Today we’d like to introduce you to Rex Nockengust and Gene Allen.
Hi Rex and Gene, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Beach Glass Bingo was established in 2000 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Handmade jewelry using only found beach glass. We use cold connection techniques that we have taught ourselves over the years.
Rex grew up in Cleveland where from a young age he was involved in theatre. Trained at Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, he performed in theaters around town, eventually starring at the Cleveland Playhouse at the age of 19. He moved to New York after graduation and made his living as an actor both on and off-broadway as well as touring the US and Europe
Gene grew up in rural Arkansas and always yearned for big city life. After studying theatre both in undergraduate and two graduate schools, he moved to New York City to pursue a career on the stage. He toured nationally and internationally and had a great time. He met Rex in 1990 while attending a play at Shakespeare in the Park. After a move with Rex to Hawaii in 1999, they both started taking jewelry classes utilized those new skills to design and make work from beach glass found on a secret beach in Hawaii.
They are constantly reinventing and thinking of new ways to use their beach finds. Their ultimate goal is to surprise people with what can be done with found objects.
In 2006 the two relocated to San Diego where they now live with their dog Jackie the Supermodel (@jackiethesupermodel) and travel to art shows all over the United States.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It took us some time to settle into our new studio and figure out how to navigate art shows, especially with all the travel involved. We also had to elevate our design work to compete with some of the best artists in the country.
Along the way, we participated in wholesale shows and were able to get our work into around 50 stores. The challenge with wholesale, as a small company, is creating pieces that can be produced and sold at roughly half the retail price while still maintaining quality.
One of our biggest and ongoing challenges, though, is sourcing genuine sea glass that’s smooth enough to use in our jewelry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When we moved to San Diego, our studio was housed in a wooden structure dating back to the 1800s, where soldering silver wasn’t permitted. As a result, we taught ourselves cold-connection techniques that didn’t require heat—methods like riveting, twisting, tension setting, and drilling sea glass. More recently, we’ve expanded our materials to include other beach finds such as reclaimed lobster trap wood, driftwood, and even gondola wood from Venice, Italy.
Rex has served on the board of the International Sea Glass Association for the past four years, helping us stay current with the work of other sea glass artists and deepen our understanding of how to identify authentic sea glass—naturally weathered by waves and sand.
Over the past 26 years, our work has also allowed us to build meaningful relationships with many clients who have become friends. Their commissioned pieces have challenged us creatively and truly expanded our horizons.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
We listen to a lot of podcasts in the studio, including How I Built This with Guy Raz, which explores how companies are built from the ground up, and Talk Art, a podcast that highlights artists across a wide range of mediums and their creative practices. We also find inspiration by visiting museums around the world to experience art firsthand, including jewelry design.
Our close friend and Broadway star Sandra Joseph has also been a source of inspiration—she’s written an incredible book, Unmasking What Matters, which shares meaningful life lessons and practical skills.
Pricing:
- $39 – 500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beachglassbingo.net
- Instagram: @beachglassbingojewelry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beachglassbingo
Image Credits
Guy Nicol – guynicol.com
