STC jewelry exhibit connects disparate worlds

STC’s “Worlds Apart” exhibition really means it.

“Worlds Apart: Contemporary Adornment and Sacred Ornament” is currently on display in the STC Art Gallery. Tracey Davis and Donna Sweigart create jewelry that can stand alone as sculptural pieces. Davis expresses a thematic Christian belief structure in her work; Sweigart is focused on a problem-solving intellectual approach.

The differences in the jewelry of these two artists create an adversarial aesthetic. The two bodies of work divide the gallery in half, as if one display is daring the other to cross the proverbial line.

Davis’s works contain mundane materials such as, seashells, sesame seeds, buttons, antique rhinestone jewelry, and other common objects. She has coaxed them into astonishing feats of precision and beauty, creating an illusion of preciousness. As tiny focal points for each piece, copies of vintage French, German, and Italian prayer cards are centrally visible.

Davis refers to her work as iconic micro mosaics - wearable mosaics featuring Christian themes. Some of her necklaces and pendants are displayed in mini shrines that are as complex as the jewelry. “All of my micro mosaics are inside of antique watch cases,” explained Davis. “They are gold and date from 1880-1930.” She builds the mosaic from tiny sea shells around the prayer card image.

“One of the reasons that I decided to do the religious theme pieces is I think we’ve gotten to a point where everything is politically incorrect,” continued Davis. “People are afraid to express their spirituality. This is a different way of doing that, from wearing a cross or a crucifix.”

In dramatic contrast, Sweigart prefers bold unembellished adornment that eschews social constructs. “My work is not meant to decorate the wearer, but to symbiotically negotiate space,” she said. “This jewelry does not rely on an inherent connection to class, status, wealth, religion, or cultural identity. It relies on multiple processes. It’s not meant to identify you within a group.”

While some of Sweigart’s jewelry is initiated by hand, her main body of work is computer assisted. Sweigart creates by using 3-D software; her jewelry is realized through a rapid prototype system. The result is both sculpture and wearable jewelry.

Her Cube Neckpiece is at its best when viewed in virtual reality or on the body. Commenting on this piece, she said, “This whole thing folds together into a cube. I practiced on a potato to get my head around it.”

Both artists employ a meticulous technical process. Although both processes result in a sophisticated art statement, they are, indeed, worlds apart. Sweigart’s computer assisted jewelry is constructed from drops of plastic by rapid prototype; Davis’s are constructed with drops of glue on the end of a toothpick. In the end, we don’t really care how they are made, only that they are works of disparate beauty to examine and hopefully wear.

Worlds Apart
What: Contemporary Adornment and Sacred Ornament Exhibit
Where: South Texas College Art Gallery, Bldg. B, Pecan Street campus
Info: 956-872-3488 or http://lag.southtexascollege.edu

Nancy Moyer, PhD, is the art critic for Festiva. She is an independent artist living in McAllen and may be reached at nmoyer@rgv.rr.com.