- December 20, 2024
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Paul Baliker’s first job involved bailing hay for his grandfather as a kid. It may have been the last time he called someone his boss, he says.
“I couldn’t work for anybody,” Baliker explains. It’s how he came to be a sculptor. “I just needed a job, and that’s the honest to God truth.”
Encouraged by Kristen Gregory, a local designer, Bailker has now introduced a jewelry line. The unique effort started as result of Gregory’s persistence. While Gregory was having Baliker design sculpted pieces for her clients’ homes, she insisted she needed a necklace and Baliker was the one to create it. Once she started wearing her new creation, people started to ask about it and interest grew. Gregory persuaded Baliker to create more pieces, launching an effort that is now known as Baliker Jewelry.
“Not everyone can take home a 20-foot sculpture,” said Gregory. With the jewelry line, anyone can go home with a necklace.
When deciding where to have the jewelry produced, Baliker and Gregory decided they wanted to keep the jewelry made within the United States. They settled on Charlotte, North Carolina for production. The carving process started with Baliker carving a large pendant out of wood. Then the original wood pieces were sent to Charlotte. Baliker and the jewelers developed the casts and moldings based on the original work. Once cast, each piece can take anywhere from two to seven hours to make. 3D printing streamlined the process where three sizes could be made from one original.
Paul Baliker’s jewelry collection was launched at the Baliker Gallery on March 31. A portion of the sales from the collection will support Ty Pennington’s involvement with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. Going forward with an environmental focus, Baliker and Gregory are working with local developers for a portion of proceeds to go to a local environmental charity.
Anyone who is interested in the jewelry can find the jewelry at Balikerjewelry.com.
