The Hipster Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 Like Elizabeth Taylor, artist Gabriel Urist has violet eyes and a very large jewelry collection. He started crafting necklaces, rings and other accessories eight years ago at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. Now he's in Brooklyn, embellishing the gold and silver trade. His work is gorgeous -- he's fashioned knuckle rings and other glitzy things for supermodel Omahyra and styled accessories for Miguel Adrover and Gary Graham fashion shows. But Urist's main passion is basketball, and after a few years of metalsmithing, he's making waves with a line of hoops-inspired jewelry. "In my opinion, the beauty of basketball has, for the moment, been lost in the institutionalization of the NBA," he says. "Basketball jewelry is elegant and street-smart." His array of sterling-silver, platinum and gold slam-dunk silhouettes, Dream Team necklaces and Air Jordan dribble pendants are available at New York shops like Alife and Nom de Guerre. Legendary artist Futura entrusted him to turn everyday objects into jewelry for the opening of his upcoming store FL (aka Futura Laboratory) in Japan. Despite all the props, Urist is decidedly more Fort Greene than Hollywood. He likes to hang out with his artist friends -- and if you come by his studio, this 6' 3" dude will polish your wedding band. "I love my equipment," he gushes. Scha-wing! C.C. MCGURR * Gabriel wears a jacket by Y-3, jewelry by Gabriel Urist http://www.papermag.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fr8lover Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 embarrassing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAL Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 Well, now I know what to get all my metrosexual friends for their birthdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justaname Posted February 8, 2005 Share Posted February 8, 2005 your metrosexual friends that rap! BLING BLING YO! they are quite crafty though... but still BLING BLING YO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abracadabra Posted February 9, 2005 Share Posted February 9, 2005 Originally posted by justaname@Feb 8 2005, 05:18 PM your metrosexual friends that rap! BLING BLING YO! Quoted post all rappers are fucking metrosexuals these days. motherfuckers shouting "gangsta" and "thug" and walking around with manicures and pedicures, styled to within and inch of their life, spending more time getting dressed than a fucking woman. shit is ghey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted August 16, 2005 Author Share Posted August 16, 2005 http://freshnessmag.com Sneaker Jewels Interview with Gabriel Urist by Young Thawt --------------------------------- What prompted your interest in the creation and composition of jewelry? I was real into painting. In high school, I took a metalsmithing class. How did you come to be in Brooklyn, which is not a train or ferry ride from Michigan? My folks are from Brooklyn. My grandparents, aunts, cousins, brothers, sisters all live here. When did the basketball related work really reach fabrication? How long had it been in your mind before serious production began to take place? I started the basketball jewelry in ’03. Serious production began in ’05. You’ve said the “beauty of basketball has, for the moment, been lost in the institutionalization of the N.B.A.” Isn’t jewelry, the preeminent symbol of one’s economic stature, the ultimate commodification of the passion that drives the game to be played in the streets where a milk crate is a hoop and a telephone pole plays backboard? I’ve been playing basketball since I was eight years old. I love playing basketball. I am also a jeweler. I love making and designing jewelry. Basketball jewelry is how I combine these two things. My idea to make basketball jewelry came from a desire to make jewelry that said something true about myself and my friends. I never expected it to blow up like it did. Of course I’m glad it did. It excites me that so many people see my jewelry and just get it, no explanation necessary. My feelings about the NBA have nothing to do with my feelings about the game of basketball. I chose Jordan as a symbol of the grace and beauty of the game – an athlete who plays because he loves it more that anything else in the world and spends his life playing. Jewelry is my medium and I spend my life perfecting my skills. Basketball jewelry is a moment in my progression just like playing in the NBA can be a moment in the life of a person devoted to basketball. I think the NBA can use a new dose of that purity, the idea of playing just because you love it. I’d like to be absolutely clear - I LOVE BASKETBALL. I love playing basketball and all the kids who play basketball all over the world and I make my jewelry for them. All the sneakers I’ve done have been basketball shoes, except for the p-rod. That’s another example of what I’m taking about. I doubt Paul Rodriguez started skating because he wanted to be famous. He just ended up that way because he got really good at something he loves to do. It not about fame and money its about doing what you love and trying to be as good at it as you can. You don’t have to play basketball be a baller. The perfection you have achieved in your reproduction of the sneakers is amazing. How tedious is the work and what is the most time you have spent on one design? Thank you! The work is tedious sometimes. I’ve spent 4 months on a shoe. Each pendant is the crystalized essence of the perfection that is the sneaker. In fact, you have improved the sneaker in many ways because the shoe can never crease, its laden in precious metals, and rests at eye-level glinting with the sun as passers by check your piece. How deep does the concept of the perfect shoe run in your own mind? I think there’s a lot of perfect shoes. I think about them every day. The concept of shoes runs as deep as you want. I respect the sneaker game, the game of basketball, and the jewelry game all as art forms. It’s all beauty. What is your perfect sneaker? Old man loafers for my grandfather, baby jordans for my niece, and for me, I like the free ones. Is there an ideal piece of jewelry out there that you sweat in particular? I can’t stop thinking ‘bout a spongebob and squarepants platinum pendant I saw. I sweat the class ring as well. I think that’s an ideal piece of jewelry. Is your work about appropriating high fashion to the street, or bringing street sensibilities and swagger to high fashion? I don’t really think much about fashion. Has the thought of imitators crossed your mind? Do you think anyone will try to mimic what you’ve so successfully done with the Jordan silhouettes and sneaker chains? It’s happening already. They drop my name in their emails. What’s next for you? Are there any new designs or models in the works? I’m working on a new line of class rings/graduation/military type rings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shapes Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 yo hipster! http://www.bijulesnyc.com this is the real freshness...this dude is too gimic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted August 20, 2005 Author Share Posted August 20, 2005 yo man thanks for showing me that site! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shapes Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 yo hipster did you hear that this jewelry dude Gabriel got his shit all stolen? not sure if that's a rumor, but someone told me he don't lock up his joints and they ran his shit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PUMPKIN ESCOBAR Posted August 29, 2005 Share Posted August 29, 2005 Fucking garbage. Paying thousands for sparkling rocks on gold pendants modeled after played out shoes. Seriously, fuck jewelry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gren1 bnc Posted September 6, 2005 Share Posted September 6, 2005 Originally posted by PUMPKIN ESCOBAR@Aug 29 2005, 08:18 PM Fucking garbage. Paying thousands for sparkling rocks on gold pendants modeled after played out shoes. Seriously, fuck jewelry. Quoted post i couldnt agree more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo king Posted September 8, 2005 Share Posted September 8, 2005 http://www.rakuten.co.jp/essense/565226/ Can buy the jewellery from here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Home Time Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Well said Pumpkin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hipster Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 http://www.sneakergame.com/gabeurist.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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