There are three deaths: the first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time.

- David Eagleman (Sum)

I predominantly work with silver. It was first introduced to me when a friend brought their jewelry tools to my family's basement. I'd spend hours in that room with nothing but wax, an open flame, and zero ventilation. We would sketch, sculpt, and polish until 4am in the morning by which time we barely had the energy to say goodbye. Afterwards, I would nap, then hop into my morning standup at my job.

The first ring I ever made was a three-piece Lain ring that was very rough, even if it conceptually had promise. It was not very comfortable. 

Triple Stacking Lain Rings (Copland OS symbol)

Before the next ring I would make for myself, I made some clumsy stackers and double band rings for friends and family.

Barnacle Double Band Ring (requested by Anton)

When it got to me again I could not decide what I wanted. I ended up making myself an Aku No Hana signet.

Flower of Evil Signet Iteration #1 (middle)

After a year, I would leave my home country again.

A turbulent few months later back in the States, it was my fourth reread of Fujimoto's Sayonara Eri that inspired me to make something that may connect with other people. It touched something deep in regards to how it portrayed art, and the consequences of how we are remembered. I set myself 30 days to learn the required skills to make a ring for it.

Step one was looking for somewhere local to cast the metal. I went downtown and talked to many jewelers who were friendly to me and told me they would give me the contact of their caster. But my follow up messages yielded silence. After visiting a few areas further out, it was Matthew @mhgjewelry who gave me a number. Matthew is great. He is knowledgable, helpful, and will let you rent his studio. The money goes straight to a charity down in Mexico dedicated to educating children.

A sculpture I made for @wag.hz using the welder at Matthew's workshop

After weeks of little sleep, I finished the Goodbye Eri ring and had it in hand, but over time I decided against making it my first product launch so for now it is in the vault. I still intend to release it, but a part of me wants to write a video essay on Goodbye Eri first. In the meantime, I thought it would be fitting to go full circle back to the first ring I ever made, and make my first product launch Lain related.

Draft sketches of the Lain signets

The Shop

Over the months I have spent setting up various parts of this store by myself, I found myself ruminating on what starting this brand means for me. What do I gain from being away from friends and family? Is it worth the times I turn down social plans to sit in a room with castings and sandpaper? What are the downstream effects of my reduced capacity for maintaining relationships?

I'm not really sure. The distance it adds between me and the physical world around me is palpable at times, but likely no more (even on top of my day job) than what a doctor, lawyer, or accountant may suffer. My lack of time is largely self inflicted; not a product of career or obligation. Which, for better or worse would be more widely accepted.

Perhaps it is simply an incidental byproduct of the differential between my need to be productive and my desire to be content. An inability to relax that one can only imagine (or hope) will eventually subside. Perhaps this is all but a fleeting interest. But for now, I will create for the sake of creation.

All rings are designed, casted and finished in the US.

4th Death

Oportet Creare

When I was coming up with names for the brand, I asked @_nthea:

"I was wondering if 4th Death is too edgy. Do you think Oportet Creare would be better? It's Latin for One Must Create"

To which they replied:

"Sorry, are you saying you think having a Latin phrase is less edgy?"

So that was that.