Back to the Future with Jerry Szor Contemporary Jewelry by Shelly Rosenberg

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"Back to the Future with
Jerry Szor Contemporary Jewelry"
by Shelly Rosenberg

One step into Jerry Szor Contemporary Jewelry and you experience a pleasant paradox.
Your immediate impression of modern sophistication quickly yields to a perception of time-
honored traditionalism. Here, the future nods to the past, as avant-garde conception
meets old-guard craftsmanship. This quaint gallery is unpretentiously tucked away and
now tops my list as one of Dallas' best-kept, modern secrets...

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Jerry and Nancy Szor believe in the unique. Their devotional quest for emerging
artists leads them all over the world. Each admits fervor for innovation, yet they
cautiously curate their collection. Nancy reveals they “sometimes court a
craftsman for years before agreeing to represent them.” Even more notable is
the brand exclusivity the Szors ensure. Of the thirty-five selected artists, thirty-
two agree that Jerry Szor will be their only Dallas retailer. An exhibition of this
nature warrants a serious and cultured environment. However, the Szors’ warm
disposition and engaging spirit required the commercial space feel inviting and
intimate. This ideal combination was a tall order considering the store is located
on the second floor of an aging building in Preston Center.

It is the limited capacity of the Szors’ location that literally offered the team a chance
to recreate a jewel-box effect. Domiteaux envisioned “a circular motif (that) draws
the eye inward, with an illusory quality of endlessness, dispelling the compactness of
the space.” The area quickly evolved into a sleek, rounded room, with puzzle-like
concave and convex cabinetry opposite each other. The absence of angles creates
a sense of flow, where energy can softly circulate.

Vertical displays, of pale, ash wood and glass, maximize the showroom’s potential for
calling attention to each item. Smartly incorporated storage, under each display
window, reveals sliding drawers, to present additional inventory. Each drawer is
lined in sumptuous fabric, cushioning the jewelry and softening the acoustics.
Various textures, on the floor and walls, give dimension and interesting juxtaposition
of hues, in addition to a solid visual balance. Natty hardware reminds us of the
practicality of function. Each design element offers a significant, yet subtle, nod
to the celebrated product. The piece de resistance is the original artwork from
Talley Dunn (formerly of Dunn & Brown) Gallery adorning the walls.

The Szors had a choice… Should they let the jewelry attempt to speak for itself? Or should
they attempt to create an environment worthy of their passions? Like any wise aesthetic
advocates, the couple put together a team of professionals. Bravo! Architect Mark
Domiteaux and Interior Designer Lori Golman were summoned and partnered, as they
often do, to orchestrate this symphony of style.

Domiteaux agrees that the Szors’ collection “demanded a presentation above that of
a common jewelry merchant.” This conclusion made clear the need for a “museum
space that elevates the viewing experience.” Drawn to spaces like the mini-museums
of Paris, the Morris store in San Francisco and New York’s Guggenheim, Domiteaux
focused on all, “genetically blended into a pocketbook sized experience.”

The lighting plan was paramount as varied materials, colors and luminosity of stones,
temperature and glare had to be considered. Sleek, recessed halogens and LEDs do
the heavy lifting, while a grouping of pendant lights serenade the center service area.
Jerry affirms, “Most of our pieces are one-of-a-kind and cannot be reproduced.” With
this in mind, the team understood that every single selection had a story to tell and
needed its own spotlight.

The most splendid way to experience these unique stories is to see and touch the jewels
themselves. Domiteaux highlights the marble, viewing table as a “vital component”
and a “sublimely integrated nucleus around which the store orbits, physically and
metaphysically.” I must agree with such a transformative description…I experienced
it as an exhilarating cloud nine, where I was adorned with the most intriguing baubles
imaginable! Comfortable seating is readily available, but a beckoning floor mirror, with
perfectly bright lighting, lifts you right out of your seat. And have I mentioned the
out-of-this-world, stainless steel handbags and clutches? You read correctly- they
must be seen to be believed…

For all the delight the jewelry
invokes, it must be said the overall
experience of the gallery is true
interior luxury in a chic modern
environment. The modest 800
square feet boldly declare
twenty-first century sensibility
and is every bit as functional,
and state- of-the-art, as we have
come to expect. At the same
time, it remains welcoming, even
soothing, as it graciously lures the
artistic connoisseur.

The icing, on the proverbial cake, is the Szor couple’s enthusiasm for, and dedication
to, what they do. This passionate power-house has selected, and offers, a fine and
varied collection of exquisite, wearable art. And they want nothing more than to
share, with you, the artists’ histories, inspirations and process, honed to perfection.
You will not see creations like these at the more celebrated boutiques in the city.
They also feel strongly that this distinctive style (never “folksy” or craft-like)
should be accessible and are very conscious to remain in an affordable realm.
Information and prices are elegantly presented in full view, so there is never an
uncomfortable moment. How could you ask for more?

Well, there is more! Their complete brand image is absolutely swoon-worthy, as are their
complimentary metallic compacts full of cookie bites, made by Nancy herself. (Yes, it
comes with a purchase…which I made!) I personally celebrate the Szors in their
endeavor to break the mold, forgo the safe standards and delve into such new
territory… as this, my friends, is what I believe becoming a modernist is all about.

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