Lisa and Scott Cylinder - Chickenscratch

Artist's Statement

Lisa and Scott began collaborating on jewelry pieces in 1988. They are both schooled jewelers and metalsmiths with over twenty years experience. Best known for their production work under the name Chickenscratch, they display their one-of-a-kind pieces in galleries throughout the U.S. and Europe.

The ideas for their jewelry are derived from numerous sources: nature, modern art, folklore and pop culture, to name a few. They blend these influences into clever narratives and play-on-words. Conceptually, their work may best be described as a hybrid of Picasso mixed with a Hanna-Barbera cartoon!

Technically, their jewelry pieces are made using simple, sometimes primitive processes. The construction of the work resembles tin toys from the first half of the 20th Century. It is intended to have a folk art appearance rather than traditional jewelry.

Most importantly, the work is a collaboration on many levels: a blend of inspirations and sources, a blend of observation and imagination, and a blend of two people's ideas and techniques. Their jewelry is very accessible due to its humorous, narrative nature, and the viewer's need to interact for the story to be told.