Currents, McKenna Hallett, jewelry - Wearable Art, Fine Crafts, Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Metal, Wood, Handcrafts

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McKenna Hallet

Artist's Statement

This work comes from my hands (and feet) and heart...

For over 10 years I have been re-inventing the wheel! I developed this "tool" (picture at left) by converting an old treadle-driving sewing machine. I also use car bumbers, knitting needles, and rolling pins. I am dedicated to constructing each piece of jewelry in the most planet-friendly fashion.

Mission Statement

I want to create objects of art with a minimum of impact on OUR PLANET and to this end I will never use electricity or heat or corrosive chemicals to construct my jewelry and I will use as few items as possible from newly manufactured sources.

WHAT IS BEHIND THIS UNUSUAL JEWELRY AND WAHT IS IT MADE FROM?

This is a long and winding story guided by my attempts to honor the voluntary simplicity movement in my business plan and my life. My mission was born before I had jewelry to sell. Suddenly, one day, everything became art. Old naturally corroded copper roof flashing, radiators from abandoned cars, and stuff washed up on beaches all held the promise of becoming wearable. And as my mission continued, I realized I was offering more than adornment. I was offering a solid example of saving perfectly good materials from the rubbish heap. Better yet, I was keeping many pounds of metal from the recycling bins.

I pull these lead weights off the bottom of the ocean (while scuba diving of course!) and they have copper wire imbedded to help them stay hooked in the rocks (yes they want them to stay in the rocks which means some parts of the ocean are just covered with these things!) I cut the copper off and it eventually becomes the top wire that I hang the cord onto.

Next I use reclaimed copper tubing from demolitions and flatten the sections I cut with a manual tube cutter. I stick it all in my 5 inch machinist vice and squish it all with a small band of old generator windings in the middle.

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