Looking for gems at the Art and Wine Fest? Sarah Pierce has you covered

The wait is over for local artist Sarah Pierce.

After Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the Kent Art & Wine Festival in 2020 and 2021, the event is back on this year in downtown Kent. Pierce, of Tallmadge, and more than 40 other artists will finally get to showcase their artistry at the festival, which will be held from noon to 9 p.m. June 4.

Pierce specializes in nature-inspired, heirloom-quality jewelry. After graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2010, Pierce began her career working as a bench jeweler for Heather B. Moore. Three years later, she started her own full-time jeweler business, where she crafts beautiful gemstones, sterling silver and 14 karat gold into wearable works of art.

“I use a mix of precious to semi-precious [gemstones],” she said. “I use a lot of peridot because the green color goes very well, and then I also love using small diamonds and rubies as accents.”

Diamonds are Pierce’s preferred gemstone to work with because they are versatile and she loves the variety of colors they come in, but she admits that her favorite gemstones are tanzanite and sapphires.

Pierce has an affinity for custom-made jewelry because she never knows what it is going to entail. Her custom projects range from wedding bands and bridal jewelry to family heirloom pieces, and even some out-of-the-ordinary projects.

“I made a piece for a customer using horsehair, which is common in the equestrian world to have a locket or a pendant using your horse’s hair in, like, a braid,” she said. “So, I made a couple of pieces with the horsehair for her. That was interesting.”

The sparkling gems and finely crafted precious metals that go into Pierce’s work give it style and elegance, as does her signature design: an engraved leaf shape. Whether you are dressing up or going casual, her jewelry is designed to fit any occasion.

You can check out Pierce’s artwork at https://www.piercejewelryoh.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/piercejewelry.