it, or are well ahead of the learning curve that comes with any craft.
Cast silver feathers, the lengths of which increase from the middle to either end, are intertwined into the chain via the rachis. That’s the bare part of a feather, for those who may get lost in the land of Google if they aren’t sure what the rachis is. The silver itself has been patinaed and makes me wonder exactly how old the piece is that I’m writing about. It makes me wonder what the necklace has seen or what story would it tell if it could speak. The story wouldn’t take long, it was shaped last year.
The simplicity of it begs to be handled, to be worn, to present itself above the worth of the materials it’s made from and challenge the societal norms of pieces that are so intimately displayed. It stands out and dares you to recognize it for its simple and intricate design. It strikes me as the type of piece an old school metal worker would pull you aside to show off what he did while not officially “on the job.”
Because I’m not allowed to handle the necklace, for palpable reasons, I can only speculate as to the weight and balance of the necklace. From what I can see, it looks as though it would calm even the most nervous of wearers on the most social of occasions. The chain appears to allow movement by the wearer, yet hold the feathers in place to be seen and heard.
Photos honestly fall short in conveying the funky yet humble way it will catch your eye. It’s definitely worth seeing.
To learn more about the writing in the Critical MAS series, go to Critical MAS: Introduction.