Krespi & White
Master jeweler Michelle Krespi began her career in jewelry making in her high school metal shop, selling her creations to teachers and fellow students. She became an instructor of jewelry making in her junior year at State University of New York-Oswego, where she received her BFA in 1978. Michelle earned her MFA on a graduate fellowship in 1981 from Southern Illinois University. The following year, she taught Mokume (an ancient Japanese technique of developing a wood grain pattern on metal) to university professors at workshops funded by the University’s National Endowment for the Arts. She also instructed advanced jewelry students at SUNY-Oswego in design technique and Mokume.
When she was house designer for New York’s Soho gallery Sutton & Co., Michelle founded Michelle Krespi Jewelry. She enjoyed immediate success at her first show, American Craft Enterprises’ 1984 Baltimore Craft Show.
In 1986 Michelle apprenticed her future business and design partner, Christine White. Sharing a creative vision and focus, in 1988 they launched Krespi & White Jewelry, Inc., a custom and limited-edition jewelry business.
Christine White's unique background provides her with a vividly rich landscape of experiences and perspectives from which she draws her creative imagination. When working on a design, she might recall an Amazonian butterfly's delicate wing, the sights from a Fijian river raft, the form and spirit of ancient art, or even a living cell under a microscope.
Born in Spain to a career diplomat, she grew up around the world, living in Israel, Italy, Canada, Washington, D. C., Trinidad, and Jamaica. Christine was a travel agent for 11 years and an histochemistry lab manager for 15 years. She studied archaeology & comparative religions at U.C. Santa Barbara, Pathology at U.C. San Francisco, alternative healing modalities, Chinese brush painting, and jewelry making. Constantly expanding her horizons, Christine's passions have broadened to include the art and skill of dressage and Peruvian Paso horse training.
Christine’s management & business acumen and world habitué’s background perfectly balance Michelle’s cosmopolitan perspective and knowledge of cultural archetypes. Both are fascinated by historical accounts of gemstones as healing elements. As their partnership developed, their artistic purpose came into focus: to express through their designs the ancient tradition of adornment as personal enhancement, empowerment and identity.