Since I started making jewelry at 11 years old, the practice of metalsmithing has informed every single piece of art I’ve created. However, because of the interdisciplinary education at Stamps, I have never been able to entirely devote my time to metals. Overwhelmed by my move to London and struggling to adjust in a new city, the metalsmithing studio at Central Saint Martins was a home-away-from-home where I could express myself freely and establish community.

While at CSM, I gained further appreciation for my interdisciplinary education as I learned how to root the aesthetics of and meaning behind a piece in history and culture. For my CSM keystone project “Watch Me Watch You”, I merged my Gender Studies minor at the University of Michigan with jewelry design. Framed by deep research into the role of jewelry in the Victorian Period, I created a collection of feminist jewelry that aimed to subvert the male-dominated gaze and empower the objectified female wearer. Learning how to use research to prepare for jewelry design and place my work at the intersection of history and personal experience has made me a more confident, iterative, and playful artist.

During my time in London, I was enlightened by the true interconnectedness of art. Surrounded by driven young artists with the same passion for metals as me, I found that despite our different backgrounds, it was easy to communicate using the language of making and designing jewelry. My Friends at CSM pushed me to further hone my craft and expand the lens within which I view my artistic endeavors. It is my hope that after graduation I can use the interconnectedness of art to continue to encourage conversation and collaboration, and expand my art education to my future career and broader community.