Jewelry students receive recognition at global scale

Written by Julia Gralki, Elise Mullen and Erin Davis, Photos by Emily Budine, Christian Phillips and Erin Davis

With their polished displays springing up in the next year across Europe and China, three jewelry students unpacked their journey to international success.

MIAO HE

Miao He, a graduate student from China, creates jewelry from vegetable skins. Inspired by the special texture of garlic skin, He started experimenting with the combination of organic materials and traditional materials like copper or silver. He enjoys cooking in her free time, which inspired her to start working with organic materials.

For He, jewelry design is a way to discover, define and express beauty. He is currently working on a collection for several exhibitions for display in the U.S. and Europe. She will join other SCAD students at the Joya Barcelona exhibition in Spain this fall.

He was born in China, where she studied product design before coming to SCAD three years ago. She decided to come to Savannah after hearing that SCAD had the largest jewelry program in the U.S. Transitioning into a new culture wasn’t easy but “brought a lot of new friends and experiences into her life,” He said. Through learning a new language and culture, He can study exactly what she wants to now. In a discussion about what she’s appreciated about the U.S. so far, He said, “it’s the heart to heart communication and the direct connection between strangers.”

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He is able to display her work and connect with customers at events such as the annual jewelry trunk show organized by SCAD jewelry students at Jen Library and contemporary jewelry shows hosted by the American Craft Council, the Smithsonian Institution or the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For now, Instagram is where her main social media presence is established.

Now facing her last quarter at SCAD, He’s focusing on preparation for different shows and exhibitions. After graduation, He said, “I want to find a job in the U.S. but that is difficult as an international student.” If not, He plans to return to China to work as a jewelry designer or teach at a university.

SHUYUAN BAI

Shuoyuan Bai, a jewelry graduate student, found success in his last quarter at SCAD when his work received international appreciation. Jewelry was not the plan for Bai, but when he came to America in 2007 from China, his school offered different elective classes that sparked his interest. “We had a class that offered silversmithing, and I took a class and learned the basics. I worked with metals, and by the end of the class, I was intrigued,” Bai said. 

Bai realized he wanted to pursue jewelry after submitting to and attending multiple showcases. “I went to a national portfolio day and saw this guy from PRATT Institute. He is a jewelry major and I saw the rings he made on his fingers and thought, ‘That’s really cool, I want to do the same thing,” Bai said. However, attending PRATT dramatically shifted Bai’s perspective on jewelry making. “Now, it has become something more sculptural, more about the embodiment of the meaning and concept. More than just the materials and gemstones.”

Bai works mostly with brooches. “My concept is related to the statement of things that are important. The connectivity we have with objects. The idea of having a brooch on your body works really well with my concept. I have experimented with rings before and that works, but there’s something about brooches,” Bai said. “Not a lot of people wear brooches, but artists love to make them. It’s like a relief sculpture. You can experiment with it. It’s an interesting form within jewelry.”

Bai and his peers are constantly submitting work online in hopes of being noticed. “It’s not only a good thing to have on your resume, but it’s also reassuring that [what we do] has value.” When Bai’s work was recognized at an international level, it was inspiriting to say the least. “It’s surreal. You always have this feeling that you want to get in, but when you do get in you’re like, ‘Did I really get in’? You doubt yourself,” Bai said. 

Although this recognition has been incredible for Bai, it doesn’t stop there. Bai is traveling to Barcelona with his peers in two weeks for JOYA Arts Fair. “It’s a huge celebration of the field. I get to see a lot more people my age making contemporary jewelry as well as people who are older and more established,” Bai said.

Bai is also applying for upcoming shows. “It’s great to have so many opportunities available, and now I have all this work to show,” Bai said. “The biggest aspect that I’ve learned is that you have to grab them if you see them. Don’t be afraid. What do you have to lose? Just send your work out there. If they like it, great, if not, keep working.”

To keep up with Bai and his work, check out his website and Instagram.

XUN LIU

Originally from China, Xun Liu is a third-year graduate student in the jewelry program. Her work, a whimsical take on childhood fairy-tales, is currently a part of international exhibitions in Portugal and China. Next week, she’ll be taking her work to Spain thanks to her independent study. 

Liu started at SCAD in 2016, noting her time as a catalyst for her work. “SCAD is a place for creativity and exploration,” Liu said. “It’s a free space for you to study and experience different cultures. We have a lot of opportunities — the program gives us equipment and spaces that I don’t have in my country,” Liu said. “Here, I can do whatever I like — create my pieces and explore my imagination through all of the spaces in SCAD.”

Liu’s creativity takes shape in dreamy, eloquent designs. Buoyant and bright, Liu is recreating childhood tales, recapturing their cheerful essence in metal. “I want to put more stories and fun into my pieces,” Liu said. “When you’re making a piece, you are not just making, but enjoying your time and thinking about your story.”

Looking through her designs is like flipping through the pages of a storybook where the tales are spun by glass and gemstone. Crafting the narratives encapsulated in every design, Liu explained the stories that inspire her pieces: “Those stories, the imagination––they come from my childhood and the fairy-tales from my parents and grandparents,” Liu said. “I use that to create my own story and put it into my piece.”

Every work, infused with a background and narrative, is a fantasy of her own making. Liu conceptualizes the experience that every piece involves as the creator and viewer. “I want other people to get the same feeling when seeing my piece,” Liu said. “I want to bring a sense of humor, a sense of playfulness and fun. I want other people to be happy when they see my piece.”

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Liu claimed that exhibition experience was key in fostering an international network of creatives. “SCAD encouraged us to obtain a lot of exhibition and competition [achievements],” Liu said. “We have a jewelry club where we went to Washington for a lot of craft shows. In craft shows, we meet a lot of artists. We get a lot of really precious experience. We enhance our resumes.”

Recognition at the international level created a melting pot of inspiration for Liu.“It’s a good chance to invite us to show our pieces to other people in different countries so artists can see your work and share their own,” Liu said. “We can exchange our ideas. Sometimes, we can chat through Instagram and follow each other. It’s such a good opportunity for us to show our work to the whole world.”

In addition to the three pieces Liu has shown in Portugal, she also has work that will be exhibited in Bejing, China. “I’m from China, so it’s an honor to have my pieces showing there. I called my parents and said, ‘If you have a chance, you can go and take some pictures for me because I can’t go right now.’ “

For more of her work, check out her website and Instagram.