6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY March 21-27, 2024 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Hidden somewhere in Pacific Grove are priceless artifacts on display behind a closed door with a partial ocean view. But this isn’t a gallery. Nor is it a museum. It’s not a warehouse either, but it is where you can see Pacific Grove native Justin Barrett’s small—although there really is nothing “small” about it—and meticulously curated part of his collection of jade stones and sculptures. Barrett has spent decades working with jade, but still considers himself a student. His best teachers are his clients—those who know the stone, have collected it, written about it and been enveloped in its culture. Barrett’s work has transformed him just as he began transforming the pieces he’s hunted into wearables and polished specimens. He is the vice president of Jade Events Unlimited, which puts on a festival in Monterey’s Custom House Plaza every June benefiting Big Sur schools, and most recently the Monterey History and Art Association. The Monterey Bay Jade Festival draws over 45 vendors each year comprising enthusiasts and professionals to buy, sell and trade from one of the largest selections of nephrite and jadeite in the world. But to Barrett, working with jade is not just about buying and selling. “It’s about the energetic part of the stone,” he says. “It’s created a value structure that is something that transcends generations. It’s going to be around long after we’re gone—you can’t melt it. If a piece of jade is found and altered, it becomes a permanent artifact.” Throughout several strings of history and culture, jade was revered as something even more precious than gold—and it’s found in more places around the world than you may think. One of the first documented occurrences was in China. During Spanish conquests of Mayan and Aztec civilizations, jade was offered as the most precious mineral, after only gold and silver. Barrett’s exhibition in Pacific Grove attempts to bridge the gap between museum and art gallery. The jade pieces there are housed with nearly 200 books about the stone, some of which are no longer in print. Next to priceless sculptures that can fit in the palm of your hand and that date back to as early as 5600 B.C. are western contemporary fine art pieces from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. “Chinese pieces, like you see here, are the kind of pieces you’d only see behind glass,” Barrett notes. Hongshan ornament pieces around 7,000 years old are rougher with muted tones of green, while figurines are a lighter color and a vase from the industrial era shines bright white, with jade’s signature green tint. There are large, natural pieces of polished stone Barrett has hauled in— an immense challenge given the weight and density of a stone that can smash a diamond. “Part of this collection is not only antiquities and fine art, but also really high-end jade specimens from all over the world,” he says, showcasing how large rocks the size of car tires can be bespeckled with flakes of orange sand (from Wyoming) or have dark, forest green hues (from the Big Sur coast). Carvings that date back to before electricity were made using bamboo impregnated with garnet sand. Contemporary carvings in his collection include some from New Zealandbased artisans Donn Salt and Robert Lyons, as well as his own. Barrett’s collection is available for viewing by appointment only, and he is selective about his clientele. Members of the jade community are welcoming but discerning. When someone picks up a stone, they make an immediate call: “jade or not jade.” When he finds jade, Barrett knows it when he sees it, and describes the stone as “precious.” Though he does not consider any mystical qualities within his collection, he notes that many cultures have a story about what it means, and adds: “I’ve never met a stone that is more Gollum-esque.” Justin Barrett’s collection of jade is available for viewing by appointment only. 238-7122, bsjade@gmail. com, justinjade.com. Precious Stones A local jade hunter and carver houses part of his collection of artifacts in an unannounced gallery in Pacific Grove. By Sloan Campi Despite working with jade for nearly three decades, Justin Barrett still considers himself a student of the craft, and looks to his clients as mentors. “I’ve never met a stone that is more Gollum-esque.” TaLES FrOM ThE arEa cODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Join us for an informative update from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. From the bottom of the ocean to the stars and a new generator too! Find out what's new with FNMOC. Presented by the City of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, and the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. GET TICKETS! FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM MONTEREY CONFERENCE CENTER TICKETS: $45 • INCLUDES BREAKFAST PRESENTED BY Join us for an informative update from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. From the bottom of the ocean to the stars and a new generator too! Find out what's new with FNMOC. Presented by the City of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, and the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
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