Tumbling--Current Exhibition

If you follow me on Insta, you might have seen these recently, and I believe that I promised a story……

Every year, the Craft Council of BC presents a fundraising Earring Show/Exhibition, which this year opens on May 5th. I first took part in 2020, in a virtual exhibition. I had originally planned to submit these earrings in 2021, but pandemic malaise had seriously set in, and I didn’t manage it. So, this year I was determined to make them and put them in for the show.

I used a mix of casting and fabrication for this project-wax forms in progress

As I’ve mentioned before, alot of my work examines the duality of the human immune system; the positive defense aspect and the darker, self-consuming aspect. I mainly d this by the use of different finishes and colours. These contrasts are a nod at the idea that while these cells primarily defend the body, sometimes they turn against the self and become the destroyers.

Wax components mounted, ready to be invested for casting

The amorphous and organic forms are representative of the heterogenous and changing dynamics of the cells of the immune system, as well as the responses that they carry out in infection and disease.

Some auditioning for final addition of fabricated elements

All species have some form of immune system, however, the shapes, types and sizes/functions of the cells that participate in these systems are subtly different. The final Tumbling earrings are one-of-a-kind, in sterling silver, with garnets and needled felt.

Since I used omega clips at the back, I had to get a bit creative in stabilising the earring in order to set the garnets!

They are inspired by the shape of chicken red blood cells (which are nucleated, unlike mammalian red blood cells), and mammalian lymphocytes and monocytes. In four sections, each earring is composed of two parts, joined by a hinge. The kinetic movement, and their asymmetric design are meant to give the impression of flow, as cells in the blood are constantly on the move, and can also attach and "tumble" along the inside of blood vessels. (If you’re interested, the British Society of Immunology has some really well done explanations.)

Detailed shot of the fabricated elements.

Check out the full show here.

And…these are pretty big, and although they definitely make a statement, they’re not for everyone! If you’re interested in smaller scale version, get in contact, and let’s start a conversation!