Death’s-head Hawkmoth

2021

Sliver, brass, gold, amethyst, glass, photography

8 in x 5.5 in

This piece is very personal to me as it is a homage to me, my art, and interests, as well as a narrative piece focusing on mental health and mental illness. The lens in the middle rotates, showing photographs that are my own and self portraits and the stone used is amethyst which is my birthstone. The photographs represent how mental illness can have different faces. The way one presents themself to others may not be representative of the reality of how one is. One may be suffering internally and appear healthy externally.

The points of the spiderweb are sharp and may poke or scratch the neck of the wearer causing pain. This is intentional as mental illnesses can often cause silent pain for the individual who is living with it. I chose to incorporate “dark” and “creepy” elements (the death’s-head hawkmoth and the spider web) to connect how mental illness is usually perceived. Like mental health, these things are preconceived to be negative, scary, and dangerous, when actually, they are just often misunderstood. The choice of a moth and a spider web is important as a moth can easily get stuck in a spiderweb but it may not easily get free or may never get free, just as one struggling with mental health. The moth may die in the spiderweb, no matter how hard it tries to get free.

Snakes

2021

Brass, Copper, Silver

9.5 in x 5.5 in, 2.75 in x 3.25 in, 4.25 in x 1.5 in

In this series of three pieces consisting of a necklace, a brooch, and a single earring, I explore familiar forms through manipulating wire in various ways. The snakes were formed by melting the tip of the wire into a ball, this ball was flattened, and then shaped. The main curved form is wire that I forged and tapered. The chain is made using two different sized brass jump rings which allows the chain to lay flat against the skin. I hammered the larger rings flat, creating a hammered texture that compliments the texture of the main curved form. The mechanism that allows the necklace to be worn and removed is hidden for aesthetic purposes. If facing the piece with the main curved form at the bottom, the connection is the bottom jump ring of the left chain. This jump ring is just large enough to slide over the snake's head, with the curve of the snake and the weight of the piece allowing for a secure connection.

The use of different metals creates a contrast that brings focus to the snakes and emphasizes the different pieces. While the scales vary dramatically, the forms are identical. This ties each piece together and shows how size alone can change the impact of the piece and how one interacts with it. 

I chose to create snakes as I wanted to play with the illusion of movement. The snakes appear to be moving up and down, as they slither and wrap around the forms. This creates a juxtaposition as metal is hard and sturdy, while snakes are soft and flexible. 

Other Works

2018-2023