S C U L P T U R A L J E W E L R Y
Guilt and Commitment were created for an exhibition called TAG at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, PA Contemporary Craft. Emotions and memories inspire my work as a metal artist. In discussion with my TAG partner, a local tattoo artist, I found that others are driven by their emotional state as well. Sometimes this is expressed in the form of a tattoo. One may choose to adorn their body permanently with an image of praying hands and the phrase “forgive me” underneath, thus wearing a reminder of their guilt for the rest of their life. Others may want their body art to represent their commitment to a certain group or their passion for an activity.
Guilt is an emotion that I often want to hide from the world. I wear a facade but am very aware of how terrible I feel inside. Guilt, like Commitment, uses the religious symbolism of stained glass. It also conceptualizes the religious tradition of confession, embodied in the tacks, which cause the wearer pain. As said by my TAG partner, “Facing our fears takes courage; facing our guilt takes confession.” Guilt uses silver, copper, steel, pearls and cloisonné enamel to present the duality of this emotion.