Artist Statement

Mixed metals inspire me with their range of colors and the emergence of their invisible layered patterns as I grind, sand, etch, and finish each piece. Damascus steel is made by laminating alternating contrasting alloys of steel; Mokume Gane is similarly made by layering non-ferrous metals. My current interest is designing and fabricating my own soldered Mokume material from silver solder and copper, brass, and bronze alloys. I enjoy the process of creating my own “recipes” for fabricating patterned mixed metal sheets and creating jewelry from these sheets, so that I own the process of creation from start to finished product. My Damascus jewelry pieces feature wood grain-like patterns in black and silver with copper, brass, or nickel accents. I also create flatware from mixed metals and handle materials that include wood, stone inlays, and composite malachite.

Damascus has been developed globally since 350 B.C. for building swords and weapons of war. I bring the ancient technique of forging steel into the jewelry realm by highlighting its beauty over its functionality as a tool and weapon. As a metalsmith, I enjoy every step of the process of crafting raw materials into jewelry: soldering, welding, forging, bladesmithing, metal etching, anodizing, and manipulating metal surfaces to create patterns. I love researching metallurgy as I work with metal, not on metal, and I can only do what the metallurgical properties allow. I want the owners of my jewelry to appreciate the joining of tradition and innovation in my metalworking. I am proud to be making jewelry that is rooted in an ancient past and to enter the makers’ movement driving its present evolution.

Bio

Jacob Hoke was born and raised in the Appalachian mountains of Boone, North Carolina. He earned a welding diploma from Wilkes Community College, which led to an inspiring job at a blacksmith’s shop where he learned how to make Damascus steel and Mokume Gane. Experimenting with cut-off scraps of Damascus steel, Jacob taught himself to etch, shape, and craft pendants and other jewelry. Jacob studied a range of other craft mediums, including jewelry, blacksmithing, glass, bowl turning, knifemaking, lapidary, and more. He adapts skills acquired in these mediums to creating with metal and researches metallurgy, lamination, new tools, rocks and minerals, and new sheet metal patterning techniques. In May 2024, Jacob graduated with an Associate’s in Applied Science degree through the Professional Crafts program for Jewelry at Haywood Community College.

Jacob’s artist profile is registered with the Watauga County Arts Council. His work can be found at the Haywood Handmade Gallery of the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville during the themed shows, at Hands Gallery in Boone, NC, at many shows and festivals around Watauga County, NC and Haywood County, NC, and now at https://www.jacobsjewelry20.com/