micro/MACRO
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Yevgeniya Kaganovich
Faculty
The Weight of Things, 2019
Reused plastic bags, copper, copper shot
“The neckpiece The Weight of Things juxtaposes the idea of preciousness against the discarded artificial material it is made out of. I use a traditional craft process, crocheting, to contrast the slow labor intensive making with the speed of refuse. Small stiches, vast land fields. This materially and time-dense object is a physical manifestation of numerous bags discarded and time spent in a futile attempt to reclaim them. In addition to being made out of and stuffed with plastic bags, the piece is physically weighted to make us consider what it means to carry these materials on our bodies.”
Erica Meier
Faculty
Palimpsest #1 (brooch), 2018
Bolts, acrylic, enamel, steel
“The metamorphosis of our cultural objects has changed the way we communicate, the way we work, and the way we adapt to change and difference. Through the lens of personal history, the role of the dysfunctional tool is a constant protagonist in my practice. Palimpsest shows traces of process with layers of pattern, time, and material. It is a record of labor and its subtleties.”
Adam Hawk
Faculty
Island Brooch, 2019
Sterling and fine silver, copper, vitreous enamel
“I sketch, make things, and explore. Whether a short bike ride to work, or a prolonged camping trip on a deserted island, my exposure to urban and natural aesthetics, both big and small, has had a major influence on my design vocabulary. The natural world guides me, and a simple rock becomes a brooch. The body of a trout becomes an alphabet. Things outside of myself control the language I use to describe my experiences.”
Jim Charles
Faculty
Pearl Slips Neckpiece, 2019
Imitation pearls, rubber, aluminum
“In Pearl Slips, artificial pearls and small beads are made into a movable rubber wrapped spine, mimicking membranes and joints, as well as ocean organisms. Visually, this piece alludes to microscopic and possibly alien life. The juxtaposition of rubber as a utilitarian material with the traditional pearl necklace is meant to create a unique hybrid aesthetic.”
Madeline Jager
BFA Candidate
Budding Necklace, 2019
Sterling silver
“This work is the result of my collecting and casting of small fallen plant life on campus. It is a study of examination, transformation, and preciousness. The ephemeral is made permanent; the organic becomes inorganic. It is an invitation to closely at the small world.”
Lilly Luft
BFA Candidate
Imageless Cameo Diptych, 2019
Porcelain, sterling silver
“Cameo Diptych is a set of two brooches in carved porcelain and steel, they are part of a body of work that explore historical modes of representing oneself and others at the small scale. Each object contains both a mirror and a cameo and represents a common historical format for presenting those objects. By destructively obscuring and revealing either the cameo or mirror to different degrees, they create the expectation of an image and invite further exploration.”
Kailey Floryance
BFA Candidate
Till Death Do Us Part…?, 2018
Sterling silver, diamond, geodes, badge reel, paper notes
“The companionship between the ring and the brooch represents the complexity of today’s romantic relationships. Each of these pieces alone, represent the individuals (micro) of the relationship, but together the pieces represent a promise (MACRO) the individuals made to one another. The two halves being able to be worn by one or a pair, serves as a reminder that relationships may not always be easy, but are worth the effort you put into them.”
Sophia Hermann
BFA Candidate
Nervous, 2019
Copper, cellophane, powder coat, resin
“This locket is inspired by microscopic images of a human nervous system. The locket is made with cellophane, resin, brass, and blue powder coat. I used these brightly colored materials with their variety of textures and a unique hinge mechanism in order to create a playful object that allows the viewer to explore forms from a world under a microscope.”
Malachi Aminga
BFA Candidate
Bananas and Grapes Are Awesome, 2019
Plastic, sterling silver
“My piece Bananas and Grapes are Awesome was inspired by fruit. I made this pair of earrings to reveal the understated beauty of fruits, things that are consumed daily because of their nutritional value, taste, color or size, but could be more than what meets the eye.”