Booth 427
(See map below)
About the Artist
There is something quite palpable and intriguing about molten metal and its mercury-like glow that draws me as a jewelry artist and scientist to explore and experiment. I use the ancient technique of casting molten metal into cuttlefish bone to create my pieces. The cuttlebone presents the perfect canvas to experiment with; its layers can be peeled back to reveal rich textures and patterns that mimic ripples on the sand, the very habitat in which this ancient marine creature dwelled. Using the textures and patterns to guide my design process, I incorporate them into hand carved molds, which are then transposed onto the molten metal as it is solidifies in the cuttlebone, to capture a fluidity in my pieces that is reminiscent of a childhood trip to the seashore.
I often incorporate gemstones as the focal point of my pieces, some of which are set directly into molten metal during the casting process. When designing each piece, the placement of the stone is carefully considered, whether it be juxtaposing the stone against a pattern or grain in the cuttlebone or featuring it in the center of a beautiful swirl, to create a harmony and balance that is visually pleasing. The resultant pieces are as unique as an individual fingerprint and have a captivating luster to them that cannot be created by any other technique. For example, in my cuttlefish inclusion cast pendant, the blue spinel was juxtaposed against a whirl in a highly patterned cuttlebone to create visual symmetry in the piece.
My work continues to evolve as I experiment and explore different stones and materials to cast in place and other organic casting techniques, such as the ancient Japanese wax casting technique of Mitsuro Hikime, the results of which can be both unpredictable and striking. What I love the most is the element of serendipity in my work, such as the unexpected movement of a stone, surprising flow of metal in a mold, or particularly intriguing pattern or texture in the cuttlebone that begins to revel itself as I sand the surface of the cuttlebone, which keeps it both addictive and exciting!
Based in Reston, VA
