MFA Thesis Exhibition

MFA Thesis Exhibition

Well, I am officially done with school. I moved out of New Paltz last week and am recovering at my parents' house in DC for a few days before I start my cross-country move back to Seattle.

Here are a couple of images from my thesis show: Solipsistic Apparatus. 

This work explores systems, both man-made and within the human body. I am interested in the similarities, and the intersection between the two. I have been exploring these concepts through material investigations and the creation of wearable jewelry. There is a record of the passage of time visible in bodies and the built environment, through deterioration, repairs and additions to structures. These works endeavor to construct their own system, visually creating a link between the built and the bodily, as an attempt to symbolize our corporeal existence. Through wearing, the jewelry is activated, creating parallels with the body while also working incongruously with the body – encircling it but not intersecting it.

Photos of installation taken by Keith Ferris.

You can see more images on my website and flickr.

First Year Work

First Year Work

As I am getting work ready for my thesis exhibition, I was looking through work, that I made last year (2010-2011), in grad school, and decided to add some photos of that work to my website. When I came into grad school I was interested in blood cells. I was thinking a lot about how we are made up of blood, and about all we do to contain that blood in our bodies. I began thinking about bringing that blood to the outside as a visual element. The idea of blood cells spilling off of us. This was the last piece I made right before grad school.

Then when arriving at New Paltz we had 10 days to make 10 pieces, so continuing my thinking about blood cells, but moving into also thinking about the vascular system, I created this ring and this brooch. 

These explorations in my first year, later transitioned into a broader thinking about systems, which inspired my thesis work. You can see more of the pieces that I made last year on my website. 

Parts Bin

Parts Bin

I've realized that I now have a "parts bin" at my bench. Full of test parts, and parts that are intended for future pieces.

SNAG Pin Exchange

SNAG Pin Exchange

I just came across this photo the other day. This is a shot of the pins that I made last year for the SNAG pin exchange. They were plastic animal/nun/baby mash-ups. I think my favorites are probably the baby chickens.

System R3529

System R3529

Here is the original image that I used for the front of my postcard.

 System R3529, Sterling Silver, Copper, Steel and Graphite, 2012

Show Cards

Show Cards

My cards came in today for the MFA thesis exhibition, and I'm pretty excited about them.

Work from the Fall

Work from the Fall

Here are a couple of images of work that I completed at the end of the fall semester. They are painted copper forms.

Schmuck 2012

Schmuck 2012

This year all of the New Paltz Metal graduate students as well as Myra and Jamie are planning on going to Schmuck exhibition in Munich – an international jewelry competition. Interestingly, I heard that they didn't accept any Americans this year.

A few of us (including myself) bought our tickets the other day and made lodging reservations. I've never been to Germany before unless you count a layover at the airport, so I'm pretty excited.

was zahlt/what counts at studio gabi green, gollierstrasse 17

2011

2011

In the last two semesters I have been exploring systems, both man-made and within the human body. I am interested in the similarities between architecture and the body and the interaction between the two. Buildings become an extension of us. They are also symbols of our fragility. We need them for protection; at the same time their increasing size stands as a signifier of human capabilities. Buildings are also the legacy of the architects who created them – a way of affecting the future beyond the limitations of the architect’s lifetime.

There is also the record of the passage of time visible in the built environment through deterioration, repairs and additions to structures. These repairs and additions are usually not considered as the architect would have, but instead are in response to other’s current needs and limitations, and often create a disconnect between the original structure and the band-aid solution. However, these changes to the structures act as markers of time and the generations that tended to the building.

Here are some of the pieces that I created this year:

Necklace - Enamel, Copper, Sterling Silver, Steel - 2011

Bracelet - Copper, Enamel Paint - 2011

Necklace - Enamel, Copper, Steel - 2011

Pendan - Enamel, Copper, Steel - 2011

Life in Miniature

Life in Miniature

My life in the studio has take a miniature turn ever since we got our new Orion Welder (thanks Arthur). 

Orion Pulse Arc Welder

The Orion Welder is a pulse arc welder, which is basically a tiny tig welder that works in pulses. So, to weld a long seam, you have to do a series of spot welds. It is amazing for tack welding something together that you will then solder. Here is an example of some steel sheet that I welded together using this. The weld spots measure 1mm in diameter. 

Also, yesterday I made this itty bitty carabiner. I'm thinking about using them as clasps for some necklaces that I've been working on. 

Maybe one day I can get a job as a set fabricator for Laika, then I can work in miniature all the time. 

Liquid Metal

Liquid Metal

Repurposed

Repurposed

Today I presented the Repurposed project to my Into to Metals students. I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you. Who is your favorite jeweler that is working with repurposed materials?


This brooch is by Christiane Köhne and is made of artificial flowers and 18k gold.

One aspect of the project, that they will be doing, is considering surface treatment. I thought this group of rings by Marlene True was a great example. By using the same format for each ring she is riveting on tin that she has affected the surface in different ways. 

A necklace by Thea Tolsma using a bicycle inner tube.

And this ring by Maria Cristina Belluci made of resin, silver and colored pencils.