The Seventeen Year Cicada Brooch/ Locket

For those of you who don't know me, I have a thing for cicadas.  I am intrigued by insects whose life cycles take them through multiple transformations.  Some cicadas spend 17 years incubating in the ground before they are hatched, eventually molting into beautiful flying creatures. Cicadas remind me of my childhood as well - collecting their molted shells and watching my brother create huge armies of cicada bodies. 

This brooch is one of two pieces recently completed that will be exhibited in the upcoming Celebration of the Arts at St. David's Church in Dewitt, NY.  I designed this piece to be worn two ways: as a brooch or the cicada can be removed and worn by itself as a pendant.  The cicada is a locket and conceals a chamber where photos or treasures can be kept.  The materials are sterling silver, gold-filled bezel, and azurite/ malachite. The show at St. David's runs Wednesday May 9 thru Sunday May 13.  More information can be found on the St. David's website or Facebook page.

Compassion, Vision, Openness

Ah, finally a new post! Things have been busy and I haven't had much time to photograph. Here is one of my latest. This piece will be part of the opening this Friday evening at Gallery 54. It is our annual self portrait show, in which all the artists bring in a new piece that is a self-portrait, or somehow represents the artist. This is not meant to be me, but rather represents my goals: Compassion, Vision, Openness. Compassion is represented by the lotus, Vision by the eyes, and Openness by the antique key. The image is from "Girl with the Pearl Earring" by Vermeer. The stones are garnet, golden citrine, and fire citrine.