Danielle deCongé
Tell Us Something About You And Your Jewelry
Take a closer look, and your perception of garbage will be forever transformed.
I practice my passion for creating in the fast-paced and competitive atmosphere of New York City. I began deCongé Jewelry during my final year at Pratt Institute as a Jewelry & Fine Metals BFA. In my collection, I eliminate perceived value in raw materials by uncovering aesthetic quality in familiar objects such as orange peels, potato chips, toothpicks, and ticket stubs by employing traditional metalsmthing techniques. The throwaways are gilded or transformed into exact or altered metal replicas, not beyond recognition, in the form of wearable ornaments. I produce pieces ranging from traditional jewelry forms such as necklaces and earrings to unconventional breast stems, epaulettes, and over-the-jacket bracelets. I use the oyster’s natural refuse, pearls, as decoration against actual man-made throwaways such as mirror shards and broken glass to showcase the contrast of two different types of unmanipulated beauty. Thus, I eliminate the perceived value of precious and non-precious materials so that the wearer will see only aesthetic quality and value. A piece is finished and perfected only when the dimensional textures of the transformed objects are enveloped in edges that range from a gentle glow to a brilliant luster.
What Kind Of Materials Are You Using?
Regardless of the material – from gold to aluminum and pearls to concrete – the aesthetic quality of jewelry reigns supreme over our perceived value of metals and stones:
Silver, bronze, brass, copper, gold, pearls, found objects – potato chips, cotton swabs, broken glass, bandages, ticket stubs, etc.
What Got You Started Jewelry Crafting?
I was originally a painter and was accepted into several public and private art and design colleges as a panting major. During my education at Pratt, I decided that I wanted to create objects that were tangible, functional, and portable. Jewelry is the perfect vehicle for my passion and my message.
How and/or Where Do You Sell Your Jewelry?
http://etsy.com/shop/deconge
What Is Your Source of Inspiration?
After a jewelry assignment at Pratt involving found objects, I began collecting objects realizing that anything has the potential to have stunning beauty. I bring life to overlooked forms rather than creating new ones.
Why Handmade Jewelry?
I believe that jewelry is one of the most powerful objects that makes personal statement, and the closer a piece is to the author’s hand, the truer the work is. Commercial jewelry, accessories, clothing, etc. tend to lack the quality, passion, and distinctiveness that I crave. I will continue to discover and cultivate new passions in creative industries to project my vision onto the world.
Find me on:
www.deconge.com
www.etsy.com/shop/deconge
Featured Jewelry Artist: The Jewelry Observer Interviews Danielle deCongé Copyright © 2010 The Jewelry Observer All Rights Reserved.
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