What caught my attention upon visiting jewelry artist Toby Pomeroy’s website was the following quote by the artist (shown at right):

I have two purposes in life: people recognizing their own magnificence and leaving our planet more beautiful, diverse and sustainable than it was when we found it.

Inspiring

Yes indeed with a refreshing ring of authenticity. Upon further investigation, I discovered that Toby, who grew up in the foothills of Himalaya, and who now lives and works in Corvallis, Oregon, has been working with jewelry and metals for the past 30 years, and offers a gorgeous line of silver, gold and diamond jewelry that are hand-made out of 100% recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds. More importantly, however, Toby was the first to convince a major metal supplier to go green.

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Conflicted by the intolerable impacts of conventional precious metals mining, Toby asked the nation’s largest gold supplier and refiner if they would provide pure gold and silver derived entirely from reclaimed sources. They agreed, and this ground-breaking initiative (meaning Toby was the first one to do it), became the artist’s source for 100% reclaimed gold and silver.

Toby Pomeroy’s signature Eco-Silver Hoop Earrings (shown above) retail for $135. The attention to detail is impeccable (simple, yet elegant) and perfect for a fabulous gown or a t-shirt and jeans. No two are the same. Each one is hand forged.

I was curious about Toby, his work and wanted to learn more about his philosophy of contributing to a better world through his art. He graciously agreed to this interview:

Cheryl: When did you first know that you wanted to use your hands to make objects of art and what experiences as a child growing up in the Himalayas propelled you into manifesting your dream?

Toby: When I was 6 years old, I spent five years in Missourie, India at Woodstock School - an internationally well-known boarding school. I was deeply influenced by the magical landscape of the forest reserve, where no cars or bicycles existed, and where leopards and an abundance of butterflies roamed freely.  Adventure and love of the earth just became a part of me.

In my last quarter of college, while studying Pre-Med at the University of Oregon, I heard about this jewelry making class, and petitioned to take it. The instructor was great. I found myself creating and designing something with my hands, and to my surprise, it had a profound effect on me. It was like a meditation that brought me a peace that I hadn’t really known before. Long story short, I never went back to Genetics, Calculus, and other science related classes. I had a key to the jewelry lab, and I threw myself into jewelry design. I found my passion.

Cheryl: Can you talk about your commitment to sustainability, concern for the environment and how you got the world’s largest supplier of gold to contribute recycled metals?

Toby: I lived in one of the most magical places on the planet (in India) where monkeys and butterflies of all hue and size floated around me daily. Stag Beetles, would purr (like a cat), when humans would pet its deep cherry wing covers, which measured 2.5 inches long. The world was filled with an affluent and robust life force.

I cherish our world, and I’m aware (through studying biology) of the fragile intricate biosphere of our planet. When we kill off our insects we are all affected. Albert Eienstein once said, “When the honey bees die, humans will die.” Awareness that we have a jewel (our planet) and it is not only our responsibility to preserve Her, but also to restore Her. If we don’t, we are creating a poisonous cestpool for our offspring.

I was aware that mining practices were not earth friendly, but decided to do some further research in 2004, and discovered that metal mining is actually very harmful to the environment, a nasty process, and produces more seven times more solid waste.

I called Tory Hoover, the president of precious metal refiner (and our supplier) Hoover and Strong and asked if the company would you be willing to just keep their scrap (that come in from electronics, the dental industry and jewelry) separate it, purify it, and take it back to 24K gold and silver, They have a great system to refine and purify then metals, and re-alloy it with reclaimed copper, silver, zinc, and those metals that make it durable and give it color.

They charged me a small premium for it and within two weeks I received my first batch of reclaimed metals. It was also great for H&S, because they could now tell their buyers that they had product with no environmental, or social impact.  We got them started, but now their business has shifted to 100% reclaimed metals. They have re-branded themselves to Harmony, Precious Metals and Gems and have been extremely successful.

Cheryl: What advice would you give to other creatives (in similar fields) who are following their dreams, particularly in the current cultural and economic climate?

Toby: The thing that has been the most important for me, was that I saw something that inspired me and I took action on it. Taking action on your passion is the first piece of advice I would offer to others following their dreams. The action part seems to be where the success lies. I have personally experienced that something is possible that I am deeply inspired by, and that can make a difference in the world, contributing beauty, harmony and balance. We are at such an incredibly rich time for that. We are at the end of an age. We can do whatever the heck we want. We have immense opportunities in rethinking, retooling and redesigning. A world wide open that supports people and life in a sustainable way is powerful.

For more on Toby Pomeroy and where to purchase his jewelry, visit the website: www.tobypomeroy.com.