Black Work

This body of work is a series of wearable pieces that simulate plant and mycelia-like forms, utilizing reused plastic bags as base material. Playful and a bit alien, these pieces juxtapose the discarded artificial material with organic forms in various formats of jewelry, which we come to associate with preciousness.

Photography by Michael Dale Bernard

Red Berry Necklace, plastic bags, 34” x 6” x 2 ¼”, 2012

Red Berry Necklace, plastic bags, 34” x 6” x 2 ¼”, 2012

Green Sprout Necklace, plastic bags, 31” x 5 ½” x 2”, 2012

Green Sprout Necklace, plastic bags, 31” x 5 ½” x 2”, 2012

Green Sprout Necklace, plastic bags, 31” x 5 ½” x 2”, 2012

Green Sprout Necklace, plastic bags, 31” x 5 ½” x 2”, 2012

Large Yellow Sprout Brooch, plastic bags, plastic, steel findings, 2 ½”x 2 ½”x 4”, 2012

Small and Large Yellow Sprout Brooches, plastic bags, plastic, steel findings, 2 ½”x 2 ½”x 4” largest, 2012

Small Yellow Sprout Brooch, plastic bags, steel findings, 1 ¾” x 1 ¾”x 4”, 2012

Small Yellow Sprout Brooch, plastic bags, steel findings, 1 ¾” x 1 ¾”x 4”, 2012

Belly Rings, plastic bags, 1 ½” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” each, 2012

Belly Rings, plastic bags, 1 ½” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” each, 2012

Large Green Belly Ring, plastic bags, 1 ¾” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼”, 2012

Large Green Belly Ring, plastic bags, 1 ¾” x 1 ¼” x 1 ¼”, 2012

Red Berry Necklace, plastic bags, 34” x 6” x 2 ¼”, 2012

Red and Yellow Growth Brooches, plastic bags, steel findings, 2” x 2”x 1” each, 2012