by AwA
He S
, d i a
The Masculine and Feminine Interpretations of Jewelry Audrey Bortz and Ryan Sedgeley share their voices through the jewelry they create, the materials they use and the stories they have to tell.
RYAN
PIECE NAME: Rusty Shotgun Shell Necklace YEAR CREATED: 2010 DESCRIPTION: This necklace is all about Colorado. It is an amalgamation of settler culture's use of the mountains and what is left behind. Constructed from the rusted steel from abandoned mining equipment and abandoned spent shotgun shells, the pendant is a reuse of objects left behind after exploitation of our public lands. It speaks to the culture of extraction at the cost of the future left to deal with the pollution, trash, and short-term thinking. The balance and reuse of the materials and the necklace made of amethyst strung together on a sterling silver chain show how our relationship with our natural world and our public lands can be different, more reciprocal and harmonious. PIECE NAME: Sapphire and Jade Bracelet YEAR CREATED: 2020 DESCRIPTION: This bracelet is made of silver and 14K yellow gold. The stones are a combination of Montana sapphires and New Zealand jade. The bracelet combines the beauty of rugged mountains and the spirit of exploration and how that connects us with our natural world and the flowing balance of water and life. 18
Winter 2023
Photos courtesy of Ryan Sedgeley
Art with Altitude