AYALA BAR

This holiday season Aphrodite is presenting a large collection of iconic jewellery designs from Ayala Bar. She challenges the boundaries of traditional jewellery design as her work crosses disciplines of fine art, textiles and fashion design. A self-confessed bead addict, she obsessively collects found objects from the desert, sea and city.  Her experiences manifest themselves in her stylish pieces which are known for their artisinal quality and individuality. You will find many shapes and sizes ranging from subtle to head turning glory! Ayala Bar jewellery is 100% handcrafted in Israel by Ayala’s dedicated team. Every element is nickel free, lead free and contains no hazardous materials. Prices start at $65 . Get the picture…..

Find the perfect piece for your holiday outfit or a memorable gift for someone you care about – and earn points on regular priced merchandise for significant savings on future purchases. We have extended our store hours for the month of December to make your holiday shopping experience more convenient and fun. Check our CONTACT tab for details. Don’t forget there is always free parking behind the store. You can access the parking lot from either side of the building.

MEET AYALA BAR

In The Beginning

Ever since I can remember I have loved drawing, sculpture, embroidery or sewing. I studied art in a professional capacity but people are sometimes surprised to learn that this did not include jewelry making or silversmithing. Yet, I have always been drawn to jewelry as a form of expression and, given that I have stayed involved in several fields of creativity at once, the area of collage came naturally to me. “Matchmaking” materials is what I love to do: testing contrasts, colors and textures and how they interact together.

Combining beads and soft tassels with jagged surfaces; matte textures with shiny metals. For me, the possibilities are boundless and anything can trigger creative impulse.

At the very beginning, jewelry was simply a means of earning a living. Back in the 1980s when I first started, most jewelry tended to be made of precious metals such as gold and silver as well as modeling clays, which was popular at the time. Being an outsider, I actually had an advantage. My designs were different. Unexpected. They incorporated materials that were unconventional: metals with fabrics, beads, plaster, wood and different findings.

I was actually making miniature artifacts. The initial collections had mosaic-like qualities virtually reminiscent of the ancient Byzantine era. Through time, my design aesthetics have increasingly reflected influences in the fashion world and seasonality.

Inspiration

My main source of inspiration has always been the materials themselves. Other influences that have captivated me include my cultural background. My grandmother, who is still alive at the age 104, emigrated from Afghanistan to Israel in the 1920s. She carried her baby for most of the 2000 mile journey. This baby was my father. At one point, I visited a museum featuring jewels from Afghanistan. As I walked through the gallery, I was amazed. I noticed the parallels between the artifacts on display and my own work.

Evolution

At the beginning, my jewelry was like miniature mosaics made of beads, crushed glass, mineral stones, decorative prints, wood and ceramics. I combined these materials to create collages. On one occasion, I incorporated autumn leaves that I had picked up on the way to my studio. Things that come into my life unplanned or by chance, may later take shape in the form jewelry. I introduce random elements that I come across, and it has become the way that I express myself creatively.