II four questions

Richard Grinstein chats with Platinum.

1

Melding gems and precious metals into one-

WHAT BOOK, CD
OR OTHER MEDIA
DO YOU LONG TO
SHARE WITH OTHERS?

of-a-kind wearable works of art is second

nature for RICHARD GRINSTEIN. The longtime

Birmingham jeweler and owner of Grinstein

Jewelry & Design, known for his distinctive

style of jewelry design, takes many of his cre-

ative cues from the environment, incorporating

leaves, vines and flowers into the pieces he

makes from gold, silver, platinum, diamonds

and other raw materials. "I became fascinated

with making objects that are more literal, evok-

ing forms and surfaces from actual plants, then

manipulating the elements to create something

new," says Grinstein, 55. Born and raised in Detroit, Grinstein took

classes at Oakland University and the Cranbrook Academy of Art in

There's a book I read several years
ago that I think is very important.
It's called Reason for Hope, by Jane
Goodall. Though it's not a great
work from a literary standpoint,
I think the honesty and clarity of
thought, as well as the compel-
ling story, make it a book worth
reading. Goodall's optimism in the
face of all the suffering and awful things that happen in
this world is quite inspiring.

Bloomfield Hills and attended workshops in his field, but he launched

his career in 1976 with no other formal training. He and his wife,

IFYOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH
ONE. BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL
JEWISH FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

Nancy Taylor, settled in Berkley, where they raised two daughters,

Sarah, 26, and Rachel, 22. His store, Grinstein Jewelry and Design,

has been in its current location on Old Woodward Ave. in Birmingham

since 1997. "I appreciate the many loyal clients who have made my

jewelry a part of their lives," Grinstein says. "Without them, I could

not have found success in my chosen career." Here, we ask Richard

Grinstein our version of the Four Questions.

— Robin Schwartz

The one Jewish historical figure I would like to spend
time with is [assassinated Israeli Prime Minister]
Yitzhak Rabin. Although I'm aware that to some peo-
ple he is somewhat controversial, I think he's the one
person who truly saw a larger view of the history and
future of Israel. I would like to know what he would

think of the current situation in the Middle East and
hear his ideas for the best path to lasting peace.

I. i
- WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE
JEWISH FOOD?

My favorite Jewish food, I have to say, is my
mother's matzahball soup, which she makes for Pesach.
I look forward to it all year long — it's the best!

4

WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE
SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

People would be surprised to know that,
although I'm very happy with my chosen profession,
there are a number of other paths I still think about.
Being a cartographer — combining a study of the land
with using those skills to learn more about environ-
mental changes — would have been a different but I
think an equally rewarding path. I have not yet given
up on being more academic, as opposed to being cre-
ative in an artistic sense. I recently held a 30-year ret-
rospective showing of my work, during which I gave a
lecture about the history of the 19th- and 20th-century
crafts movements. I discovered that I enjoy research
and also like public speaking, so I plan to do more of
that in the coming years.

of
Give the
water ety
this new year!

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