Curated by Kelly Ann Temple, the exhibition When Worn was installed in Melton Gallery on the University of Central Oklahoma’s Campus. Temple recently relocated to Oklahoma City to teach jewelry and metalsmitihing as visiting assistant professor. A goal when moving back to the central midwest was to bring contemporary jewelry with her. When Worn was created over a show few months and influenced by Temple’s interaction with her students and within the classroom walls. Below you’ll find images of the exhibitions installation and work of the 15 artists represented. Not only was this exhibition a collaboration among Temple and her students at UCO, she collaborated with photographer Sydney Stephenson. You’ll see large scale images around the Melton’s perimeter walls of the jewelry being worn by fellow faculty, students, and staff of UCO. All images are a result of the work between Temple and Stephenson.
Unfortunately due to CoVID-19 we had to close the doors early to the exhibition.
https://www.uco.edu/cfad/melton-gallery/
When Worn highlights the act of adornment. Just as tools and objects are designed to suggest function and indicate interaction, jewelry calls to be worn. When placed on the body, it transforms not only the appearance of its wearer, but it inserts itself between the adorned and their audience as an invitation for dialog between two beings. Jewelry is unique as it simultaneously performs in public and personal space.
The works of Samira Saheli and Lori Talcott are imbedded with themes of protection, healing, and awareness as their jewelry serves as a reminder and creates strength for the wearer. Artist, Leslie Shershow uses illusionary and reflective surfaces to examine ideas of nostalgia as she aims to understand societies impulses to rely on souvenirs and mementos to recall experiences. Ana Lopez also investigates what a souvenir can be by recreating everyday objects she often passed by during her travels abroad. Haydee Alonso and Alejandra Salinas consider the context of geographical place while their jewelry comments on barriers, boundaries and their cross-cultural experiences at the US/Mexican border.
We as individuals have personal associations with the concept of jewelry. This may range from family heirlooms, representing relationships, contemporary culture, diamonds and bling or even your classic candy necklace. Whatever your first thoughts of jewelry may be, our society tends to overlook its powerful nature. Jewelry is a form of expression; it has the ability to carry a message and contain the significance we place on it.
This exhibition is a collection of artworks by fifteen emerging and established jewelers and metalsmiths from across the nation. Their work calls to attention ideas of memory, sentiment, protection, and identity. When Worn was created with intention to heighten awareness of the contemporary jewelry field.
--Kelly Ann Temple
