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Artist of the Month June 2008
Bergamini Beads is a legacy that began in the 1980's at the hands of one innovative and determined woman. Lucy Bergamini became one of the first people to bring over the process of producing glass furnace beads from Italy. These hand-crafted glass furnace beads are known for their exceedingly brilliant and rich colors that are unable to be mass produced. From beginning to end, the process of crafting just one bead takes between ten to twelve days. Each bead is unique in hole size, coloration, and diameter - making every bead truly one of a kind. They have been featured at The Smithsonian, The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and at other various shows and galleries.
Laurie Jager, owner and designer of Bergamini Beads, grew up in Worcester County, Massachusetts with a passion for design. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI, where she majored in Textile Design & Fashion History in the early 1980's. Laurie’s passion in art was the field of textile design such as wallpapering, clothing and costuming for theater. Up until her introduction to Bergamini Beads, Laurie had been working in Graphic Design and Marketing at Penn State University’s Center for Arts & Crafts doing mostly drawing and photography.
Laurie became acquainted with jewelry-making when her daughter entered a craft show at the HUB and she was recruited to help make nearly 100 bracelets. When her niece Carrie Matthews acquired Bergamini Beads from Lucy Bergamini in 2002, Laurie began Laurel Studio and also started to design pieces solely with Bergamini hand-blown cane glass beads. Laurie became infatuated with the colorful shapes and designs of these unique beads. As she says in reference to the uniqueness of the beads, “It’s all about color.” In 2005, Laurie was finally given the opportunity to purchase Bergamini Beads from Carrie and began producing both the glass beads and jewelry associated with the name.
Bergamini Beads has a standard set of designs that Laurie follows, however, she does deviate and create her own twist with the colorful beads. Her favorite pieces to create are the custom and chunky bracelets that she makes as one or a few of a kind. Currently, Laurie sells the Bergamini line at craft shows, clothing stores and galleries throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. Laurie’s motto is,“We’re not just selling jewelry, we’re selling a look, an experience, a legacy.”