In my exhibition entitled “Illuminate”, I attempt to bridge the physical and conceptual concerns of jewelry and bring to light historical mistruths.

“Tempted” consists of small wooden cupboards which when opened reveal various images of the Temptation where different fruit are depicted along with different levels of guilt. The earliest images show both Adam and Eve reaching for the fruit, later we only see Eve. Why is the apple the prevalent fruit when in history we see fruit such as figs and dates and why the shift in responsibility from both archetypes to only Eve? Beside each image is the actual fruit hanging from an elastic cord to allude to body parts. The apple is prevalent because of its association to female, while dried figs to the male! The title “Tempted” asks the viewer to become involved. The viewer must open the cupboards and must be tempted to view the insides of the containers to access the meaning in the piece.

On the body jewelry is often a seductive focal point to rest ones eyes. “Gaze” I am interested in the dichotomy of the ideas of the visionary and the voyeur. Lockets usually contain private information, but this piece opens to reveal eyes looking back at the viewer. The locket hangs from a 5' chain. The piece is suspended from the gallery ceiling to hang at chest level. The effect is one of iconic nature, dwarfing the viewer by the scale of the object. As the viewer opens the locket they are confronted with eerie human eyes. The text around the edge of the eyes reads:

I see.  I know.  I watch.  I look.  I think.  I read.  I realize.  I envision.  I remember.  I understand. I forget.  I don't know.  I can't see.  I'm confused.  I don't understand.  I have no idea.  I'm lost.  My eyes are closed.

The existence of a female disciple and an apostle in the Bible is generally unknown - Tabitha (Acts 9:36), and Junia (Romans 16:7). During the medieval period spoons were made with finials representing the male apostles. Namesakes were often given by a godfather to his godson (born with a silver spoon in your mouth). Tabitha and Junia were not included in this symbolic ritual. I have made spoons for these forgotten women using the historical apostle spoons as a model.

The key which opens the cutlery box is entitled “Rosary”. A rosary is used to give a physical presence to the recalling of prayer. The function of the rosary is subverted in this piece, the key which is used to open a lock is chained to the scripture of Tabitha and Junia. When picked up the text becomes unintelligible, pointing to how knowledge can be easily disregarded.