Collected Memories Back in the Shop

Necklace No. 6

My recent press in Metalsmith made me look at Collected Memories: 1974-Present again. I have the remaining pieces here in my studio in a box. I don't want them to be in this box. I want them to be out in the world. I want them to be seen and enjoyed…so I have re-listed them in my Etsy Shop with a new price and would love for you to take a look and get one for yourself or as a gift. They are wearable but also look beautiful hanging on a wall, like a drawing or photograph. These pieces are all one-of-a-kind, made with collected materials that I found or were given to me. They are based on my own collection of jewelry: they respond to specific pieces, people or moments, as well as patterns in my collection. 

Brooch No. 1

In 2011 when I made this work, I photographed every single piece of jewelry that I own and then studied the work and the images. I tried to remember how I acquired each piece, I thought about the people who gave me the work, and I noticed how I have collected since I was a child. Between the memories of the materials and the memories of the jewelry, events and people in my life were drawn together to create new memories. The following is from my statement for the series.

Necklace No. 14

In “Collected Memories: 1974-Present,” I analyzed the jewelry I own to discover patterns and to gain further insight into my history with jewelry. The completed installation serves as a timeline of my life with jewelry and a vehicle for intertwining events and people. The works are made using materials I have collected and are assembled in such a way as to emphasize the impermanence and incompleteness of memory.

Installation view from my exhibition at Velvet da Vinci

Of the original 34 pieces, there are 17 left…

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Necklace No. 6 in Print

  from top right, clockwise: 

Nikki Couppee, Katie Poterala, my necklace

Necklace No. 6 from Collected Memories: 1974-Present is part of an article by Michael Dale Bernard in the current Metalsmith magazine. "Material Complexity" describes the use of non-precious, mixed materials in contemporary jewelry and eloquently explains why artists, like myself, are using them. It's a beautiful piece and includes a strong group of artists. 

Michael asked each of us to write a short statement about our work. The following is my statement:

"This necklace is part of the series "Collected Memories: 1974 to Present." By using many different materials collected since childhood, I was able to intertwine events and people from my past that weren't connected until the moment each piece was made. Using my memory as a guide, the pieces were also assembled in such a way as to emphasize the impermanence and incompleteness of memory."

I am very pleased to be in Metalsmith again--it's always exciting to get some good press, especially in the magazine of my field. Then to have been chosen by such a strong maker in Michael and to be amongst such talented artists, makes it even more special. I've listed each person under their photo and included links to their websites. I strongly encourage you to visit each site and Michael's, as well. 

Katja Toporski 

 from top left, clockwise: Laura Wood, Kat Cole, Rachel Timmons

 from top left, clockwise: 

Laritza Garcia, Tara Locklear, Lauren Markley

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Holiday Sale Cyber Monday

In 2011 I had my first-ever solo exhibition, "This is How I Remember It." I made two groups of work for the show and one was titled, "Collected Memories: 1974-Present." The series included over 30 pieces, all made with materials I had amassed, and each piece was based on my collection of jewelry and my memories of it. A little over a year later, it is now my first-ever Cyber Monday...The pieces that remain from "Collected Memories: 1974-Present" are available now at my Etsy shop and on sale for 50% off their original price. They were $150 and now they are $75.

Here is part of the artist statement for the work:

"The jewelry that has come in and out of my life over the years has had a profound effect on me, fueling and sustaining my desire to be a jeweler. These special pieces changed my perspective on jewelry and form part of my personal history.

In “Collected Memories: 1974-Present,” I analyzed the jewelry I own to discover patterns and to gain further insight into my history with jewelry. The completed installation serves as a timeline of my life with jewelry and a vehicle for intertwining events and people. The works are made using materials I have collected and are assembled in such a way as to emphasize the impermanence and incompleteness of memory.

“This is How I Remember It” chronicles my history and preserves my memories, as the individual pieces from my past act as primary inspiration.

I hope you will visit my Etsy shop today!

Thanks for reading.