When you walk into Wayne B. Light & DeNise L. Bowers: Sedona’s Fine Jewelry & Art Experience, you are immediately struck by the color, light and sparkle of the space. Large glass cases house gold and platinum jewelry featuring precious stones in every color of the spectrum. The walls are adorned with fine art photography and contemporary paintings, while unique pieces of handmade furniture and even clothing as art are tucked into corners and suspended from the ceiling.
“It’s a total beauty experience from the moment you walk in,” says Wayne. “It’s fun to come to work here because there’s beauty wherever I look.”
Wayne and DeNise are no strangers to the Sedona gallery scene. Wayne owned a jewelry store in West Sedona for almost 21 years, and DeNise owned a jewelry store in the Village of Oak Creek. Wayne left Sedona to attend seminary school in Indiana in 2009, but he missed the red rocks (and warm weather); he returned to Sedona in 2011 and went to work for DeNise. The two jewelry designers decided to combine their skills and open Wayne B. Light & DeNise L. Bowers: Sedona’s Fine Jewelry & Art Experience in September 2013. The 2,900-square-foot space has three rooms that showcase 11 artists.
“It’s fun to learn about the artists and their differences,” says DeNise. “Each one has a distinct style, but they blend with each other and with our jewelry, which is a nice fit.”
The gallery also offers jewelry repair and appraisals. Wayne is perhaps best known for his Inspired Cross collection, though not all of his jewelry has a spiritual emphasis. DeNise says her pieces are often described as bold. Both artists say custom designs make up the majority of their business. “The best is working with customers who give us artistic license – they have ideas but also allow us to create something that depicts their personality,” says DeNise. “I like to design around a stone. It sounds strange, but it’s about what the stone wants to be.” – Erika Ayn Finch
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