PC Style Magazine Summer/ Fall 2019

The Queen of Gems

SHARI TURPIN’S WORLD-CLASS PEARLS

IWORDS Ted Scheffler | IMAGES Madison Webb
F YOU’VE EVER HAD A REMOTE INTEREST IN PEARLS–OR, PERHAPS A DESIRE TO LEARN EVERYTHING YOU
CAN ABOUT PEARLS–I RECOMMEND ARRANGING A CHAT WITH SHARI TURPIN. SHE’S THE FOUNDER
AND OWNER OF PEARLS BY SHARI AND IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING AUTHORITIES ON PEARLS. SHE
LOVES TO TALK ABOUT PEARLS AS MUCH AS MANY PEOPLE LOVE WEARING THEM. AND WHY NOT? THEY ARE
FASCINATING GEMSTONES. “NO TWO ARE THE SAME,” SAYS TURPIN. “THEY ARE UNIQUE IN EVERY WAY. A PEARL
IS THE ONLY PRECIOUS GEM THAT IS PRODUCED BY A LIVING CREATURE.”

“You’re not going to find better pearls
anywhere in the world.”

–Shari Turpin

Today, pearls on the market are cul- Turpin designs and makes almost
tured. “Prior to about the 1920s,” says every piece of jewelry sold in her stores.
Turpin, “‘pearling’ was in essence divers “All the pearls are hand-selected by me,”
going down and finding wild oysters, bring- she says. And as one of the top buyers
ing them back, and opening them to see in the world, she explains, “I grade and
if there was a pearl inside. As the world’s negotiate for my own pearls. So I’m at
demand for pearls grew, there were just the farms many times at harvest getting
not enough wild oysters and the divers had to see and select the pearls. People fly in
to keep going deeper and deeper, which from all over the world to come to our
was very risky to their lives.” As a result, stores because they know we can put in
some farmers in Japan developed the cul- front of them the highest-quality pearls in
turing process for making pearls. the world. At Pearls By Shari we only carry
the top seven percent of the quality grade
Being immersed in the pearl indus- worldwide, so you’re not going to find
try led Turpin and her family to Southeast better pearls anywhere in the world.”
Asia, where pearl-producing oysters are
indigenous and where she works with And yet, the rare, world-class pearl
farmers who supply her cultured pearls. jewelry sold at Pearls By Shari is extraor-
It’s also where her family became involved dinary in value since there is no middle-
in orphanages, street-kid projects, birth- man, no wholesalers, and no huge adver-
ing centers, and other charitable organi- tising budgets involved. She says that
zations that are in need of support. She by sourcing the pearls directly, herself,
says, about her somewhat spiritual path to and crafting her own jewelry, she’s able
pearls, “When you look back, in hindsight, to cut out about seven steps that the
you think ‘Gosh, it was so many unknown average jewelry store would have to go
things and just following little clues that through to sell pearls.
you see this incredible pattern was woven–
not only to fulfill our needs as a family, but And not all pearl jewelry is bud-
also to touch the lives of others and help get-busting. Turpin has pearl jewelry that
other people in need that cannot help runs from $20 to $1 million, and every
themselves.’ We’ve been blessed mone- price point in between. Regardless of the
tarily, and it’s a joy to give monetarily.” price, Turpin says, “Everything I sell has to
be something I’d be proud to wear.” n

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The Matchmaker

THE ART OF CONNECTING CREATORS AND COLLECTORS

“ WWORDS Darby Doyle | IMAGES Deborah DeKoff and Carlo Boecklin
E’RE THE MATCHMAKERS,” SAYS GALLERY MAR OWNER
MAREN MULLIN OF HER MISSION TO CONNECT ARTISTS
AND COLLECTORS.

In making these connections, Mullin has painter Matt Flint and an immersive art tour to inspirations and unique creative processes. “It’s
become one of the more hands-on mentors Bridgette Meinhold’s (featured on pages 48-49) all about storytelling,” she says of these collab-
in the business. “I bring in art and artists that I remote studio via vintage snowcat followed by orations, “and giving artists the opportunity to
love,” says Mullin of Gallery MAR’s emphasis on cocktails and fondue at a nearby patron’s cabin. share their stories with collectors.”
a wide range of media and styles. While much She also arranged for Colorado glass artists
of the gallery’s portfolio speaks to mountain Jared and Nicole Davis to do a live glass-blowing After over 10 years, Mullin sees her work at
living and experiences, that’s not a stylistic or demonstration at a local studio. the gallery as being more than just a job. “As I
thematic litmus test for Mullin. She describes see myself grow as a gallery owner, I’ve realized
her choices as being based more on feeling and Says Mullin of these powerful encounters, that my ‘gallery life’ is integrated with my per-
professional experience rather than picking up “We bridge that gap between an artist’s experi- sonal life,” she says, noting that making personal
trends that will sell. Mullin instead chooses “Art ences and having our collectors experience the connections between clients has become a joy as
that speaks to me,” and says that “If it thrills me, physicality of our artists’ lives,” through everyday well as a priority. “Art is such an intimate glimpse
and I believe in the artist and [their] career, I into someone’s life,” says Mullin of the unique
know it will sync with our collectors as well.” “It’s all about position of being a gallery owner. “It’s like your
storytelling and giving clothing. Art is incredibly personal and is the out-
Mullin carries this relationship through ini- artists the opportunity ward expression of who you are in your home.”
tial consultation and site evaluation for private to share their stories
collectors and public spaces to the installation of That moment when a collector falls in love
the final works. Facilitating custom commissioned with collectors.” with an artist’s work is one that never gets old,
works from featured artists is one of her favorite she says. “I feel very lucky to be the person who
parts of gallery work. –Maren Mullin helps make that happen.” n

Mullin frequently plans studio visits and
activities with her top collectors so that they
can meet gallery-represented artists in their ele-
ment. Last winter, Mullin planned a snowshoe
hike and après-hike gin tasting with Western art

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Dedicated to the Art Form

NEAL ARGUELLO, Owner • PHONE: 307.734.8744 • CELL: 307.413.1495 • FAX: 307.734.1713 • EMAIL: [email protected]
SHOWROOM: PO Box 288 •1230 Ida Ln Ste 3 • Wilson, WY 83014 SHOP/SLAB GALLERY: 1405 Gregory Ln • Jackson, WY 83001

GRANITE • MARBLE • ENGINEERED STONE Knoke Builders, Inc. • Plan + Design + Build • [email protected]
www.jhstoneworks.com
LLC

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