Maynard Mann explores identity through jewelry

by Elise Mullen

Junior Maynard Mann’s eager devotion to jewelry has allowed him to challenge SCAD’s curriculum and lead workshops to teach other students skills used in the professional industry.

Jewelry however was not the initial plan for Mann. When entering into SCAD, he hoped to pursue a degree in fashion. His upbringing, which was different from most, left him feeling as though his body was robbed from him. Clothes helped him through that. “The way I dressed my body, the things I did and the way I presented myself helped me reclaim my identity in a way,” Mann said. 

Mann’s switch from fashion to industrial design to ultimately jewelry, stemmed from the lack of creating, which made him miserable. It wasn’t until he took his first jewelry class over the summer that he realized, “oh this is it.”

“I made one ring and it was the best thing I have ever made, and wearing it was full circle of this reclamation of identity for myself. I had made this thing and wearing it made me feel empowered and like myself in a way I had not yet experienced,” Mann said. “I realized this is how I want to make other people feel, and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” Ever since then Mann is constantly working in the studio working. 

Besides finding himself through rings, he is drawn to them specifically for the intimacy that comes with each one. “In most cases you have to get a ring sized. The ring is usually made to fit your finger. To me that has a special meaning, that it is connected to that person in that way,” Mann said.

Being the vice president of jewelry club keeps him busy, but he still finds time to teach workshops based on skills outside of the curriculum. “We are a shrinking major and we want to bring in people who have never touched jewelry and help people discover this thing,” Mann said. “I use some computer programs that aren’t taught in the curriculum but are starting to be used more widely in the industry, such as zbrush.”

Creative freedom and exploration is encouraged within the jewelry club. “Almost everyone in the program has their own niche thing that they learn extracurricularly because that’s what they are passionate about. I want to use the club as a form to share those kinds of things that they have,” Mann said.

It’s hard to learn new concepts outside of SCAD’s curriculum overnight, BUT putting in the work and going to extra help sessions allowed Mann to be as knowledgeable as he is today. “There’s a lot of resources here at scad and I want to spend every hour I possible can taking advantage of them,” Mann said. 

As a junior, Mann has accomplished so much, but he is still thinking of ways to grow as an artist. “I want to keep getting better and explore myself and identity through jewelry,” Mann said. “I don’t ever want to stop working with my hands. I would like to work as much as the process from start to finish by myself. I don’t want to send things off by the thousands to East Asia. I would love to produce my work and sell it directly to the consumer.”

It is all about creating and exploring different ways to invent in your craft, while also trying new things outside of your major. “I could have very easily gone a whole four years without discovering this thing [jewelry] that is my meaning to life now,” Mann said. “I encourage anybody who hasn’t found that to keep dipping their toes into different crafts and majors until they do. I almost didn’t find my thing, that would’ve been horrible.”

To see more of Mann’s work, check out his Instagram.