Artist statement | Kristen Scott

 

Good design peels away extraneous material and ideas to reveal the essential. As an architect, I look to simplify and support the essence of a design concept. My initial exploration of metalworking was born out of a desire to communicate design ideas directly, iteratively and in a shorter time frame than it takes to realize a building in the physical world.

 

In jewelry design, the memory of a particular place--whether natural or manmade--has become my focus. I’m inspired by what I see in the world creating pieces that evoke the shadow pattern of leaves in a tree, or the spray from the waves at the beach or the feeling of fog on a city street. My pieces are rustic in nature; they have patina made through layers of texture and color, just as the world is composed of change over time. I am uninterested in static compositions that reflect mastery of technique at the expense of the tactile beauty expressed through handwork.

 

By engaging more of our senses, we form the strongest memories and attachments. I work with color and texture, shaping movement in my pieces to create ever-changing visual compositions that make soft sounds to echo a memory. Their movement is engaging and results in a stronger connection with the wearer.

 

What else informs our emotional connection to a place or a piece of art? Often, it’s a feeling of delight in perceived beauty followed by recognition of its fleeting nature, a piercing bitter-sweetness that the Japanese call “mono no aware”. It is my hope that others will find delight in these pieces, in the echoes of place and form their own connections and memories over time.