All around Fire Island you'll see people wearing tiny sterling silver pendants around their necks. They're detailed faces of all expressions; little molded characters smirking, grinning, pouting, grimacing, meditating and contemplating.
They're the pride and joy of the much loved local jewelry maker Kenny Goodman. Over the last forty five years, they've become a trademark of the island. They're much more than a fashion statement, the "Kennys," as people endearingly call them, are a symbol of affection for this idyllic getaway.
The pieces themselves display a high level of care and artisanship. Kenny makes everything from each link on the chains to the clasps.
It all began quite accidentally. As Kenny says, "I never thought about making things, I just liked playing with knives." He landed on Fire Island in 1967 when his long, silvery hair was as long in the back as it is now, but a little fuller on top. He was a young chap lookin' for a good time. One night he found himself out at the old lighthouse. He was spontaneously carving away at a tree when a surreal face began to appear in the coniferous trunk. It was kind of cool, he thought. Turns out, the locals agreed. Over seventy carvings and decades later, he's become a neighborhood celebrity.
The hardest decision when passing through his shop is deciding which face will be yours. Is it "Baccus," the god of wine and celebration who dons a delicate crown of grapes? Is it the "Cat in the Hat," the jolly character with a comically tall top hat? Maybe your cynical tendencies will gravitate towards Mister "Sign of the Times," a much distressed looking face with an existential expression and a creased forehead. Regardless of which one you choose, wherever you go summertime locals will be sure to give you the nod of approval when they notice you're wearing the unspoken mascot of their home away from home.
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