Rich Pacula the jeweler

Rich Pacula started working in the jewelry business when he was 18, and eventually became the manager of a profitable store in Fort Wayne. Many Fort Wayne natives (and transplants) remember the Pacula and Gough jewelry business located in the Southtown Mall for years. The two men who made that partnership now run separate shops, both good places to go.

But what Rich did is unique. In 2002 he designed a business and worked from the Three Rivers offices in downtown Fort Wayne, near the confluence of the three local rivers. It was a private, "buzz you in" deal for security, and the place was intimate, awesome. The customer experienced a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Pacula. Then around 2005 Pacula moved into the lobby office of the 1st Source Center on Main Street.

Click on his website, www.paculadesigns.com, to see works of gorgeous diamonds, unique settings, and really original material. The shop does custom designs and will work with pictures, drawings, or will do sketches with the customer. I am fond of the modern look to much of his work; the boldness, clean strong lines.

I have seen his works displayed at the Castle Gallery in Fort Wayne as well. One signature thing he turns out is large colored stones mounted at rakish angles, cocktail rings, in big stainless steel settings. They catch the light brilliantly.

He likes geometric shapes, and simple brilliant necklaces suspended from wire. His pieces almost speak, have humor. Yes, I am a fan.

It's fun to meet with the attractive Rich and his assistant, who fetches pieces or other requests from the back. You have an old fashioned conversation, a rare thing in our virtual world.

Take your pick from unusual things he carries. Stainless steel shapes curved like large letters, suspending a diamond or zirconium in space. Shapes of wood inlaid with simple clear and colored stones, again on wire. Rings that float with moons and planets of stones. Earrings that hang and turn boldly.

The bracelet pictured above reminds me of a unique piece of jewelry I had in high school: it was a bicycle chain coated in a polished metal and cut to wrist length, with a toggle fastener. I swear I set it down in a music rehearsal room when practicing there one morning at the high school: when I remembered it later in the day it was gone. Too bad, but I always really missed it.

Castle Gallery

The fire-fly gives light to its pursuer. -Oemaru

A pair of Eastern Bluebirds flew into a red bud tree in my snow-covered yard this morning, and the male was breathtakingly stunning - the texture of his brilliant blue coat of feathers slightly tousled, his ruddy breast the perfect compliment. To see him out the picture window in the backdrop of the light fluffy snow from yesterday was really a treat. The week after Valentine's Day in northern Indiana -

The pair of birds appeared to be a couple of sweethearts, and what better place to take your better half than to the Castle Gallery at the northwest corner of Wayne and College Streets in Fort Wayne. This lovely art gallery, built as a home in 1905, became the municipal art museum for a time. In 1983, when the city museum took residence downtown, the turreted 'castle' was restored to residential use.

The home is inviting and charming, and is filled with cherry, oak, maple, walnut and mahogany woodwork. There are beautiful antiques, rugs, Tiffany lamps and art glass everywhere. It's a warm and comfortable environment in which to view the all the splendid art for sale. One explores many rooms and bedrooms on three stories, climbing up and down surprising stairways to view new discoveries.

Artist in residence, Jody Hemphill Smith, has works prominently displayed and her colors are so wonderful for this time of year - bright romantic flowers, organics. For some local nostalgia and color, look for works by Fred Doloresco. One of my favorite featured artist is Leo native April Knox, who strikes me as having an Impressionistic style, shows careful brush work, and mastery of light and color that just stands out.

Rebecca J Schaab shows us familiar Indiana landscapes in warm tones and pastels, and there are more works by artists to numerous to name. If you'd rather look at jewelry, you won't be disappointed by the unique things - look for the case featuring stunners by jeweler Rich Pacula.

The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Their Valentine show will continue through February 27. You can tour the inside of the house and many of the paintings on their website at www.castlegallery.com. The staff can also let you know the dates of any upcoming events, such as cocktail mixers and artist receptions. It's a fun place to take a date and hang out and socialize. A lovely piece of original artwork is a purchase that can bring pleasure and dear memories for years to come.