Artist Kathie Krielow pours her heart and soul into the jewelry she makes. Even when inspiration hits at 2 a.m., she is eager to go to her studio and create. Now her hand-crafted jewelry will be featured at Nader’s Gallery in a show entitled, “Art Endures.” An opening reception will take place on Thursday, May 4, from 3-7 p.m.

As a hair stylist in Shreveport, Krielow owned and operated her own salon. She was used to creating what others wanted. She looked at the photos clients gave her and cut their hair accordingly. All of this changed when Krielow divorced and then remarried in 1990. She moved from Shreveport to Lake Charles. A bout of boredom steered her in the direction of jewelry making.

For over 26 years now, Krielow is making the jewelry that she wants to make.

“I’m almost 58,” she said. “I used to cut hair. I took orders like a short-order cook. Now I want to do what I want to do. If I’m going to risk breaking my fingers, I want to create my own vision. It’s extremely important for me to be authentic to myself.”

This means following her own inspiration rather than relying on commission orders from customers. Her inspiration comes from nature and sometimes from places she has visited while on vacation. All the beauty she takes in transforms into the jewelry she sells at her storefront, Kathie Krielow Jewelry Concepts, located in Lake Charles.

“The infancy of something new in the studio is what I get fired up about,” Krielow said. “I’m so excited, like a kid digging into a bag of candy.”

While Krielow appreciates art history and the old-fashioned way of doing things, she isn’t afraid to utilize more modern techniques. She became one of the first jewelry artists in America to use precious metals clay and began incorporating it into her pieces. Now the product is used by jewelry artists all around the world.

“I love the idea that heirloom jewelry can be made the oldfashioned way, but with new technology,” she said. “It’s like the old and the new together.”

All the pieces Krielow has created over the years have a cohesion to them. Bracelets, necklaces and earrings are all interconnected. She puts her own signature style into everything she crafts and hopes they stand the test of time.

“It makes me happy when people go, ‘I’ve been wearing this piece for 27 years, and I love it.’ It’s about creating something that somebody I don’t even know maybe a hundred years from now is owning and loving it.”

There is no feeling quite like having people appreciate your art. Krielow has had customers send her letters expressing their gratitude.

“In the day of e-mail, phone calls and technology, for them to sit down and write a note about something they paid a lot of money for, that’s wonderful. It makes me feel great.”

Moving forward, Krielow wants to close her storefront at some point. She will sell her pieces in select stores and online only. This will allow her more time to work in the studio doing what she loves.

“I want to remove the face and just let the work speak for itself,” Krielow said. “God’s in that studio with me, and things that shouldn’t happen just happen. Some of it is magic, and some of it is perseverance. I’m grateful that I can dance to my own music.”

Krielow is excited about her show at Nader’s Gallery. She is very selective about who gets to sell her creations. To her, it’s like selling fine art.

“I’ve always believed in the vision of Nader’s Gallery. It’s about style. The style endures just like the art endures. It’s just the perfect place for it.”

– Jessica Carr

Photo by Burn Rourk (Used with permission from The Jambalaya News.)