Donna E. Shimazu

Donna was born and raised in Hawaii. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Secondary Art Education Professional Diplomas from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her Masters of Business Administration degree is from the J.L. Kellogg School at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. She worked for large advertising agencies on national packaged goods accounts before switching careers to custom jewelry designing and goldsmithing. Currently, she works for Maui Divers Jewelry as the Assistant Manager of Design. She also teaches adult jewelry classes at the Honolulu Academy of Art Center at Linekona and has the distinction of being the first woman to be certified as a master bench jeweler by Jewelers of America.

Artist's Statement

My work centers on observation, process and problem solving. I derive my inspiration from examining nature, plants and animals in particular, and from studying mechanical design, industrial design, architecture and other crafts. In another life, I might have been an engineer. I focus on combining aesthetics with form and function. I want my jewelry to be attractive and wearable and I want my sculpture and mixed media work to be tactile and well executed.