Gold in Ghana

Pictured here in this 17th century illuminated manuscript (Artist unknown) is the King of Ghana welcoming Europoeans to his gold-rich country on the West coast of Africa.

Cursed thirst for gold bracelet

This is a rubber bracelet I made up that says "Auri Scare Fames!" (latin, from the Roman Poet Virgil) and it's english translation on the other side "O ' cursed thrist for gold" I gave these out to all of the people who came to see my exhibition at the Art Institute of Boston.

Miner's Peril Bracelet

Here is another gold bracelet from the "Not so charming" series. This one depicts the "tools of the trade" of gold mining.

Ethical Goldsmiths

Here is another collage of The Patron Saint of Goldsmiths, St Eligius. Visit this web site www.ethicalmetalsmiths.org for more information on jewelry made with socially responsible gold.

Gold Diagram

Gold Diagram, © Jane Rainwater, 2006.
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Gold Crystaline Structure

Crystaline Gold Structure Diagram, © Jane Rainwater, 2006
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Illuminated Manuscript

Paris and Michael, by Jane Rainwater ©2006. 22K gold leaf, gouache, vellum.
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This is the start of a series I am working on called "Icons of the 21st Century. This is tradtional illuminated manuscript painting that I learned at Castle Hill Art Center in Truro, MA from Patricia Miranda. This is actual animal skin (vellum) and I made all of my own gouache from pigment and oak gall ink. Illuminated manuscript painting is an amazing and spiritual process. To gild, you apply a gesso mixture to the vellum and you literally take deep wet breaths and blow on the painting surface to activate the gesso for gold adhesion. This is not dutch metal or any of that fake stuff!

Saint Eligius

Saint Eligius (with risen gold), By Jane Rainwater ©2005. Digital print.
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Saint Eligius is the patron saint of metalsmithing. I altered a traditional painting of the saint and placed him on a background of "risen gold". When you put gold oxide into a petri dish with filter paper and put it out in the sun, the gold oxide will rise and create this beautiful pattern.

More St Claire

Saint Claire with chalice, by Jane Rainwater, ©2005. Digital print.
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A digital collage of St Claire with a "veil" of gold molecular diagrams.

Saint Claire

Saint Claire, The Illuminator by Jane Rainwater © 2006. Digital print, gold leaf and paint.
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St Claire is the patron saint of illuminators. Illuminators are the people (usually monks)who work gold leaf onto illuminated manuscript paintings.

Auri Sacre Fames!

Auri Sacra Fames!
(O’ Cursed Thirst for Gold)
– Virgil, Roman poet

How often are we drawn to the beauty and value of something only to discover darker truths that will question our attraction?

My journey with gold begins with the societal and environmental issues surrounding the process of gold mining. I have chosen to use jewelry and it’s cultural associations to raise awareness and illuminate some harsh truths about gold that are not normally considered during purchase, adornment or investment.