The act of holding, both physical and emotional, is a central theme explored in my work. Holding Generations speaks to the human bond formed across generations, through the performance of ritual practices with inherited objects. Through touch, our DNA is…
These flower pins are a symbol of sustainability & environmental awareness. They are constructed from post-consumer tin & plastic trash from food & product packaging. My commitment to “reuse” consumer waste started from a sense of social responsibility. These materials…
Inspired by this 1915 WWI Rene’ Lalique “Orphans of the Armies” medal, respectfully held in place with cold connections. The vulnerable figures of woman and 2 babies are bound together by fear and compassion. My piece is designed to shelter…
During the election cycle of 2020 I created this teapot in response to Trumps rhetoric about immigrants and all the possibilities of losing insurance etc. it is a fabricated, brass teapot with silver. It was crafted beautifully before I distressed…
The work in my “STITCHES” series is inspired by my mother. A consummate seamstress, she made all my clothes from Vogue designer patterns as I was growing up. The elements of the piece are meant to suggest corduroy and polka…
We enjoy using a common material to make uncommon works. We have chosen to work with anodized aluminum as the basis of our jewelry due to its light weight, strength and array of vibrant colors. Our work expresses balance and…
Memento Mori Pendant Translated literally as “remember death,” a memento mori serves as a reminder of the inevitability of death, in order that life is then lived to its fullest. I carved this coffin-shaped amber to evoke a meaningful memory,…
A fundamental aspect in my own work is the development of individual expression through metal. As a metalsmith I consider function to be an important aspect in my jewelry, wearable art and objects. I design jewelry that can be worn…
I make work that focuses on macabre subject matter without sacrificing beauty and function, creating couture jewelry that caters to unique aesthetics in the market. My designs speak in terms of eccentricities and incorporate unsettling visuals. I am inspired by…
Gina Westergard creates contemplative urns that mark the passage of time, celebrate a life that has passed, and evoke memories that remain. The LuBen Urn was made for a couple who wish to have their ashes combined. The urn’s design…
Throughout all of human history, there has been a fascination with the idea of self. Whether it is crudely rendered with pigment and animal fat smeared on a cave wall or snapped on a phone and augmented with the latest…
The Artist describes this work as a rotary-blade slicer used for cutting pizza. The unique blade configuration and mounting fixture in the form of a lobster “crusher” claw is unprecedented, and a heretofore unknown configuration found among culinary implements. This…
I fabricate quirky brooches based on repetition and mechanized patterns. I am selecting discarded materials and distinct color combinations and re-inventing these into geological stratum-like pieces. My methodology is consistent, fabricating using classic silversmithing and stone setting techniques, merging these…
I explore the use of industrially made products to create jewelry that is simultaneously manufactured and handcrafted. I bridge the gap between these seemingly disparate modes of making in order to consider the role material, process, and people play in the production of things.
I am looking at hurricane damaged landscapes photographed from above – from planes or helicopters as they survey and record the damage wrought by our ever more severe hurricane seasons. The post-storm scattered mess of flora, building materials, and ephemera…
I often start with a castoff piece of enamel or silver that just seems like it might have a story to tell. This torch fired enamel was plucked from a box in a moment of boredom and sat on the…
Ximena’s current studio practice investigates landscape and topography as an expression of location and identity. Bush Baroque is the personal re-interpretation of Canberra’s landscape through a baroque lens, surrounded by centuries-old eucalyptus trees. In this body of work, Ximena returns…
My work is the manifestation of the sacrifices and resilience of my ancestors. The symbolism and iconography represented is a visual iteration of their genetic, cultural, and spiritual kinship that has a common foundation in the land, animals, and resources…
Nature is my muse. She instills in me a visual vocabulary of endless possibilities that inform my aesthetics whatever form they take. All my pieces are sculptural studies—explorations of the structures, colors, patterns, and textures I encounter at the point…
The beauty of the natural world such as the floral whorls of lupine and dramatic landscapes of the Tetons inspire me to co-create with the earth. Traditional metalsmithing techniques allow me to transform raw materials into wearable works of art….
This work detail is from a series comprised of 90 wooden brooches in unique boxes that serve as reliquary-like vessels to honor and house the wings of Monarch butterflies that were collected by Oklahoma State University scientists researching the Monarch…
Fascinated by the impact of humans on landscape transformation, Sheedy draws inspiration from the origins of found material, creating jewelry pieces that testify of a site’s history. The stone used to create “Chercher sa stabilité” (Searching for Stability) necklaces, from…
I was given a slice of Bog Oak maybe 10 or 12 years ago by a friend and have intended to create something beautiful with it ever since. This year I decided to finally make the first cut into this…
My work explores the idea of control: both in the physical world and within our own consciousness. I am fascinated by the means of control we encounter and the unseen structures and systems that modify our experiential reality. This tension…