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Artist Kelly Ormsby: Grit & Optimism

The Rockwell Museum Store features fair-trade, USA-made and Native-made products – this month, we’re thrilled to feature local jeweler, potter and Rockwell member Kelly Ormsby of Corning, NY. Ormsby was recently featured in The Ithaca Journal with a myriad of other regional craftspeople that make their living  at festivals, fairs, and individual sales. 

Just in time for Dia de los Muertos, visitors to The Museum Store will find Kelly’s whimsical jewelry series Dead Line, a festive collection featuring vibrant beads, feathers, and of course: SKULLS.

When asked about her inspiration, Ormsby says:

The vibrant character of the Southwest has captivated me and commanded my attention. The wild lands with their red rock mesas and flowering cacti have offered a glimpse as to why we refer to the west as wild. The colorful culture of those who live there has been as inspiring as the landscape itself. Sand colored adobes are festively accented with turquoise doors, bright red chili peppers, and colorfully painted Mexican pottery. These oases of color and culture in the desert are reflective of the characteristics of grit and optimism. They offer hope and joy in what appears to be a wasteland. By using festive colors and daring to design the boldly, I try to capture the essence of the Southwest in a wearable form, which is my jewelry.

Find her bold necklaces, earrings and stack-able bracelets now in The Museum Store to add some spice to your wardrobe this fall! Ormsby’s fabulous use of color and pattern will compliment any style. 

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