Recap: 7/2017

July’s LWD meeting was hosted by jewelry and object designer, Gillion Carrara. In addition to Gillion‘s art practice, she is also the Director of the Fashion Resource Center at the School of the Art Institute, where she teaches classes on fashion history and theory. She is the author of many publications on fashion and art and has curated exhibits on fashion.

From Gillion’s statement on her website —

“My work explores the relationship between materials, design, and function.

As an artisan my interest in solitary work entails the pursuit of natural and industrial elements, which I form into ornamental and functional accessories. The components are integral to communicating my design ideas. Often I appropriate materials that evoke specific responses based on cultural and psychological associations:  bone, horn, shell, antler, and various woods and briar root, combined with metal.  I select materials from sources in Italy, Africa, South America and India as well as the Western and Midwestern states.

Singular hand-crafted pieces include silver-lined wooden cuffs, wood and bone rings, silver earrings, necklaces, blush brushes, letter openers, marmalade and cheese spreaders, and men’s accessories.

As new materials and stimuli from my surroundings challenge and inspire me, I find new directions to investigate as my artistic interests evolve.

My work integrates streamlined, minimal design with honest attention to refined details of craftsmanship and a profound respect for the materials I use. What drives my designs are the pure forms of architecture and nature that have always absorbed my attention.”