collection origin
each piece begins with shell and stone, shaped by hand, and carried back to the body.
collection context
The Perlemoen Collection begins with materials shaped by coastal land and sea. Abalone, shell, stone, and gold are gathered for their natural form and history, then worked by hand to preserve balance, weight, and movement.
The collection is informed by Yurok and Wiyot cultural traditions, where shell has long carried meaning connected to relationship, exchange, and continuity. These stories are rooted in place and practice. Perlemoen acknowledges this lineage with care, honoring the origins of the materials without claiming the narratives themselves.
in the journal
A longer reflection on the cultural story of Dentalium Man and Abalone Woman, and how it informed the making of this collection.
