When Kathryn and Ben Stewart were both graduating from the first class of metals and jewelry at Savannah College of Art and Design in 1995, they hadn’t yet seen the vision for what is now one of the most distinguished art galleries in the South.
She was Kathryn Holton then; they saw themselves as great buddies but not necessarily as a couple. Still, when Ben decided he wanted to check out the art scene in Oregon and San Francisco after college, he asked her to come along and share the adventure. They had both been illustration majors at SCAD (but graduated with BFAs in jewelry), and Kathryn (aka Kat) had also taken some jewelry classes. They were young and carefree artists who were both loaded with talent. So off they went.
While out west, they showed their work at large markets such as the Contemporary Crafts Market in San Francisco and the American Craft Council. And they didn’t have to wait long to see that what they created, buyers wanted.
On a trip home to Manteo in 1997, Kat’s parents organized a showing of the artists’ work, and the response was so overwhelmingly positive that they decided that maybe Manteo had chosen them, not the West Coast.
Maybe it was time to put down roots, to let their eye for exquisite arts and crafts – their own and others’ – shape what is now Silver Bonsai Gallery.
The building, rather a version of it, that houses the gallery now was on the market, and they bought it. After some major renovations, Silver Bonsai opened in October of 1998. This year has marked their 28th anniversary.
Kat and Ben initially focused on filling the gallery with beautiful arts and crafts pieces from many different mediums and on contemporary jewelry that they created off-site. But as their interest in the jewelry side grew, and as requests from clients for one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted pieces increased, they knew they wanted to put more emphasis there.
So Kat went off to the Gemological Institute of America to become certified as an expert in that arena, and Ben went to study at the New Approach School of Jewelry, recognized as a top institution for jewelry education. There he learned how to set stones and pavé set, considered an advanced technique. And, like any strong partnership, they shared their newly learned knowledge with each other.
Modern Heirloom® Jewelry is Created in 2002
Their reputation for creating truly amazing pieces of jewelry exploded here just as it had out west. An important component of their clients’ happiness then and now is the interaction with Kat and Ben.
Kat explains that they listen closely to the vision the client has then apply their trained techniques and honed artistic principles to make the piece come to life. And while they enjoyed creating traditional pieces, they also conceived of a collection of jewelry they call Modern Heirloom that, in their description, includes hand-engraved jewelry, custom designs and one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces created to be worn, lived with and passed down. The collections include rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and they follow themes in the engravings and stones used. There will never be two pieces that are alike.
Their Modern Heirloom collection got a lot of attention early on, so Kat and Ben wisely trademarked it in 2008. And while you might find other lines that try to use the name, don’t be fooled. The popularity grew to a level that they created an in-studio workshop in the gallery.
Out of a Flood, a Phoenix
On August 24, 2011, Hurricane Irene brought horrific flooding to Roanoke Island, and Silver Bonsai Gallery was one of the hardest-hit buildings. Waters surged through the gallery, wiping out much of the inventory and critically damaging the structure itself.
Kat says she and Ben were all but paralyzed with shock for a day or two. But their innate creative spirits kicked in along with their seemingly unstoppable energy, and an expanded, lofty piece of architectural art began appearing. On Black Friday of that year, November 25 – only three months later – Silver Bonsai reopened with the entire community celebrating with them.
Out of this experience, Ben and Kat created one of their most meaningful collections: the Phoenix Collection. While it wasn’t fire they rose from, the impact was the same. Rebirth. Strength. Courage. New-found wisdom. Today, a portion of the sales supports the Craft Emergency Relief Fund.
Be Distinctive with Modern Heirloom®
Their current focus is a campaign called Be Distinctive with Modern Heirloom, with which they invite people who own one of the pieces to send them the story of what inspired their specific design. Yet another collaboration.
Walk through the gallery. It’s whimsical, elegant, inviting, full of inspiring art, a real working studio, a place to let your imagination soar. Understanding how they got here will make you appreciate it even more.
Hand-engraved jewelry, custom designs and one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces created to be worn, lived with and passed down.
In the Garden
Capturing the quiet
magic and rhythm
of the seasons
By the Sea
Capturing the movement
and sparkle of the
coastal shoreline
Modern Heirloom Men
Wearable, distinctive
sculptural art. Timeless
design with a modern
sensibility
Illustrated Jewel
Hand-engraved artistry
where story comes
alive
(252) 475-14138
905 U.S. Hwy 64, Manteo
SilverBonsai.com
ModernHeirloom.com
About the Author Beth P. Storie
Beth Storie first came to the Outer Banks for the summer of 1976. She fell in love with the area and returned for good three years later. She and her husband published the national guidebook series, The Insiders' Guides, for more than 20 years and now are building OneBoat guides into another national brand. After spending time in many dozens of cities around the country, she absolutely believes that her hometown of Manteo is the best place on earth, especially when her two children, six cats and one dog are there too.
