05/18/2024
I’m thrilled to be part of the High Low High exhibition on the East Coast at Heidi Lowe Gallery, which will be on display in person and online from May 11th through July 7th! ✨❤️
“High Low High is a group show of jewelry artists invited to make a wearable piece utilizing a pair of silver and turquoise buttons made by an Indigenous Diné (Navajo) couple, Marie and Damon Thompson. These buttons were initially ordered by a well-known athletic brand for a new collection to celebrate Indigenous cultures and crafts and promote diversity. Their sales agreement was later wrongly reneged by the company. Heidi Lowe and Chelsea Radka, co-producers of the exhibition, purchased the buttons to turn an unjust situation into something beautiful and bring more awareness to often overlooked situations like these. Artists bought the buttons for the same amount as the original deal and incorporated them into new pieces by reconfiguring, deconstructing, or adding to them in some fashion. While each piece is a collaboration between the artist, Daman, and Marie, artists were free to approach this from any perspective: as a form of activism, formal exploration, a statement, etc.”
I fabricated a pair of earrings I called Zig Zag using a couple of the silver buttons made by Marie and Damon Thompson. The name of this piece has different layers of meaning. On the surface, Zig Zag refers to one of the most commonly used sewing machine stitches applied in the garment industry. Unfortunately, these beautifully made artisanal buttons didn’t get to be part of the clothing they were made for. On another level, Zig Zag is a commentary on the interaction between the fashion industry and the metalsmiths who made the buttons. It speaks to the buyers’ behavior and how they changed course and ultimately abandoned the artisans and their work.
Thank you, Heidi Lowe and Chelsea Radka, for organizing this incredible and thoughtful exhibition! 🙏🏼💕✨
