Slate Gray: Amazon Rainforest Comes to Telluride, 8/3!

23 Jul Slate Gray: Amazon Rainforest Comes to Telluride, 8/3!

Slate Gray Gallery is a contemporary art gallery featuring a range of emerging regional artists, mid-career artists, and internationally established artists. Every purchase helps us fulfill our mission – promoting the arts to give back to our community. For more information visit our website at slategraygallery.com or email info@slategraygallery.com.

Amazon rainforest comes to Telluride. Slate Gray Gallery event combines science, designer jewelry, and photography.

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Image, courtesy Dora Frias Martinelli

Ever wonder what science, designer jewelry, and photography have in common? For the Frias-Martinelli family, the answer is the Amazon Rainforest.

On Saturday, August 3rd at 4:30pm, the mother/father/daughter trio will join Slate Gray Gallery for a rich discussion about the influences and importance of the Amazon on the family’s respective work.

Sandra Frias, a studio jeweler from Brazil, has shown her jewelry in Telluride for years. She will be visiting Slate Gray for her first in-person jewelry trunk show at the gallery. Sandra will be accompanied by her daughter, Dora Frias Martinelli, whose black-and-white photography will be featured in a pop-up photo exhibition. The joint event is aptly titled “Bio Amazonica” for the mother-daughter duo’s inspiration by the Amazon Rainforest. The jewelry and photography will be on display for five days only: August 1st through 5th.

Jewelry by Sandra Frias

Kicking off the discussion on Saturday will be Sandra’s husband, Professor Luiz Antonio Martinelli. He is a full professor at the University of São Paulo and focuses his research on the ecology and geochemistry of the Amazon Basin. He will begin by highlighting the importance of the preservation of the Amazon, then segue to Sandra and Dora who will illustrate how the Amazon has influenced their work.

Image courtesy Dora Frias Martinelli

“Nature has always been my greatest inspiration.” explained Sandra. “Its forms, textures, and the way everything is interconnected fascinate me and drive me to create. For me, jewelry is more than a profession; it is my language, the way I communicate with the world and share my vision. The Amazon Rainforest, with its richness and diversity, holds a special place in my heart. It is within this environment that I find an abundance of elements that fuel my creativity. Every leaf, every flower, every creature inspires me to create unique pieces that capture the essence of this natural wonder. Working with jewelry is, for me, a way to honor nature. I use sustainable materials and techniques that minimize environmental impact, always with the goal of creating pieces that not only beautify but also raise awareness about the importance of environmental preservation. This is the spirit that guides my work in jewelry: a deep connection with nature and a commitment to creating pieces that go beyond aesthetics, carrying a message of respect and preservation.”

Like her mother, Dora Frias Martinelli captures the essence of the Amazon in her work. Her black-and-white images capture flora, fauna, and the human spirit. Though Dora struggled to initially share her work with the world, she finally brought her photos “out in the open” for the first time in college.

In her artist statement, Dora explained that “Photography is my time-out, a place to breathe and find inspiration. Despite this, I’ve never been one to share my photos. They say so much about me, about my soul – something I’ve always thought concerned only myself. I think artists who share their work are extremely courageous. It’s like exposing the thoughts and feelings we have but don’t talk about.”

We feel privileged to have Dora share her work at Slate Gray.

As advocates for environmental conservation and creative exploration, the Frias-Martinelli family looks forward to sharing their profound connection to the Amazon Rainforest during the discussion on August 3rd. Slate Gray hopes you will join us as we delve deeper into their inspiring journey and discover how their unique blend of science, designer jewelry, and photography converges to highlight the beauty and significance of the Amazonian ecosystem.