by Carol Rucker

Created on: August 14, 2009

Accidental Artists

Sarah Center Jewelry Artists are middle aged women, senior citizens and young mothers who began stringing beads, bending wire, cutting, soldering and enameling metal quite by accident. They have many stories, backgrounds as varied and colorful as the gemstones in their bead boxes. Each began by attending a jewelry class on a Tuesday morning. They all struggled at first, but step by step they learned to create beautiful jewelry for themselves and for others. Ask any one of them to relate their story and they will tell you a tale of personal joy.

The joy of creating jewelry in the inner city began with Sister Jeanette Buehler, a nun from the Sisters of the Precious Blood and one of the center's founders. When she came to Cincinnati, she recognized that inner city women had spiritual needs overlooked by most. She opened her women's ministry in Over The Rhine in 1995, offering women a cup of coffee, a snack, some conversation and a peaceful place to get away from their sometimes difficult lives. One at a time, she drew women from the neighborhood with opera outings, plays and shared dinners together. One day they began making jewelry as a creative outlet.

Finding Their Niche-

It was by accident these inner city women found jewelry as their niche. Most were unemployed, aging, disabled or homeless, referred to jewelry class by a case worker as therapy of sorts or a friend who insisted they try. Sister Jeanette reached out to women wherever she found them, extending an invitation to create jewelry as they waited in line for emergency assistance to help pay rent or utility bills.

The center supplied tools, materials and instructions; and when they decided to market the jewelry they created, the women received 60 % of the sale price. All they had to do was show up. It should have been an easy sell, a chance to create beauty and earn extra money with no strings attached; but even with success, life difficulties stole their attention, making the women a tough audience for artistic pursuits. Early class attendance was sporadic. Students came and went as did a few short term teachers.

A third teacher stayed for a decade. She told them they were artists and eventually they began to believe it. She expected the best and eventually they gave it. Daily their talent grew as did their joy in accomplishment. Many learned what they needed and moved on, but they still consider themselves Sarah Center women.

Smart Women-

Because of the way the women used

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