Metalwork is hand fabricated from 18k and 24k gold, with boulder opals and diamonds. I use a combination of enameling techniques, including cloisonné and basse taille. The enamel part is made separately and set into the piece like a gemstone. Because of its vibrant coloration, the Panther Chameleon of Madagascar has been extremely popular in the pet trade. Before being listed on the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), more than 15,000 per year were taken from the wild and sold. Now, export levels are reduced and the main threat to this chameleon’s existence is the ongoing destruction of their habitat from slash and burn agriculture, logging, and cutting wood for fuel. The resultant soil erosion has caused astronauts to remark that Madagascar’s rivers, seen from space, appear to be running red with blood.

Representing imagery from nature, my current body of work is a meditation on the preciousness of the world around us. The frailty and durability intrinsic to gold and glass are also a part of the natural world I depict. My choice as a maker to depict these subjects affirms life and rejoices in beauty.

Please see her website www.amyroperlyons.com