By Chantelle Emery
Jewelry making is an art form that may be foreign to some, but familiar to others. Regardless of which group you fall into, the Metals and Jewelry Student Association (MJSA) is a place that accepts all with a common interest in making jewelry.
“It’s more than just a club, it’s a place to form a sisterhood,” according to Vice President Annie Yano, a third-year metals and jewelry major from Lakeland, Fla.
Not intended for only metals and jewelry majors, this club strives to teach all who are interested in learning more about the process behind those intriguing and beautiful pieces that both men and women garnish themselves with.
Every meeting differs and its constant changing nature will keep you coming back. They kicked off this year with a vacuum-forming demo, where everyone was able to create molded chocolate in the shape of their choice.
In other weekly meetings, some topics that are covered include how to operate select machinery, and some focus on the learning process taken to solve problems associated with jewelry.
Participating in activities plays an integral role in being a part of this organization, which includes great opportunities to sell your products at events like SCAD’s International Festival held every spring, SCAD Day, open studio nights at Fahm Hall and a trunk show hosted by MJSA during the spring.
Not only will you be able to create jewelry, but you will also get your name out there, collaborating with fibers, industrial design, metals and jewelry, painting and fashion majors.
By combining business and fun, you are able to develop your skills, learn from others and further explore this trade.
MJSA invites guest speakers, gives demos and recently held a mining trip to Boone Mountain in Charlotte, N.C. These opportunities are great in giving you first hand knowledge on the art of jewelry making, how to develop your skill and gain a greater understanding of the background.
In the past, MJSA has raised money for the Haiti Relief Fund by selling jewelry made from scrap metal. By repurposing items, they are able to show innovation and talent and allow members’ skills to develop. They have also been a part of workshops in collaboration with the Black Student Association, demos, as well as an assembly line to quicken the process.
Their primary goals for this quarter include getting more members, and not discriminating against majors outside of metals and jewelry.
“We are able to expand learning from the classroom, to teach students to enhance their craft,” explains Co-President, Victoria Fielding, a fourth-year metals and jewelry major from Pittsburgh, Pa.
With no requirements to join, MJSA encourages participation in order to expand on your knowledge and understanding about what the market wants to prepare you for expansion in the future.
All business aside, this organization has fun together, and is a hub for you to meet new people and get to know them better, outside of the classroom.
If you would like to learn more about MJSA, join them every other Monday at 8 p.m. in Fahm Hall in room 104. You can also contact them via email at metals@scad.edu.
