Jewelry Trunk Show
Written by: Ananya Panchal and Ana Isabel Larios Maier. Graphics by: Ananya Panchal.
This Thursday, we walked into enamored rooms filled with tables of jewels, pearls, stones and other adornments — it was the SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show.
Held annually, the trunk show is a celebration of jewelry design students of all levels. We walked, observed and took in each glimmer and shine. In this article, we’d like to tell you about the robust jewelry design program, highlight student work and explain why you should check out SCAD’s beloved jewelry showcase, open to both students and the general public.
“There’s a lot of hard work put into it people don’t know about … most people like to buy jewelry, but behind the scenes there’s a lot more to it.” — Jeremiah, student at the event
Jewelry design often goes under the radar. Not many institutions offer a specialized program to help aspiring jewelry design creatives. SCAD is part of the minority that does, and has an incredible, multidisciplinary course to help jewelry designers succeed.
Most people wear or own some form of jewelry — it’s personal, sentimental and indicative of one’s identity. As one of the oldest forms of art, jewelry is incredibly democratized and accessible. The trunk show honors the craftsmanship and ideation that often go unnoticed behind jewelry design.
Conversations with students revealed the dichotomous ways creativity can bloom through using accessories as a medium for tangible, three-dimensional art. For instance, Elle Jerge, an exhibiting student, explained the symbolism behind her work was personal and closely connected to her community. Her jewelry featured the recurring symbol of orchids, connecting to a familial tradition of gifting the flower. Her craft revealed anecdotes with a hidden story honoring her familial relationships. It goes to show that jewelry, just like any other art form, can also create a sense of narrative.
Elle further expanded on her carefully thought-out design process, which includes sketching everything beforehand to get a better sense of what she wants the final pieces to look like.
Meredith Parker, a jewelry design sophomore, offers another creative approach through her process. After experimenting with dropping molten metal into cold water, Parker was able to create unique and interesting shapes — hat-like forms and egg-resembling forms added a charming element of fun to her work. Her collection showcased how equally compelling work can emerge from spontaneous experimentation, revealing how unplanned, happy accidents still hold considerable importance, even in the meticulous practice of jewelry design.
“It’s not just making a design for the sake of a design.”
The trunk show gives students the opportunity to sell their work, allowing them to profit from the fruits of their labor, as well as giving them practical experience in what it will be like to market and sell their designs. Students had to think about the mind of the consumer when designing the pieces, adding a whole new layer of consideration to the creative process. How does one create a piece that a person could comfortably wear? And how will the artist’s design go hand in hand with practicality and aesthetic?
Experience in designing with these questions in mind is an important part of the practice of jewelry design.
The Jewelry Trunk Show is yet another gem of an event hosted at SCAD, honoring many of the school’s niche, creative and interdisciplinary practices. We cannot recommend this showcase enough. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain insight into an artistic discipline that holds unseen power, and a perfect time to grab a unique accessory that speaks to you.
