Metalsmith BenchTalk with Maureen ('BZ') Brusa Zappellini

My Guest this Thursday, June 21st at 3 p.m. PDT/6EDT on MetalSmith BenchTalk is artist Maureen ('BZ') Brusa Zappellini. 

 

Bio: The designs I create for Cosmo's Moon have an aesthetic that reflect my Southwestern and Italian influences and inspirations. While I currently LIVE in Tucson, my husband is from Florence Italy, and I have been lucky enough to have lived and studied there in the late 1990's (we return at least every year).

 

Cosmo's Moon's inventory consists of ALL original and handmade designs (nothing assembled from commercial craft store findings). This is a line of work that I  have created and developed over the past 25 years, from Boston to Arizona, Florence Italy and Back again. 

 

Metalsmithing found me- it was an art that I stumbled upon by chance. I started working with silver smithing in 1985 as a summer job to earn money for Art school (SMFA Boston/Tufts University). At that time my appearance was pretty outrageous for Seacoast NH, and at first found it difficult to find a job. Luckily a local jeweler (an eclectic/eccentric himself) gave me a chance of a lifetime- an invitation to apprentice for his shop during summers home from art school.

 

Which I did for the next two years- gathering enough metals experience to really light the fire of my interest- which has turned into a lifelong passion. It soon became clear to me that Metalsmithing had become my medium of choice. I remain to this day passionate about working in metals, and making artistic jewelry that is edgy, unique, well crafted and wearable. 

 

For more about Maureen, visit http://cosmosmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/.