say the Turkana men of East Africa .
Over time and across cultures people have used jewelry along with other forms of adornment to express what they think is beautiful, to convey beliefs about the natural world and to show their status in society. Adornment both connects people and cultures while at the same time distinguishing one culture from another. Artisans use a wide variety of materials to produce objects of cultural and personal appeal.
Over time and across cultures people have used jewelry along with other forms of adornment to express what they think is beautiful, to convey beliefs about the natural world and to show their status in society. Adornment both connects people and cultures while at the same time distinguishing one culture from another. Artisans use a wide variety of materials to produce objects of cultural and personal appeal.
(Collage Series Neckpiece--"Madonna Gold with Sankofa")
Over the past decades fine artists and craftspeople have chosen polymer clay as their medium of choice. Works featuring this clay can be found in sophisticated art galleries and museums, such as the Smithsonian Institution, around the world.
For several decades I have created wearable items by means of needle knitting and sewing; garments I've made or designed and constructed have appeared on national television, in yarn shops, on stage in a production at the University of Massachusetts, and in my own wardrobe. In the early 1990’s an acquaintance introduced me to polymer clay. Since that time I have been making art beads and pendants incorporating combinations of only the strongest and most durable translucent and opaque clays.
Influenced by Pueblo, Navajo, Chinese and African art traditions the process I use to create patterns in clay involves mixing several stacked graduated shades of two or more colors. To these forms I add metallic inclusions or color with fine art markers then stack them into blocks followed by cutting, combining and recombining the pieces to create intricate patterns. These blocks are then reduced, divided and combined again to create increasingly complex patterns that are assembled into a variety of earrings, brooches, and neckpieces. By carving or applying gold, silver or copper leaf I add richness and texture to the clay. Finally, each piece receives a surface finishing process of up to ten levels of ultra fine sanding that creates a smooth, semi-gloss surface. Additionally, some pieces receive a final buffing with cotton to bring out a glassy sheen. Depending on size and complexity of design the development of each piece involves 8 to 30 hours of crafting.
I string necklaces and pendants using stainless steel cables, cotton or synthetic cord or other non-traditional materials. On many pieces I use semi-precious stones, African beads, metal beads, glass seed beads and Sworovski crystals for contrast and accent.
