Metalworking and Jewelry student exhibition

Metalworking and jewelry students from Dallas College, New Mexico State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and the University of Texas at El Paso collaborated in a semester-long technical process to create and trade metal brooches. Practicing the historical process of lost wax casting, the students created original designs by carving wax. After placing the flasks filled with refractory material and the original wax in a kiln, students cast original forms in bronze into the void left from the melted wax. Each artist created rubber molds and wax additions of the original. Participants made a brooch for all of their classmates as well as the three participating universities. This project helps students learn to problem solve, be persistent, and work in a condensed time frame. Professors Natalie Macellaio, Motoko Furuhashi, Lauren Selden, and Jess Tolbert shared project guidelines, technical tips, and a Pin Pals Symposium lecture sharing their personal artwork with all the participating students. Each professor provided an exhibition space in Farmers Branch, TX, Las Cruces, NM, Nacogdoches, TX, and El Paso, Texas. Each university will keep the finished pin collection for their programs permanent collection. In a time where we haven’t been able to travel and see one another, these tiny pins have traveled hundreds of miles in order to do what jewelry is often charged to do: bring joy and be a reminder of community. 

Participating artists include:

Dallas College: Professor Natalie Macellaio, Kenya Diaz, Nomaan Mohammed, Ofelia Alvarenga, Raul Najera, Lily Chenbuynak, Daniel Townzen, Maria Villa Reyes, Rebecca Kim, Andrea Robinson, Ray Lavin, Kelaine Kvale, Douglas Jochum

New Mexico State University: Professor Motoko Furuhashi, Tessa Bond, Paola Corchado, Mathew Deed, Sadie Esquer, Betty Hase, Julieanna Lerma, Everlyn Padilla, Nicholas Quartieri, Trisha Quintero, Cierra Redding, Ruben Reyes, Ger Xiong

Stephen F. Austin State University: Professor Lauren Selden, Amber Barrett, Kevin Burgess, Kailan Counahan, Lindsey Creel, Miguel Gonzalez, Kitty Hall, Heath Pyle, Morgan Ray, Brendan Ryan, Michelle Salerno

University of Texas at El Paso: Professor Jess Tolbert, Brandon Contreras, Andres Delgado, Ivan Esparza, Roxy Gonzalez, Noelle Marquez, Jess Ceballos, Jess Rivera, Mikayla Fraire, Skylar Boone, Roxy Rodriguez, Robbie Vazquez, Caro Villarreal, Alan Maguregui, Diane Morales, Gaby Alvarado