Statement

I make art for the body. I create sculptural jewelry and wearable forms. My work aims to make the body feel good through weight and form. Jewelry can provide feelings of confidence and empowerment and I strive to make my pieces exude that feeling to the wearer both physically and emotionally. Through repetition and accumulation, I make jewelry to embellish the chest and neck. I heavily use this portion of the body in my work, as it’s a vulnerable spot, exposed and unprotected. My work aims to protect, to cover, and embrace the body while adorning it.

This process can be seen in my current studio work involving chainmail. This work uses the representation of protection through the recognizable function of chainmail. I use chainmail as a material to cover portions of the body, draping it over the shoulder, letting it hang around the neck. I let the body feel this weight, feel the coverage, feel good. This chainmail aims to provide a layer of protection and coverage. Using this as a base, I start to celebrate the chainmail, decorating it by setting stones in the pieces. I use stones for color, properties, shape and texture. Their diverse characteristics allow me to speak through them. They express what I cannot say in words but what I can say in jewelry. This process of creating and designing with chainmail in my work allows me to express modern feelings using a historical background. 

I love the body and I feel the need to protect and shield it from harm. I love the body and I feel the need to adorn, cherish and celebrate it. My work is about discovering the balance between what jewelry physically provides us with and what it can make us feel. Jewelry has always provided me with a sense of protection and safety in the world. While it makes me feel safe, it makes me feel confident. I believe these feelings are linked and their connection can be found in jewelry. The weight of a heavy chain around my neck,  wearing chunky rings on all 10 fingers and having my arms filled with noisy bracelets, this is my armor. Jewelry provides me with confidence, it allows me to go into the world with an extra layer of protection. My jewelry desires to give you confidence, to give you that extra encouragement you need to be who you are in this world. My jewelry serves to protect you.