Sterling Silver Hatband

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Chrissy wasn’t born to the West but knew in her heart that somehow, she would end up here. She was born in the rural rolling hills of Pennsylvania and have forever had a love of the outdoors. Her parents nurtured in me a deep respect for the natural world and a love of adventure and exploration. Chrissy’s family took numerous road trips across the country – always lured by the call of the West. It was on these trips, she developed a respect and awe for this glorious country she was fortunate enough to be born in. Her mother with her thirst for knowledge took them to a number of Native American reservations and heritage sites and, not to be outdone, her father took them to Rodeos and to ride horses over the vast endless plains of sage and tumbleweed when they could. She fell in love with the mountains, the wild rivers, the big open skies, and the West’s remoteness that crept their way into her heart and soul. Throughout her life she has continued to follow her love of art and the natural world – they are inseparable to in her eyes. During her high school education, she was fortunate to have an apprenticeship with the acclaimed metal sculptor Val Bertoia. That is when she discovered she had a gift for working metal and later went on to study design at Moore College of Art and textiles at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Chrissy began working in sterling silver and studied smithing with the master artisan/blacksmith, Jonathan Nedbor learning how to forge iron while continuing to weave and create sterling silver jewelry. In 2020 her life dream of living in the West finally became a reality when she moved to a ranch in Cody, Wyoming. It is here, in the majesty of the ancient landscape where the Elk migrate from the mountains to the flat lands and the Grizzly bear hunt for fish along the river corridor that her inspiration comes from.