Alita Buck
Small treasures found on evening walks and far-flung adventures fill Alita Buck’s home studio in Houston, TX. The elegant twists in a piece of driftwood, the unique texture of an ostrich eggshell, the smooth grey bark of a whitetail deer’s shed antler— these beloved specimens of her ever-growing trove are the spark of Alita’s curiosity and imagination. Her love of natural material and devotion to craftsmanship begins with her father, a carpenter and sculptor, who encouraged her to pursue art of all kinds from a young age. Alita’s sense of design, composition, and identity as a metalsmith was nurtured under the incredible instruction of Prof. Holly Goeckler while Alita pursued her BA in Art at Trinity University.
Practice
Every organic object is shaped, ornamented, and polished by hand with the utmost care. All ear hooks, jumprings, and detail elements are fabricated in the studio, while all chains and clasps are purchased through Rio Grande Jewelry Supply—a company dedicated to minimizing negative environmental impact and that supports and educates their customers in sustainable and environmentally responsible jewelry-making.
Ethos
Alita Buck strives to harmonize the beauty in both the hand-made and the nature-made, wherein the innate qualities of a natural object are lovingly displayed in every piece. Variations, contrasts, and delightful oddities are the qualities Alita prizes most in selecting a piece to craft into wearable art.