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Rising Stars: Meet Gillian Trask

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Gillian Trask.

Hi Gillian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I play with fire and sculpt sterling silver and gold by hand. I play by pushing the boundaries of what metal can do. Every piece is sculpted by hand. These pieces are born, melted, and molten and infused with my emotions’ energy.

I created Gillian Trask the night I melted my thesis piece. It was due the following day. I had put maybe 40 hours into this piece and was so proud. It was very technical. Sadly, at three AM that night, I melted the whole piece.

I quickly realized that tears and fire don’t mix, so to re-alchemize my emotions (my meltdown), I shoved it aside and started melting any silver I could find. I created the Life in Circle Ring that very night. It was the origin story of the beginning of Gillian Trask Jewelry and the beginning of fusing empowerment into every piece.

It seems to be something people can relate to because I’m proud to say that this past April, we opened up our very own brick-and-mortar store at 248 Bull Street, Downtown Savannah.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing in my life has been smooth, but I wouldn’t be as strong as I am had I not gone through major hurdles to be here today. I was a foster baby, so from the very start – I had separation trauma. But I see that as setting the tone for the rest of my life in managing my emotions.

I have always turned to artistic endeavors to release any sadness or stress. Dance, skiing, drawing, metal sculpture- you name it. Now, I can channel my emotions into each piece, so I am always in a place of release. That in turn has been incredibly healing.

It’s taken me a long time to channel this energy healthily, and now I am also in a position to be able to give back. We support our local Savannah Chatham CASA for foster children, and I couldn’t be more proud to be able to support those children with the amazing volunteers who give those kids a voice through the whole court and foster process.

It’s got to be bigger than me or my art. I’m here to help heal more people than just myself.

Click here for the full article

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Meet Gillian Trask

We recently connected with Gillian Trask and have shared our conversation below.

Gillian, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I think getting put through ‘the wringer’ in life is a part of building resilience. Life has thrown me some really tough curve balls, so I have developed resilience over time. It certainly hasn’t been easy, and overcoming things like rejection, criticism and judgment of myself and my work is just a part of what makes an individual a better artist, in my opinion.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I play with fire and sculpt sterling silver and gold by hand. I play by pushing the boundaries of what metal can do. Every piece is sculpted by hand. These pieces are born, melted and molten, and are infused with the energy from my emotions.

I created Gillian Trask the night I melted my thesis piece. It was due the following day. I had put maybe 40 hrs into this piece- and I was so proud of it. It was very technical. Sadly, at three AM that night, I melted the whole piece.

I quickly realized that tears and fire don’t mix, so to re-alchemize my own emotions (my own meltdown), I shoved it aside and started melting any silver I could find. I created the Life in Circle Ring that very night. It was the origin story of the beginning of Gillian Trask Jewelry and the beginning of fusing empowerment into every piece.

It seems to be something people can relate to, because I’m proud to say that this past April we opened up our very own brick and mortar store at 248 Bull Street, Downtown Savannah.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Persistence, patience, and having the grace to fail. Do I have all of these qualities? Ah! Not always. But, I have found that taking time to rest and center myself always helps me remember to have patience and grace. The persistence part is luckily part of my nature, but even then I have to remind myself that I’m human. My Dad always said, ‘If you fall off the horse, dust yourself off and get right back on.’ Try and try again. The patience and grace will come with time.

Click here for the full article

 

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GILLIAN TRASK: FROM FIERY MELTDOWN TO MILAN

By Beth Logan 

I meet Gillian Trask in her tiny, meticulously organized, home-based studio on Isle of Hope, curious as to how this relative newcomer to the jewelry world will be representing the U.S., Savannah artists, and Kobo Gallery at the prestigious Milano Jewelry Week this October.

Growing up in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia as the daughter of a government contracting business owner, Trask graduated James Madison University with a BFA, and subsequently earned a second BFA, with a concentration in Graphic Design, from the California Institute of the Arts. 

She had minored in Art History and in Jewelry Design at JMU, but ended up following her father’s practical advice of pursuing a career in graphic design for the financial stability it offered.

However, a freelance graphic design career proved unsatisfying to Trask’s creative soul, and by 2010, she had moved to Florida and was working in retail sales with Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry, eventually becoming store manager. 

Five years later, her father’s illness prompted a move to Hilton Head Island to help her mother care for him.

“Honestly,” Trask says, “That ended up being the best move.” She was able to spend time with family and was with her dad when he died. 

During bereavement leave, her store got held up at gunpoint, and that traumatic event, combined with her dad’s death, made her reevaluate her life’s direction. She realized, “If I’m going to do something, I want it to be important. Be something I love. And I want to give back.”

“Literally, that same week, I met my husband Zack,” Trask continues, “And I enrolled at SCAD for jewelry. My goal was to create a recognizable line of jewelry, something that would be uniquely mine, with pieces that I absolutely love.” 

She graduated SCAD with a Master of Art in Jewelry degree in 2019, and it was while working on her thesis project, that her goal serendipitously manifested itself…

“I’d been working on this particular piece for three weeks. I was heavily pregnant with my daughter Gabby. It was three in the morning, and I had to show it to my professors at nine, and I melted the whole damn thing! It just collapsed.”  

But out of that meltdown, a new technique was born. 

“I had a breakthrough.” Trask calls this breakthrough technique, hand sculpting. 

“I want to push the boundaries of what sterling silver can do by melting it down and then riding that fine line between complete destruction and the creation of something empowering and unconventionally beautiful.”

The jeweler goes on to explain how silver has a gorgeous rolling motion when it’s in a molten state and that she is sculpting and moving the metal with her tweezers while it’s liquid. 

Other jewelers use reticulated silver (a technique whereby localized heat is applied to the surface of the metal) but, “I’m pushing and pulling the silver while it’s molten. It’s all about controlling the heat with air and with different torch tips so I can sculpt it.”

It is this incredibly unique technique that led to Trask’s acceptance to Milano Jewelry Week. 

“They actually reached out to me. I think they saw that I had received a Top Ten Award from Halstead in 2019.” The Halstead Grant National Competition is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists, which “put me on the map in the jewelry world. It was an exciting way to start my first year of business!”

More honors followed for Trask’s fledgling business. In 2020, she was appointed an Ambassador for the NYC Metal & Smith Show, an intimate and modern jewelry trade event with a curated selection of indie designers. 

Next she received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 International Design Awards (IDA) when she and her SCAD intern, Ruchita Newrekar, collaborated on a “Star Ring,” and in March of this year, she scored a double page spread in the luxury, jewelry, and lifestyle magazine, HUESERS.

In the HUESERS article Trask discussed her business model during the pandemic. She managed online sales and social media, and hosted livestreaming shows on Instagram and Facebook. The livestreamed events proved to be her “saving grace” resulting in higher exposure for her brand and in robust sales during a time when many artists and makers floundered.

Now, Trask is one of 500 exhibitors from 40 different countries selected to participate in October’s international Milano Jewelry Week, a highly influential and esteemed event featuring over 200 collective and personal exhibitions, vernissages, exhibitions of international galleries and schools, award nights, cocktail parties, high-end jewelry ateliers, goldsmiths’ workshops, academies, art galleries and fashion and design showrooms spread all over the city of Milan.

But back to Trask’s ambitions of creating something she loves and of giving back… The award-winning “Star Ring” is now part of a bestselling “Stardust” collection, created with an intention of donating a portion of proceeds to Savannah’s Brightside Advocacy CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates) ensuring every child in foster care is supported. 

“I was a foster baby,” Trask says, “I was lucky to be adopted.” 

In fact, she is so enthusiastic about this cause, she participated in this year’s “Dancing with the Savannah Stars,” raising $18K towards a record-breaking CASA fundraising total of $225K.

Trask also supports CASA through her recent collaboration with Savannah’s Love & Moxie line of handcrafted accessories, bags, and trinket trays. 

The resulting “Raise Them Up” collection is a mix of vintage, classic, and edgy. She says, “Think Jackie O meets Joan Jett!” These bold pieces are my personal favorites of her work – particularly the sterling silver asymmetrical earrings that incorporate an acrylic rectangle of neon yellow, and a gold vermeil bar ring that spans three fingers. Definitely sexy. Definitely unique.

 Trask loves to meet her customers at pop-ups and shows; her bubbly and enthusiastic personality lends itself to direct sales. At last year’s Plant Riverside’s Savannah Christmas Market, she enjoyed record-breaking sales and garnered several commissions. 

She says it is magical to see someone try on her pieces, be transformed, and feel empowered. Ultimately, “I would love to have my own little place. After being able to spend time with people who “got” my work, and after receiving so much love and appreciation, I’m thinking I could thrive in a brick-and-mortar space.”

I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive, brick-and-mortar space or not! Between her energy, her social media acumen, her business savvy, her awards, and her groundbreaking technique of metal sculpting, Gillian Trask is on fire.

See Trask’s pieces at Kobo Gallery, 33 Barnard Steet, at Rachel Vogel Designs in Tybee Oaks and at GillianTrask.com. Stay current on new work, consignments, and upcoming pop-ups on Instagram @Gillian_Trask_Jewelry

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Gillian Trask Featured in WSAV3

Savannah Christmas Market Returns

by Kalyn Jackson - WSAV3

Excerpt 

"I have been so excited for this because I'm amazed that Gillian Trask has just taken off the way it has, the amount of support from the community has been resounding..."

Karatassos said she is hopping to shine light on a bigger cause as a vendor this year.

"I'm also, hopefully helping to raise awareness about CASA the Court Appointed Special Advocates for foster children."

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Gillian Trask Published in Bella Magazine, Bellamag.co

Cross Country Content Creation: The 2021 Caravan Road Trip

By Jennifer Decillis

Caravan Social Club, a unique networking initiative, originally hit the road with its RV “haute wheels” back in 2005 as a contemporary store and experiential studio for events. Claudine DeSola created it to explore new neighborhoods and embrace the opportunity to travel all the way to California while showcasing a range of contemporary brands.

For 2021, Claudine and her business partner Janine Just kicked off Caravan’s 10-day tour with a road trip covering the tri-state area’s greatest gems, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Hamptons. Their goal: To create a memorable opportunity for content creation, video interviews, and brand discovery. The road trip brought them to a number of unique and photo-fabulous locations, including sunflower fields, roller skating rinks, restaurants, beaches,and rolling countryside, to name a few.

Jennifer Decillis wears Gillian Trask's Star Ring

The inspiration for Caravan is that “collaborative storytelling comes to life when brands connect with content creators for organic integrationthat speaks volumes.”

Indeed, the Caravan road trip is a melting pot for creators—musicians, editors, foodies, writers, fashion lovers, home décor experts, actors, and more. Among some of the fabulous brands on display: ibble, LeSportsac, Rag & Co, RejuvAus, Velvet Eyewear, SallyeAnder, Bakerly, Everybody Water, and Gillian Trask Jewelry.

Click here for the full article

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Gillian Trask to Show Works at Milano Jewelry Week 2022

Upon being chosen, Gillian said, "This is one of the most exciting events that Gillian Trask has been invited to, and one of the most prestigious. Being invited to Milano Jewelry Week means that Gillian Trask is not only introduced to Milano, but also the world."

Photo by Doug Ordway

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Gillian Trask with Kobo Gallery Ends 2020 on a High Note with Substantial Donation to Savannah/Chatham CASA

Written by Joy Dunigan • Photos by David Kaminsky

Kobo Gallery has officially wrapped up its annual holiday fundraising initiative, in which it is extremely proud to announce it has made a donation of over $1,200 to Savannah/Chatham CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Savannah/Chatham CASA recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.

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Gillian Trask Picked as Ambassador of NYC Metal & Smith 2020 Show

 

 

What is one of your most exciting moments in your career?

For me, the crack of turning on my torch is something I am super grateful for and look forward to each and every morning. Getting recognized for loving what I do? What better way for validation that Gillian Trask is on the right path.

Honestly- I tell people that ‘I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up!’ While I hope to never REALLY grow up (I mean, what is creation without child-like wonder?) achieving this Ambassadorship makes me realize that maybe, just maybe, I’m able to give others the feeling of empowerment through my creations.

Want to know something else? Without @halsteadbead, @flourish_thrive @dougordway, @visualsage, Lauren Reynolds, @way2gowendy, @scadjewelrydept, @kristenbairdjewelry, @maya.ashes, @satanickate, @mothtoaflamejewelry, @christophercarpentino, @frogprincepaperie, @nathanscojewelers and of course, @coe_hhi, and all of my friends and family who have supported me though this crazy dream of Gillian Trask, I would never have been able to sit outside on this gorgeous Saturday and write this gratitude. Thank you, @metalandsmith. I’m beyond honored.

 

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 Gillian Trask Placed Top Ten Nationally