BEHIND THE DESIGN: Agate Art Installation at the new Lightwell Hotel

Here at Chemistry Jewelry we believe that beautiful, intentional design shouldn’t be confined to a jewelry case. It should spill over into the spaces we inhabit and into the community we love!

Recently, we had the incredible opportunity to bring a piece of our signature aesthetic down the street to our neighbors at The Lightwell Hotel, located just a couple of blocks away from us here in beautiful Hood River, Oregon.

If you’ve ever visited our boutique, you know and love the striking agate flow wall right behind our register. It’s a core part of Chemistry Jewelry's visual identity! We were thrilled when the Lightwell Hotel team reached out wanting to bring that same organic, grounding energy to their stunning space. 

To bring this vision to life, we collaborated with the legendary jewelry designer Melissa Joy Manning! Known for her sustainably minded, hand-fabricated designs, Melissa originally created these spectacular custom agate slices to mimic her signature jewelry settings. 

Melissa isn't just a master jeweler; she’s a pioneer of the ethical, sustainable jewelry movement. For over 20 years, she has been hand-fabricating jaw-dropping pieces using 100% recycled metals and ethically sourced, uniquely beautiful stones. Instead of forcing stones into rigid, traditional settings, Melissa lets the raw and natural geometry of the earth dictate her designs. The result? Wearable art that feels alive, deeply personal, and beautifully rebellious.

Each piece features incredible natural banding and unique color profiles, framed with her signature delicate metalwork. Gathered together, they form a breathtaking, flowing constellation across the deep moss-green walls of the room.

Installing an art piece of this scale takes time, a precise eye, and plenty of patience. Every single agate slice was carefully numbered, mapped out, and placed to perfectly mimic the organic, fluid movement of a natural gemstone vein.

While I handled the heavy lifting, the measuring and the ladder work, I wasn't entirely on my own. I had the absolute best moral support a shop owner could ask for: our new little shop dog, Benny! He assumed his role as "Lead Project Supervisor," keeping a watchful eye on the floor and making sure the vibe remained perfectly calm throughout the day.

The final installation captures the exact blend of modern elegance and natural beauty that defines Hood River style. The warm downlighting at the Lightwell perfectly catches the translucent layers of the stones, creating an incredibly welcoming atmosphere for guests as they check in.

Next time you’re exploring downtown, try a mini art walk! Pop into the Lightwell Hotel to see the installation in person—and then walk a couple of blocks over to see the original inspiration wall at Chemistry Jewelry! Whether you’re just touring around or hunting for a new everyday staple, we’d love to show you around the shop.

Obsessed with these stones? We don't blame you! Let us help you design an installation by contacting us. We handle all commissions and inquiries directly through our gallery. Drop us a line, give the gallery a call or stop by to chat about your space and explore our latest curation of wall art!