Meet Avari Copp of Reed and Rush Jewelry Co. in Flagstaff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Avari Copp.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Avari. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Flagstaff, AZ in a little family of four. Though neither one of my parents were originally from my small town, they taught my sister and I from a young age the importance of investing in our community. They did this in a number of ways but one way was developing relationships with local artists and supporting their work. One such artist was a silversmith named Jay McCormick and some of my favorite memories as a kid were of Jay coming over to the house to fit my parents for the leather and sterling silver bracelets that have since become his trademark.

Fast forward to 2015, I had placed my own custom order with Jay and we met to have tea while he delivered it. I’ve always found pretty much everyone fascinating so we ended up talking for a couple of hours about his work, how he found inspiration and the students that sought him out. Shortly after that conversation he called and asked if I had been subtly asking to be his student. I laughed because “subtle” isn’t ever a word that has been used to describe me but I would love the opportunity to work with him. He invited me out to his studio and the first time I put hammer to stamp I was hooked. I spent the next couple of years learning the basics of metalworking in the safety of his workspace and I will be forever grateful for his guidance.

Two years ago I built a full studio in my first house and Reed and Rush was born. I named the company after my grandmother Joanne Reed and great grandmother Eunice Rush because I am proud to come from an incredible line of strong women. Most of them have been educators and are this amazing combination of disciplined and wild, fierce and compassionate, and solemn and whimsical. I wanted my art to be a reflection of a person’s ability to live gracefully as all these things and not have to choose between one or another. That’s why my work can range so dramatically from statement skull things too subtle touches of silver and turquoise. There’s also a distinctly southwestern vibe to most of the things I make due to my deep love of the art and culture I grew up in.

Has it been a smooth road?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. Most of them have been rooted in the fact that before silversmithing, I had never really made art. While I have always been able to put my head down and work, learning to be patient with myself and the process was a huge challenge for me. It took a couple of years for me to truly understand that you cannot force art and that you have to capitalize on moments of inspiration and flow while you have them. For some artists, this can happen at a specific time of day and for me, I get my best ideas in the middle of the night. As a result I’ve started sleeping with a notebook close by so I can wake up and write things down.

Additionally, there is an intense vulnerability that comes with putting your heart’s work on display and for a type A perfectionist like myself that was almost painful. Eventually, I just had to embrace all the good things that can come with taking risks and being uncomfortable and it’s allowed me to create (and live) more unapologetically. Working through the lessons that come along with doing something new and challenging have changed me deeply and for the better.

All those challenges aside, I would like to say this; regardless of whatever struggle I faced there was always a member of the community ready to step up and help if I asked for it. While we have to be always remain vigilantly respectful of each others styles and signature designs, I’ve had artists time and time again invite me into their studios to practice technique, give me feed back on my work and displays and even answer the phone at 4am three days before Christmas just so we can ask each other what the hell we were thinking taking just one more custom order. The outpouring of love and encouragement I’ve felt for the last 4 years has been unbelievable and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what I have if I didn’t have the support of such an amazing collective of people.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Reed and Rush Jewelry Co. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I work primarily with silver and turquoise but as a silversmith, I try not to specialize in just one thing. I’m inspired by so much and have seen the trap that artists can fall into if they make themselves known for one particular signature style or piece. I want to keep my creative options open so I try to make my art a genuine reflection of what is inspiring me at the moment. This hasn’t always been the case though. I’ve worked in commercial retail for 7 years and its taught me a lot about watching trends and correlating it to how people shop. As a result I think a lot of my earlier work was designed with the customer’s needs in mind instead of making things really reflected my own design esthetic. As I moved away from that I’ve been amazed with the positive responses I got from my clients and lately I’ve been really leaning into creating pieces that are bolder and more fun ie. giant skull rings, statement hoops and intricate cuff bracelets.

There are a couple of designs that I’ve created over the last year that I’m especially proud up. The first is the Dolly Hoop, which are large hoop earrings made with twist wire and a stone set at the top of each hoop. Last year I was really trying to work out the mission that I wanted Reed and Rush personify when I saw this picture of Dolly Parton with these amazing hoops on and underneath was the quote, “Figure out who you are and do it on purpose.” I thought that was such an unfettered approach to living authentically and I was so inspired that I immediately set out to create my own version of her earrings as a symbol of that. The first pair was simple and made with hand cut turquoise from the 7 dwarves mine. As soon as I put them on for the first time I fell in love instantly and have been making them ever since.

I also recently created a new design for a cuff that I’ve named the Prairie Bell. I pull a lot of my inspiration from the strong women in my family and decided that I wanted to make a bracelet that brought to life the sense of dignity, style and elegance that so many of them embody. I focused on one woman in particular, my several times great grandmother Lily Smith. Lily earned her teaching certificate in 1886 and was one of those iconic school teachers on the prairie that would ring a small handbell in the morning to call the children to class. I grew up with her school bell in my childhood home and her story was always a source of pride in our family as many of us would follow in her footsteps and become teachers. With her in mind, I created a simple silver cuff with a piece of turquoise at the center and a bow accent on each side. I like to imagine her wearing something similar, a mysterious little feminine touch that would stay tucked under her lace sleeve until you caught a glimpse of it while she was writing on a chalk board.

As for what sets me apart from other artists, its been a journey to carve out a space for my work in Arizona. The artistic community here is filled with talented and inspiring makers from all different backgrounds creating genuinely incredible work. I’m still working on finding my own distinctive voice but so far I’ve had a blast just figuring out what I want to say.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
It happened just a few days ago actually. I’m selling at the Flagstaff Urban Flea Market this year and this last Saturday was the first day this season it was open. A woman that I’d worked with recently on an order came down to visit and she told me that since we had last spoken she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She said that she loved my work so much and she asked to order a pair of earrings because she wanted me to make her something big and beautiful to distract from her hair loss. She had been struggling with ways to embrace her new look and thought that statement earrings would be a good start. After learning more about her particular needs (such a the weight of the earrings) we agreed on a pair of Dolly hoops and she said she couldn’t wait to wear them.

It was a huge compliment that my work could provide a source of pride and comfort for her during such an incredibly difficult time. The earrings won’t be the most innovative or technical thing I’ve ever made but I’ve never been more equally proud and humbled by a request before.

Contact Info:

• Email: reedandrushjewelry@gmail.com
• Instagram: Reed.and.Rush

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.