Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Trying to cool down from the 90 degree heat, Jay Rosendahl stood inside his tent showcasing and informing people about his rock, gem and jewelry collection and jewelry from his commom-law wife, Carrie. All the way from San Diego, Calif., Rosendahl drove to Lawrence for the Wakarusa Music Festival.
Not only did he come to take part in the festivities, but Rosendahl sells rocks, gems and jewelry across the nation. He said he constantly attends gem and mineral shows, along with concert festivals such as Wakarusa.
Rosendahl became passionate about rocks and gems when someone gave him his first crystal when he was 18 years old. From then on, he said he was hooked.
He started collecting rocks and gems, and filled many cardboard boxes with them. He didn’t know what to do with all of his rocks and gems, but soon knew the answer.
“Sell them,” Rosendahl said. “It’s like finding homes for puppies.”
Rosendahl started his rock business in a parking lot, selling directly out of a briefcase. Now, he constantly travels with Carrie — whose last name he asked to keep anonymous — selling his rocks and gems, and her jewelry.
Rosendahl said he likes the theory of a first-name basis, instead of a last name. He compared his theory to those who don’t use a last name, such as Madonna. He thinks it’s a common theory among festival goers.
“Most people don’t use last names because it shows lineage. We don’t care where people come from,” Rosendahl said.
In addition to collecting and selling rocks and gems, he makes his own jewelry. Rosendahl uses a peyote stitch, which creates a flat piece of bead work, for all of his jewelry. He wears his jewelry around his dreadlocks, which he has had for nine and a half years.
Hanging inside of his tent were blue, white, red, green and yellow flags, known as prayer Tibetan Flags. The same Sanskrit, an ancient Indic language, of prayers for peace is printed on each flag. The theory behind the flags is as their threads fall apart, the wind takes them away and a person’s prayers come true.
Rosendahl says he doesn’t wholly believe in one religion, but takes different things from each of them. However, there is one thing that he doesn’t agree with, and that is the cross. He said he would rather remember Christ as a teacher and not a martyr who was killed.
“I don’t remember Bob Marley as an infected foot, why would I want to remember Christ with death,” he said.
Rosendahl’s rock, gem and jewelry collection contains various pieces from around the world. His prices range from 25 cents to $1,000. All are made of different materials, with different shapes and sizes.
The cobalt calcite stone normally changes from a gray color to blue when the stone absorbs light, however Rosendahl had a few that turned a “Barbie Pink” instead, for unknown reasons.
“That’s what I like about rocks. If you don’t know what it is, then it’s just a rock, but when you find out, you’re like whoa! That’s cool.”
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