Jewelry artist Kathy Chan holding jewelry that she crafted.
Kathy crafted this solid gold space shuttle.
Kathy created these pieces.
Gadsden center to feature Kathy Chan's work in jewelry, sculpture, gowns
GADSDEN - It's a lovely experience to step into the world of Kathy Chan. Her warm personality and giving nature, talent for both science and art and her gift for combining them will never be more apparent than for the next week at the Cultural Arts Center in Gadsden.
More than 300 pieces of international award-winning jewelry, precious metal sculpture, paintings, prints and evening gowns of Kathy's design are on exhibit through Nov. 4.
"It's the first time we've ever had so many pieces by one artist," said exhibit curator George Terrell. George became acquainted with Kathy when she was invited in 1992 to show her jewelry alongside a collection of pieces by Russian court jeweler Peter Carl Faberge.
Sources of inspiration
Some of the most striking examples of Kathy's work are diminutive homages to milestones in history through which the human spirit has shone like the bright gold and precious gems of which they're made. She has created pieces to remember the San Francisco earthquake of 1989, the March on Tiananmen Square and the Challenger disaster, among others.
"My reaction to these events is watching how other people react," Kathy said. "I feel like a writer - they put everything down with pencil and paper, but since I work with gold and diamonds, I make historic pieces in that medium."
Although her historical pieces record important events, the people involved in them are her true inspiration.
"When the earthquake happened, I saw that people were just very nice, they were so helpful, and that moved me, so I felt compelled to make a piece."
Her reaction was the same for the devastating Huntsville tornado of 1989.
"It took me 4 1/2 hours to drive a few miles home from my shop, and that was through the tornado scene," she said. "There were already people there with blankets and clothes, trying to help. That moved me."
Jeweler or engineer?
Kathy's commemorative pieces aren't just for show, they can be worn in a variety of ways - as earrings, broaches and pendants.
"Everything that I like to make is utilitarian," she said. "Lots of my jewelry pieces can be worn many ways, or they can be put on display as a piece of art."
One of her most versatile pieces, a blue topaz heart pierced by a diamond arrow set on a pearl necklace, may be worn 13 different ways. That's the natural engineer coming out in her.
She had an aptitude for many things, but wanted to go into fashion design. While still a high school student, Kathy met her husband, Chia Hwa (Tony) Chan, while he was home from university in England visiting his parents. She married him at 17 and returned to England with him while he completed his Ph.D.
The couple came to the United States, and Kathy raised their three children and finished her high school equivalency diploma. Tony brought his family to Huntsville, and Kathy went back to school, graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville with degrees in both art and foreign languages. Tony retired as chairman of the UAH Physics Department in 1997.
As a freelance artist, Kathy designed a logo for a jewelry store, and found her calling when the owner offered her a partnership. She eventually bought the owner out and taught herself the properties of gold, silver and platinum in jewelry design by reading books.
"I have an art degree, so I just flipped it - it's all art," Kathy said. "I was very lucky, everything came out just perfect."
She now works from her store in Main Street South, Germano Gallery.
Kathy has won 14 international awards for her designs and has donated many more pieces to raise money for community charities and arts organizations. Through the Pei-Ling Chan Charitable Trust, Kathy and husband Tony have provided millions of dollars to civic, educational, scholarship and university programs as well as cultural and humanitarian projects. Most recently for her philanthropy, Kathy was named a 2007 honoree in Arts and Humanities by the Women's Economic Development Council.
It's only fitting that during the Year of Alabama Arts, Bob Riley recognized Kathy with the prestigious Governor's Arts Award for lifetime achievement.
Source: al
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