Page 7 - Harnett Life Fall 2020

Local jewelry artist Tara Wilson’s decision to hone her craft exit from her legal career and the couple’s move here.
near the home of her college alma mater played out like the
country music song, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” In this Reflecting, she said, “Being an artist, I could live anywhere, but
game of chance, The Old North State came out on the winning this is where I wanted to be. The only downside of our cross-
end, and Orange County, California, is now a memory in her country move is being apart from my daughter and grandchil-
rearview mirror of life. dren in California. We make the most of FaceTime, though.”
An upside, though, she noted, is now being closer to her East
Retiring from her first career as a lawyer, Wilson is now happy Coast son in Boston.
to be back in Harnett County near Campbell University. She at-
tended undergraduate school at the home of the Fighting Cam- Wilson and husband Greg Pittman found a home on the Harnett
els in the ‘80s upon the recommendation of her grandmother County side of Fuquay with a sizable walk-in basement perfect
and aunt, both North Carolina natives. Her fondness for the for an art studio. She now works as a full-time mixed media
state grew from years of spending summers here visiting rela- artist specializing in jewelry design that she promotes and sells
tives, vacationing at our beautiful beaches and attending sum- through her business and self-described alter ego, Lulu Max
mer camps as a youth. Art Jewelry ― named for two beloved Chihuahuas. Her pas-
sion for art, she said, has been a constant in her life.
“My grandparents and parents are all from Durham. I love
North Carolina and Harnett County and always felt like the “As a young girl, I frequented the bead shops in Laguna Beach
black sheep of the family after being the only one from the and often spent my allowance on the sparkly and shiny things
family born in California after my dad took a job and moved I found there. My creative side was badly neglected during my
us there,” she said. educational journey and years spent as an attorney. Art was a
hobby for a while, but I have been at it professionally now for
While earning a bachelor’s of business administration from the last 10 years.”
Campbell, Wilson took all the art elective classes she could to
feed her creative soul. A move back to The Golden State fur- Wilson’s artistry is in the fine craft jewelry genre — the high-
thered Wilson’s education as she next attended both law school est level of quality jewelry before the fine grade of precious
and graduate school. After working on the West Coast for many metals and gemstones — and involves both treasure hunting
years, it was Wilson’s husband’s retirement that prompted the and handcrafting. Using the technique of assemblage, she takes