Beauty
Purpose
Growth
Ability
Love
Beauty.....is displayed in its irregularity, unique inclusions, in the contrast and diversity of fine and common materials. Its appreciated for its sculptural purpose over awkward functionality. And its honesty of flaws is admirable and comfortable.
Purpose.....referencing navigation and direction. This functional and sculptural piece invites meditation, on life as a journey. No purpose or direction is the same. Options are open ended on how and where. One makes their mark.
Growth.....Progression in size, knowledge, character and wisdom. Inspired by the nautilus shell, which shows a development of natural growth that only moves forward.
Ability.....to try, struggle, and fail, to learn, flourish and progress. The ability to be challenged, succeed and win. Wearing this ring could make a simple task complex, but what the ring encompass, holds new rules and tasks, that require different abilities.
Love.....the core and essence of life and vital to our existence. Love and be loved.
Artist Statement
What do you expect to find inside a tiny black velvet box? You would probably hope for a high polished gold ring with a large flawless diamond right in the center. The perfect diamond ring has long been sought after by women. We care about perfect cut, clarity, beautiful color, and please, no visible inclusions. We have developed an expectation to what resides inside these black velvet boxes and want the closest result to perfection. It seems with the technology at hand and the money available, perfection is a very obtainable idea. Not just with jewelry but in every aspect of life.
Babies don’t come in boxes but they are nonetheless a gift that cannot escape from society’s expectations for perfection. You can find out size, health, gender, and imperfections all before even opening the “box.” Also, babies now come with an up to “24 week return policy.” I would say those are pretty good odds to finding a baby closest to perfect.
Twenty weeks into my sister’s pregnancy she was informed that she was having a boy and that her son had a neural tube birth defect call Spina Bifida. I have created my thesis work inspired by my Sister’s ability to look past understanding, and into a future of unknowns with an attitude of creativity.
My work is meant to inspire people to see beyond what they hoped or expected to get in their little black boxes and to choose to be creative what ever the outcome.
There are five pieces named after areas where I think it’s important to think outside the box recognizing the fact that there so much beauty, and greatness in what you don’t expect if you choose to see it.