Date of Award
Spring 5-30-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Jewelry and Metalsmithing
First Advisor
Tracy Steepy
Second Advisor
Timothy Verske-McMahon
Third Advisor
Lauren Fensterstock
Abstract
As I was growing up, making objects felt like a superpower. It was, and still is enchanting to take an idea and transform it to an existing, tangible thing. I grew up in a family that encouraged self-sufficiency and creativity. Art has always been a great part of my life and it is an anchor that I rely on when I feel that I need to strengthen myself emotionally. In the last two years, I have been focused on understanding what is the role of making in my life, and why I am attracted to making jewelry. My work allows me to process traumatic memories related to my life in a conflict zone and the impact that had on my identity. The process of my work is a coping mechanism. I work with wax that is being cast into metal. The two different materials allow me to unload my mental state through different channels and result in a variety of outcomes—depending on how I feel when I am making. I am interested in the way my mental state affects my approach to the two different materials and processes. Once I started looking at other artists’ work through the lens of trauma and coping, I began to see the same quality in my work. I started seeing how the process that my work goes through is significant.
Recommended Citation
Ron, Neta, "Materializing conflict and resilience" (2017). Masters Theses. 69.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/69
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.