A lifetime of Creativity Born and raised in Boston, MA, Melanie Guerra has led a life immersed the arts. She has been formally trained in the performing arts (dance, voice, music and dramatics), and the visual arts (photography, clay, and jewelry design) throughout her life. She attended Emerson College, where she earned a degree in Mass Communications, and focused on film and television production. While still in college, she began exploring her taste in design. This, combined with her ever-present unique fashion sense, led her into jewelry design.
Fascinated by Adornment In 1991, she began making pieces of jewelry as gifts for friends, and to augment her own unique accessories. Throughout the years she continued to enjoy jewelry making as a hobby. Eventually, she started selling her work to interested strangers, and at music festivals and events. In 2000, as friends and acquaintances purchased more and more jewelry and started asking for a website or private showings from which they could shop, she formed her own company, which is known today as MUSE.
Her passion for jewelry spans antique, modern, symbolic and frivilous...and Melanie is constantly pursuing answers to her self-imposed question: "Why is mankind compelled to adorn themselves?"
A Fulfilling "Real Life" Melanie Guerra worked as a freelance promoter in the music and entertainment industry in Boston before changing her life dramatically and moving to Montana. There she found the inspiration of the Rocky Mountains and the endless opportunities of Western life exhilarating. After a brief time in Arizona, she settled in Colorado, spending three years in Denver and seven in Steamboat Springs. Her experiences in the American West, as well as her extensive travels in the US and abroad have inspired her jewelry and fueled a passion for landscape photography. (See Melanie's photographic work HERE.)
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Melanie has enjoyed a fulfilling career in marketing and public relations, working for publicly traded as well as small, private businesses, and was the Director of a non-profit organization, working with homeless children. She currently consults in the marketing field for a variety clients.
Melanie & her husband currently reside in Steamboat Springs, CO where she is active in the Colorado Arts Scene. She Co-founded of the Artists' Gallery of Steamboat, where she also served as Director of Marketing, and is Co-Chair of the Emerald City Opera Guild, and served as the Troupe Coordinator for the Children's Opera for the 2007 season. She is an active member of the Steamboat Springs Arts Council and the Colorado Women's Caucus for Art. Melanie & her husband also welcomed their first child in October, 2007.
Expanding Horizons In 2004, Melanie returned to Boston, where she spent two years growing as an artist - experimenting in different mediums, taking classes, and teaching jewelry design and technique classes. She also enrolled at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), in the Connoissuership program, where she earned a certificate in Appraisal Studies, focusing on Fine Art & Antiques. Melanie has also earned the designation of Accredited Jewelry Professional from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Carlsbad, CA. Her plans include continuing course work there in order to obtain her Graduate Gemologist designation, and one day set up shop as an appraiser of jewelry & antiques.
Melanie Guerra's work in Galleries, Festivals and Art Shows: * "Women About Transformation: an Evening of Art, Literature, Style, Music and Dance", 2002 * Fall Foliage Festival, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2002 & 2003 * Art on the Mountain at the Steamboat Springs Ski Area, 2002 & 2003 * Beaux Arts Festival, Steamboat Springs, 2003 * Huckleberries Gallery, Bozeman MT 2003-2004; * Art Attack Gallery, Somerville, MA 2004-2006; * Stylefixx - NYC produced retail designer conventions (2005-present); * Elise Mankes Gallery, Marblehead, MA, 2005-2006 * Winter Craft at Brookline Arts Center, Brookline, MA, 2005, 2006, 2007; * Spark Studio, Somerville, MA (instructor and consigner 2005-2007) * Boston Center for Adult Education (instructor, 2005-2006) * Artists' Gallery of Steamboat, Steamboat Springs, CO: "Visual Poetry" ,2/07; "All-Gallery Show, 4/07 & 5/07; "Summertime", 6/07; "Autumn All-Artists", 10/07 & 11/07. *Wildside Studio, Frisco, CO: "Just Jewelry", 5/07, "Shades of Grey" 5/08, "Just Jewelry" 6/08, currently represented by this gallery; * Numerous private and public trunk shows.
