Nettie Thompson: capstone

Abstract

The artist's statement: I pay attention to things. It's part scientific examination, tempered by childlike fascination. My work begins with immersive research. Whether this entails a morning hike in the woods armed with sketchbook and pencil, an afternoon spent deliberating over botanical illustrations and geology textbooks in the library, or an evening reviewing architectural magazines, a period of intense study usually heralds the beginning of any gestating project. Jewelry is both functional and decorative, a personal decision and yet on public display, joining seemingly disparate themes into a cohesive whole. This play of one concept against another exercises a pivotal role in my work. Small scale jewelry interests me specifically because of the opportunities it presents to transform largescale design elements into wearable artifacts. My work attempts to see forms of biological machinery in a new light, capturing the wonder, awe, and scientific inquiry inherent in these structures, and combining that with an aesthetic appreciation of form. I distill these forms of complicated biology into flat, curvilinear planes that intersect in deceptively simple ways, playing with the mechanics of function and motion. From research to realization, my process leads to an exploration of the dichotomous horizons of metalsmithing and jewelry, and helps me to share my own version of seeing things.