What you’ll learn in this episode: How Noel promotes Canadian and American jewelry artists throughout the world How people who’ve never seen art jewelry should approach it for the first time Why brooches are the best type of jewelry for artists to express themselves How Noel selects pieces and artists to represent at his gallery Why Noel is hopeful that the financial and artistic value of art jewelry will increase with time About Noel Guyomarc’h Noel Guyomarc’h is the founder of Gallerie Noel Guyomarc’h. Established in 1996, the gallery exhibits outstanding collections of contemporary jewelry and objects created by Canadian and international artists. The only gallery in Canada dedicated specifically to contemporary jewelry, it has presented over 100 exhibitions in its space, which is considered to be one of the largest in the world. This internationally acclaimed gallery is a must for collectors, museum curators, and anyone who wants to discover and become acquainted with art jewelry. Additional Resources: Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h Website Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h Instagram Galerie Noel Guyomarc’h Facebook Photos available on TheJewelryJourney.com Transcript: Although Canada’s art jewelry scene is relatively small, it has a devoted champion in Noel Guyomarc’h. Noel founded Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h in 1996 and has spent nearly 30 years bringing art jewelry to Montreal—and bringing Canadian jewelry to the world. He joined the Jewelry Journey Podcast to talk about how he chooses artists and exhibitions for his gallery; how he introduces art jewelry to first timers; and his hopes for the Canadian art jewelry scene. Read the episode transcript here. Sharon: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Jewelry Journey Podcast. This is the first part of a two-part episode. Please make sure you subscribe so you can hear part two as soon as it’s released later this week. Today, we’re talking to Noel Guyomarc’h in Montreal. He is the owner and founder of Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h. He wants people to see that artists create works of art and that these pieces, when they’re worn, it amplifies their significance. A relationship is established between the person who wears the piece itself and the viewer. He encourages visitors to cast a new eye on jewelry, which art jewelry really does. We will hear about all of this as well as how he came to operate a gallery and what he thinks about art jewelry in Canada. Noel, welcome to the program. Noel: Thank you. It’s nice to be here. Sharon: We just had a long talk about how to say his name because there’s an apostrophe before the H. Guyomarc’h. So, tell us about your jewelry journey. Noel: I started about 35 years ago in Montreal. I was working in a jewelry place which showed fashion, some art jewelry and some antiques from Asia. It’s there where I started to be more aware of jewelry, but there was no contemporary jewelry or art jewelry, a very small collection, in fact. That place closed, and I decided to support local artists. I said, “O.K., I should open mine,” and it’s what I did 27 years ago. Sharon: Wow! That’s a long time. You were the only place around. I only know of one other place in Canada that has art jewelry. Noel: Yeah, since the past 25 years, many places have closed. Now I think we have two galleries in Canada which are presenting art jewelry, so it’s not much. The other gallery, Lapine Gallery, presents only Canadian artists, but all different crafts, not only jewelry. My gallery is only dedicated to contemporary jewelry. Sharon: Oh, my gosh! Noel: There is not much in Canada. It’s really sad. Sharon: When you look at a map, it’s a big area. Noel: Oh, yeah. Sharon: We’re a smaller area on the West Coast, but we don’t have as much as the East Coast does. Tell us a little more. Would people be surprised if they found out this is what you’re doing today? Were you artistic? Did you make jewelry? Noel: From the people who knew me a long time ago, yes, they would be surprised because it was not what I w