By Patrice Wilson

Charlotte creative Blaine Hurdle wears many hats―fulltime jewelry artist, part-time sculptor, picture framer, DJ, graphic designer, muralist and art handler.

He added another one in 2022―ASC Emerging Creators Fellowship recipient.

Hurdle used his fellowship to obtain equipment and tools that will sustain his jewelry making in a way that he had not thought possible at this point in his career.

When originally proposing his fellowship plan, “I thought that I would be designing an edition of sculptures and jewelry to be sent off and cast for me,” he said. “Upon receiving [the fellowship], my thoughts started to change a little bit. What if I started buying the tools and I was able to do this more myself?”

Now, Hurdle has the capability of not only designing sculptures and jewelry, but he can also cast pieces. This allows Hurdle to make his creative process more sustainable and affordable.

“Jewelry tools are made to last and are made to be used if you take care of them and use them properly,” he said. “This is stuff that I will have for many, many, years to come. It has definitely allowed me to get to a place in my practice that without [it], would not be possible.”

The Charlotte native grew up not too far from Eastland mall and still lives in that area today. His father had a jewelry business on Monroe Road in the 1970s and 80s and this is where he gained a fascination with the tools and process of jewelry making.

“My mom and I would zip around town picking up repair orders and bring them back to the shop,” Hurdle said. “Casting was something [my dad] did quite a bit of and I worked alongside him casting jewelry pieces.

“I never really minded getting dirty and sweaty. Jewelry was kind of in my blood. You [get to] play with fire; the tools especially, I drew an interest to at an early age. I love work where you have a process and a clear end result.”

Hurdle has displayed his work at The Mint Museum, SOCO Gallery, C3Lab and Goodyear Arts, where he is a member of the artist collective. He is also an art and jewelry history enthusiast, and that influence can be seen in his work.

“Jewelry predates cave paintings and is one of the earliest art forms,” he said. “I do ancient Greek and Roman jewelry. Hands, eyes, snakes are reoccurring motifs in my work that can be found throughout jewelry history.”

Hurdle’s jewelry making practice is set apart by the materials he uses and repurposes to create his art.

“I use more affordable metals like brass, copper, and silver,” he said, “but I also just go on a walk and find a random piece of wire or cheap metal.”