Bugs pervade my life. I have always loved nothing more than rolling over a log in springtime to watch the bustle of escaping life: Centipedes darting under foliage, ants swarming to protect their eggs and worms retreating slowly down into their burrows. In my work, the viewer is asked to share my passion for the small creatures of our world, though without direct exposure.
Through my use of precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones, and the traditional jewelry forms of necklaces, rings and earrings, I approach my audience with familiarity. Through the many legs, segments, pincers and antennae of the invertebrate world, I push them away with a culturally ingrained disgust. Through this push and pull of the familiar and repulsive, I generate interest not only in my work but in the creatures I draw inspiration from.
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Studio Song: Mesmerizing by Liz Phair