Jeanette Calabaza
Santo Domingo /Kewa
Jeannette was born to Reyes and Regorio Calabaza on June 1, 1955. She watched her parents make jewelry every day until she was able to help them, which was after school at the age of 15. Initially, Jeanette helped her parents by making turquoise chokers, soon branching out into longer and more complicated pieces, using multiple stones.
Known for her use of olive shell in her heishi necklace, earrings, and bracelet designs, always uses every stone, no matter how small, to make her jewelry. Before she begins, she envisions each piece in her mind, seeing the stones, their shape and color. She always chooses to only use natural stones in her work. Her favorite designs, she says, are those that use a mixture of spiny oyster colors, because they are vibrant and eye-catching.