Artist Statement

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I create wearable adornment from metal. I communicate ideas in my pieces by utilizing wearable movement, in the form of hinges and other mechanisms, which encourages interaction with the viewer. My work creates intimate moments through covered brooch backs and concealed curiosities, that can often be revealed through closeness and interaction. I enjoy clever mechanisms and hidden things that must be discovered. The piece When Faced with Finance has hands covering a face that open. This hinged brooch is worn on the body rendering an outsider’s interaction with it quite intimate. There is also a message on the back of the brooch which, when worn, is concealed to all but the wearer, who has the autonomy to share it or not. Physical conditions of the objects, such as mechanisms, and the interaction they create by being wearable, helps the ideas to come alive. The piece Flight has a set stone that can be pulled down, thus allowing the bird's wings to spring up, as if taking off. The piece Don't Touch Me has a pin that can be pulled, allowing the guillotine blade to drop. The communication and development of ideas through the pieces is altogether possible due to their dynamic and interactive movement.

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Covid-19 pushed all of us out of our studios and away from our tight-knit metals department family.  Most of my work relies on intricate soldering and fabrication in order to create the mechanisms. I was lucky that I had already started setting up my home studio before this all happened. I had to adapt to using solely cold connections, like rivets and jump rings, in my work. I created two of my pieces as 3-dimensional models in Rhinoceros then used Keyshot to render them. It was great to refresh myself on things I don’t normally use.