"Maker and muse communicate as hands and body synchopate.
Hides within hides find life on new skin."
One of the first emerging brands to catch out attention on this journey was HVNTER GVTHERER. They offer contemporary accessories crafted from precious and non-precious metals. Their collections range from staples to statement pieces in rich blacks, muted grays and weathered metals. HVNTER GVTHERER's line is diverse in form and designed to complement a variety of tastes and lifestyles. The handcrafted process leaves a landscape of unique imperfections on the surface of each piece that changes subtly over time to reveal a distinctive, inner beauty.
Laura Prieto-Velasco founded the label in 2011 to adorn the urban nomad with limited edition designs that pair ancient ideas with elegant minimalism. Raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania and armed with degrees in Metalworking and Design from the Tyler School of Art and San Diego State, Laura learned to appreciate the value of maximising limited resources by using recycled or sustainably sourced materials. This ethos fuels everything HVNTER GVTHERER does. Making each piece by hand in her Chicago studio, Laura challenges wearers to think about jewelry as a platform for exploring history and practicing conscious living, rather than a reflection of passing trends. Committed to these values, Laura shares these ideas with students as an instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
HVNTER GVTHERER's 2016 Leather Art Object Collection SAL ET CORIUM (Salt and Leather) explores the shifting qualities of power and presence through a series of sculptural adornments created from pre-worn black leather garments. Inspired by pre-iron age armour and contemporary leather culture, the designer proposes a new approach to creative ritual and self-realisation. Each piece in the collection is meticulously crafted by hand and only becomes fully realized when worn; taking on its true shape when united with its ultimate muse.
The second presentation of SAL ET CORIUM focuses on THE PROCESS via a full-length video by Chris Hefner scored with the anxiety - inducing rhythms of musician Seth Sher. Unreleased footage documents designer Laura Prieto-Velasco working directly with creative collaborator / muse Heather Gabel as the collection emerges and slowly comes into being.
SAL ET CORIUM - THE PROCESS from HVNTER GVTHERER on Vimeo.
CREDITS
Video: Chris Hefner cmhefner.com/
Muse / Creative Collaborator: Heather Gabel heathergabel.com/ and hidefromhide.com
Model: Noelia Towers
Score: Seth Sher synecult.bandcamp.com and hidefromhide.com
Scent: LVNEA lvnea.com/