Bosco Jewelry is a green company, only recycled metals are used, and a portion of its profits are donated toward environmental, social and animal rights causes.
About 17 years ago, Bosco Jewelry sprouted organically out of an explosive love and tenacious passion for the process of exploring an idea, an inexhaustible curiosity. The result, the hammered wrap line was born, born of this process. With comfort, simplicity and uniqueness being the tenants of artist, Pamela Bosco’s approach to jewelry design, the work was first developed while she was working as a bench jeweler for artist/goldsmith, Sam Shaw. In 2001, the full time business formally began from Bosco’s Peaks Island, Maine home. Since then, the design has carried itself, still changing, still thriving. Bosco’s wrap rings and bracelets have sold in museums stores and galleries throughout the United States, most carrying the line since the beginning.
Bosco Jewelry has always just been Pamela Bosco with the help of one gifted assistant at a time. Now in 2016, Bosco Jewelry will take a different direction, moving from primarily a production line to include more unique designs. The same wrap designs are available, but the designer is now creating the work entirely on her own. This change comes due to Bosco’s commitment to stay in her integrity and create from her heart.
Awards & Recognition
About Pamela Bosco
Pamela Bosco was born in Hartford, CT. Pamela started her art studies at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students’ League in New York, and continued them at the Portland School of Art (now the Maine College of Art), and University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine. In 1995, she graduated from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor with a degree in Human Ecology with a focus on art and environmental/social justice. At College of the Atlantic, Pamela worked as an assistant to artist Carl Little and helped to curate art shows in the Blum Gallery, having a knack for hanging art. Following graduation, she worked at Maine Coast Artists (now the Center for Maine Contemporary Art; CMCA) as assistant curator to CMCA Curator Emeritus Bruce Brown. Upon returning to Portland, Maine, Bosco began sculpting with clay, and soon began teaching herself the basics of metalsmithing, having access to a jewelry studio. In 1999, She took a position hanging bimonthly art shows and as a bench jeweler at Shaw Jewelry in Northeast Harbor, Maine.In 2001, she officially began Bosco Jewelry. Bosco’s line of hammered wrap jewelry has been represented by museum stores and galleries throughout the United States and in Canada since its inception. In 2015, Bosco moved away from production work to create unique and one of a kind work. Her work is sold internationally from her website. Her work was included in the 2014 Artistar Exhibition in Milan Italy. She was nominated for the Arts & Crafts Award (2014, 2015). And, her wrap rings were featured in Vogue Germany 2014, and 2015.
“A line . . . is the basis of all art. With a single line we can express grandeur, nobility, and sensuality; the line synthesizes sensations and
concentrates knowledge.”
—René Gruau
Artist Statement
No matter the medium, I love to work in multiples and creating the same thing over and over and over again. This is my process and for me, making art is all about the process. Before metal, it was the abstracted, exaggerated and expressive lines of figure drawing that I lingered on, and then sculpting heads with clay. Now, I form metal as if it were clay, line in mind. I strive for a sculptural piece with attention to the line. My process is simple. I play with the metal, with hand, torch, anvil, and hammer until the consistency is just right. It’s about finding perfect balance of softness, resilience, and form. My work has to move, it has to have life.
I’ve made art all my life, born of an intrinsic desire to articulate myself with my hands. I attended art schools such as School of Visual Arts, Art Students League, and Maine College of Art, but due to a rebellious spirit and empty pockets I didn’t stay long. Finally, I landed at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine where I finally put myself through school and made art as a response to my ignited zest and reverence for the natural world. This is why I love metal. My work serves a purpose.
We can wear it and do I dare suggest that it makes us feel special! I never, ever dreamed I’d be working with metal, and making jewelry. Many years ago, I was working at a clay studio when I wandered into their metals room and lit the torch. That’s it. I was hooked and never looked back. Metalsmithing satisfied for me all the elements that I was seeking in my art. I responded to the simplicity of the process which is spontaneous, and immediate. Like clay, metal is resilient, forgiving, supple, and changeable. Having no formal training, I taught myself the basics and explored fearlessly the limits of metal. A year later, I found myself at the studio of goldsmith/artist, Sam Shaw in Northeast Harbor, Maine, where while creating his designs, my skills were refined just enough to expand my understanding of the material. Besides working with Sam Shaw, I’ve attended Haystack Mountain School of Crafts where I took a class with Jean Stark and learned to make Roman Loop n’ Loop Chains.
Finally, this work is a reflection of my love and appreciation of nature and wildlife. I consciously live from my heart a life of simplicity, adventure, and joy. I spend most of my time outdoors yearround and I love to dance!
