Roswell gallery provides safe space for women | Business News

ROSWELL, Ga. — Judie Raiford’s jewelry is more than just wearable art, it’s a symbol.

Her art is a symbol for love, survivors and even for sad memories like death.

For more than 55 years as a master metalsmith, Raiford has created unique pieces through her business, Judie Raiford Inc. at 1159 Canton St. in Roswell. She began her career after she got tired of school.

“I finished 10th grade, got a little more under my belt, and decided it was time to start living,” Raiford said.

After leaving high school, Raiford decided to see what the world had to offer, but quickly realized she needed to find a career.

“The ’60s were ending, and I realized that sex, drugs and rock and roll was not a career choice,” Raiford said.

In 1970, she began her metalsmith journey, apprenticing under jeweler Ben Douglas.

She created her business at 19 and never looked back. 

Since 1996, Raiford has created functional art in her studio on Canton Street. Originally based in a 9,000-square-foot, three-level timber frame barn she and friends built in 1995, her gallery now resides in the historic Fowler House. The building stands only a few yards away from the original barn.

In 2018, Raiford renovated the 195-year-old building into a Roswell staple. The building serves not only as a studio, but also as a gallery space for other artists. Guests can visit the shop to buy their next favorite art piece or watch Raiford create her next masterpiece alongside her dogs, Nelly Grace and Louise.

Raiford Gallery features work from more than 200 artists across North America, in all different art forms.

While renovating the building, for Raiford said creating an environment was important.

“I wanted a place where art could be respected, and women could be safe,” Raiford said.

An advocate for women who are survivors of domestic violence, Raiford quickly realized that her space was going to be a safe place for women after one of her employees became a survivor of the abuse.

“We’ve been pretty successful in that,” Raiford said.

Raiford and her all-female staff take measures to ensure a safe place at all times.

Her favorite part of the job is not the final product, but the process. In her studio, you can find all sorts of gemstones, pearls and her favorite materials to work with, silver and gold. 

“I love to reinvent the wheel,” Raiford said.

Alongside her two assistants, the team creates new family heirlooms and new staple wardrobe pieces.

Due to the high price of gold, she has noticed more customers requesting her to melt down the gold they already own.

“You may not want to wear what your parents or your favorite aunt wore, but I can make it into something that you’ll wear, and you get to wear the metal that they wore,” Raiford said.

Each February, Raiford and her assistants head to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show to collect materials for their pieces. Sellers and artists from across the world gather at the show.

Assistant Berlin Randall has been with Raiford for almost two decades. Her favorite part about working in the studio is the freedom to be herself.

“When I come here, I get to interact with other women, which is just the best part about it,” Randall said.

Randall also displays her own work in the gallery.

Throughout her career journey, Raiford said the most important thing she has learned is how important it is to do what she loves and not take shortcuts.

“I had to learn how to make things that people wanted to buy and were wearable,” Raiford said.