ORNAMENTA 2026 Auction Catalog
Monday, January 26th - Saturday, February 7th
Thank you for your support of the BJC!
Welcome to Ornamenta, the Baltimore Jewelry Center’s annual benefit party and fundraiser! The Baltimore Jewelry Center (BJC) is committed to fostering a vibrant creative community centered on the study and practice of metalsmithing and jewelry. Through our educational programs we instruct and inspire artists of all skill levels while promoting the significance of jewelry to the broader public through exhibitions, community initiatives, and outreach.
Since our founding, in 2014, we have educated over 7,000 people and provided studio access to more than 1,500 artists. Through our free public programming and gallery exhibitions we have welcomed thousands of patrons into our studio to learn about and experience jewelry. Your participation in this year’s Ornamenta auction helps us sustain and grow these vital efforts.
Funds raised during Ornamenta directly support BJC educational programs and outreach initiatives, enabling us to:
• Offer classes and workshops at a below-market rate while paying instructors competitive wages
• Host free workshops in our neighborhood in Station North
• Provide scholarships and programming for kids and teens
• Operate year-round workforce development programs for high schoolers
• Support our artist residency program
• Present exhibitions showcasing work by local, national, and international artists
• Provide scholarships work-study and internships to students and artists who would otherwise not be able to afford such opportunities
The Ornamenta auction opens January 26th at 5:00 PM EST and closes on Saturday, February 7th at 10:30 PM EST, during Ornamenta.
This catalog features a curated selection of contemporary jewelry, unique experiences, and exceptional non-jewelry items available for bidding. Please enjoy this auction catalog, bid high and bid often, and don’t forget to also check out other ways that you can contribute to the BJC’s fundraising efforts. Your support helps shape our thriving, inclusive community for metalsmithing and jewelry.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to the Baltimore Jewelry Center! Together, we’re building a future where creativity and craft can flourish!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible volunteers, local businesses, and contributing artists who make Ornamenta a resounding success year after year. To our dedicated volunteers: your time, energy, and hard work during setup, throughout the event, and during cleanup are invaluable—we wouldn’t be able to do it without you. To the talented artists who generously donated their stunning artwork for the auction, your creativity and support inspire us and enrich our community. And to the local businesses that provided sponsorships, gift certificates and your own thoughtfully madew products: your generosity and partnership play a crucial role in helping us achieve our mission. Thank you for coming together to support our vibrant creative community!
Special thanks to the BJC Board:
Lydia Martin*
Brice Garrett*
Monica Starr*
Maggie Smith*
David Dao
Marcy Feeney*
Ashley Evangelista
Imani Jackson
Ronna Grossman
LaShawn Bailey
* designates board members who served on the Ornamenta planning committee
And to the BJC Staff who served on the Ornamenta Planning Committee:
Shane Prada
Allison Gulick
Elliot Keeley
J Diamond
Mercury Swift
Thank you to our sponsors:
Gutierrez Studios
Halstead Jewelry Supplies
Karen Shea
Rio Grande
Doppio Pasticceria
Charlotte and Stephen Martin
Rebecca Myers Collection
Arlene Forastiere
Michael Toback of Myron & Toback
Dransfield Jewelers
Linda Blackbourn Jewelry
Bmore Art
Marcy Feeney and Mark Klotzbach
Anonymous
Maria M. Caschetta
Baltimore Spirits Co.
David Dao
T. Rowe Price
Wine Source
Daniel Casting
The Science Guys of Baltimore
Lauren Cerand Public Relations
Lacie Simpson
The Swanston-Boswell Family
Caitlin and Rob Duckwall
Parisian Flea
Gunnar Design
Pepe Tools
Jewelry + Artwork
Carin Jones
Too Vanilla Pendant
Vintage Tin, Brass, Sterling Silver, Glass beads
3.75 x 1 x 0.25 inches
Retail Value: $200
“This current series, Urban Taxidermy, challenges traditional notions of value and grandeur, inviting viewers to reconsider the relationship between material worth and artistic merit.”
By reimagining heirloom jewelry, Carin disrupts conventional ideas of inheritance and legacy, prompting deeper inquiries about memory, preservation, and the future.”
Cindy Cheng After The Demons Brooch
Chelsea Nanfelt Rowe Untitled Ring
Sterling Silver, Lucite 1.75 x1.5 x 1.5 inches, size 9
Retail Value: $200
“This piece is part of my series Day by Day, in which I reflect on the delicate navigation that occurs when our lives intertwine, drawn to the fuzzy aura of human presence that clings to materials. Do objects possess a life of their own, or do we inject them with personalities that mirror ourselves?”
Fine silver, vitreous enamel, copper, stainless steel
1.5 x 0.25 x 1.25 inches
Retail Value: $395
Cindy Cheng is an artist who lives and works in Baltimore, MD. She has been an artist resident at the Baltimore Jewelry Center, the Joan Mitchell Center, Anderson Ranch and the Vermont Studio Center.
Of this work, Cindy says “My practice is characterized by a diversity of impulses – to investigate darker themes through absurd imagery, to dive into visual and tactile beauty through an exploration of materials, to set up complex technical challenges in the studio and search for the processes that solve the puzzle.”
#03
Claire Webb
Quintupple Puff Studs
PLA, epoxy clay, vintage Swarovski rhinestones, silver, resin
1.5 x 1.5 x 1 inches each
Retail Value: $350
“This work emerges from a world of childhood reverie and glittering fairytale jewels. These earrings draw on the magic of adornment and the transportive power of fantasy and imagination, inviting the wearer into a realm where color, sparkle, and texture feel both playful and precious.”
Elaine Zukowski
Green and Gold Pod Earring
Hand dyed and crocheted monofilament, sterling silver
3.5 x 2.3 x 2.3 inches
Retail Value: $285
Demitra Thomloudis
Proposed Excavation (Lite) Brooch
Brass, powder coat, steel, graphite pencil, sharpie marker
24 x 5 x 2 inches
Retail Value: $250
Demitra Thomloudis is a studio jeweler, associate professor, and area chair of jewelry and metalwork at the University of Georgia. Her research, inspired by architecture and spaces, explores jewelry’s capacity to express the interrelationship of person and place.
Elaine Zukowski is an artist and maker based in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been a member of the Baltimore Jewelry Center community since 2009, and was recently one of the BJC’s artists in residence.
Of this work, Elaine says “This body of work captures the light, the glow, and the feeling of having seen something that will last for only a short while before it is replaced or forgotten. The forms are constructed with monofilament crochet with micro hooks, the stitching combining singular elements into organic shapes.”
#06
Erica Bello
Stressed Bracelet
Oxidized Sterling Silver
3 x 2 x 0.5 inches
Retail Value: $500
Erica Bello is a jeweler and artist based in Providence, RI, and a former studio manager at the Baltimore Jewelry Center. Since 2013, she has created work that bridges traditional and contemporary jewelry, drawing on historical artifacts, folk art, and everyday keepsakes. Through a classically trained practice that combines ancient metalsmithing techniques with modern design, her work reinterprets familiar iconography in an immediately recognizable way.
Taran Diamond Nylon 1 Brooch
Glass, sterling silver, faux pearls, nylon
3 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches
Retail Value: $280
J Taran Diamond is a metalsmith and craft educator based in Baltimore, Maryland. Diamond has completed residencies at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and the Baltimore Jewelry Center, where she is currently a Teaching Fellow and Studio Manager.
Alabaster
7 x 4 x 2 inches
Retail Value: $493
“This series of Spoons is a contemporary iteration of the traditional ones often made from dried gourds. Here they are carved in soft stone - alabaster. Their wide mouths and short handles inform the specific task each one performs, their curves evoke the scooping swish of the aunties that nourished me.”
Of this work, J says, “I seek to map social experiences surrounding legitimacy, authenticity, and belonging onto objects and materials. The states of being inside of, outside of, above, and underneath are persistent motifs in my practice, and are investigated through the use of layered surface treatments and containment.”
#07
Funlola Coker Igbako, Amala
#08
J
#09
Jina Seo
Invisible Voice Brooch
Enamel on copper, brass, fiber, plastic
2.75 x 3 x 0.5 inches
Retail Value: $620
Jina Seo is an artist and educator at Missouri State University. She holds an MFA from the University of Illinois and a BFA from Kookmin University.
Of this work, Jina says “Invisible Sound is a new body of work reflecting my responses to the current social and political climate as a minority navigating shifting identities and environments. Through this work, I explore the tension between visibility and concealment, and how patterns meant to hide can also reveal underlying narratives about power, voice, and belonging.”
Julia Turner Shoreline Necklace
Japanese glass Delica beads, stainless steel cable, oxidized silver magnetic clasp
8 foot length
Retail Value: $220
Julia Turner’s beautifully crafted jewelry pieces are strong, subtle, and a pleasure to wear. Her collection is inspired equally by her modern urban surroundings and her background as a silversmith, and her unconventional approach to materials is informed by her deep familiarity with traditional techniques. Established in 1995, her studio is currently a part of the Heath Collective, and shares Heath’s unique industrial space in San Francisco’s Mission District.
Secondhand plastic objects, plastic thread
4 x 3 x 0.75 inches
Retail Value: $250
Inspired by reuse, Katie Kameen makes sculptures from re-imagined found objects. Kameen received her MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and her BFA in 3D Studio Art from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. She exhibits nationally and internationally and has been published in American Craft Magazine, Friend of the Artist, and Uppercase Magazine. Kameen is an assistant professor of 3D sculpture media at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. In 2024, The BJC hosted a solo exhibition of Katie’s work.
#11
Katie Kameen Sprinkles Brooch
#12
Kristen Beeler
Vento Earrings
Carved Mother of pearl, sterling silver
2 x 0.75 x 1.25 inches
Retail Value: $300
#13
Leslie Shershow
There, There 2 Pendant
Brass, aluminum, silver, luminescent film, resin, cord
2 x 3 x 0.25 inches
Retail Value: $550
Leslie Shershow is a jewelry artist and educator, whose work explores themes of memory, nostalgia, longing, and the souvenir. She received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and her MFA from San Diego State University, and was a previous artist in residence at the Baltimore Jewelry Center.
Of this work, Leslie says, “There, There is a new piece in a series that renders signs and symbols with a child-like simplicity. It is both an exercise in perspective and personal snapshot of this moment in time.”
Kristin Beeler studies the relationship between jewellery, landscape and empathy as Research faculty at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, Scotland.
Of this work, Kristinn says, “Vento Earrings are studies, carving mother of pearl to (impossibly) capture wind patterns. Carving is a deliberate process requiring a kind of listening to the material. Both the nacre and the wind are shaped by invisible influences, adapting to conditions and landscape we don’t see. Nacre is a climate archive, a log book of water temperature and pH balance.
#15
Kerianne Quick
Keys To A Lost Lock Brooch
Vegetable tanned leather, brass, copper, dye, semi-rigid plastic
5.3 x 2 x 0.4 inches
Retail Value: $220
Kerianne Quick is a craftsperson, educator, and previous BJC resident.
Of this work, Kerianne says, “When my family emigrated, they did so under duress. To be allowed to travel abroad, would-be tourists could wear a simple wedding band, a plain watch, and carry only $20. To further assure the authorities at the port that they would return… a set of house keys placed in a pocket. Tools that would never again slip into the lock they unlocked – the keys transformed into symbol of mourning – for a home, life, and country.”
#14
Manon Van Kouswijk
Out of the Office Necklace (edition 16/20)
Plastic sheathing from paperclips, nylon thread
16 inch circumference
Retail Value: $130
Manon van Kouswijk is a Dutch artist and contemporary jeweller who lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne) and Toora, Australia.
She views her practice as an ongoing exploration of the potential for jewellery to happen. Her findings are mediated through the making of objects, through photography, drawing, artist books and exhibitions.
Manon Van Kouswijk
Manon Van Kouswijk
Out of the Office Necklace (edition 17/20)
Plastic sheathing from paperclips, nylon thread
16 inch circumference
Retail Value: $130
Of this work, Manon says, “Out of the Office is a series of necklaces that are made of the plastic sheathing that I have removed from mass produced paperclips and strung on a thread, thus transforming an industrial product into a unique handmade object: from Made in China to Made in Melbourne. The necklaces are all identical in size and format while each is unique in its colour and pattern.“
Out of the Office Necklace (edition 2/20)
Plastic sheathing from paperclips, nylon thread
16 inch circumference
Retail Value: $130
“In 2014 I made an installation that consisted of 100 of these necklaces that were “worn” by the walls of the foyer of an architecture office. The 3 necklaces for the BJC auction are from a little new edition of the work that I made in 2024.”
#17
#18
#19
#20
Maria Konschake
Baltimore Series Brooch
Steel, powder coat
3.35 x 3.1 x .625 inches
Retail Value: $300
Maria Konschake (b. 1990) is a German visual artist and researcher, currently living and working in Belgium. Most of her works are handcrafted explorations of socio-political themes.
Of this work, Maria says, “The brooch was created as part of a series based on ideas developed during an artist residency at the Baltimore Jewelry Center. The shape is inspired by the city’s fire escapes, which often wind around buildings in the most wacky ways.”
Affixed to a Scrap of Cloth Brooch
Mother of pearl, sterling silver, Baltic amber, pigmented ink, beeswax, stainless steel
2 x 1.625 x 0.5 inches
Retail Value: $650
Margo Csipő is a jeweler, illustrator, educator and writer working and teaching out of the Baltimore Jewelry Center. Her practice explores jewelry and scrimshaw as vessels of meaning to be emptied and filled by the creator and wearer, both physically and metaphorically. Processing time and growth through these sequential images, the artist attempts to understand their own myth in flux. Csipő’s work has been shown domestically and internationally, including SCHMUCK 2024. She is a recent winner of Preziosa Young 2025 and a finalist for AJF’s Young Artist award 2024.
#21
Mercury Swift Berry Mint Cluster Earrings
Effetre glass, sterling silver
1 x 1 x 2.5 inches each
Retail Value: $350
Mercury Swift is a non-binary artist, jeweler and educator living and working in Baltimore, MD. They are currently a Studio & Program Manager as well as Instructor at the BJC. Swift’s art practice varies from flameworked glass and cast silver to performance and sound art. Berry Mint Cluster Earrings are part of an evolving series of works that explores glass beads as bodies of their own – experiencing desire to connect, attach, surround, penetrate, and move together.
Rachel Kedinger
Fruit Salad Plates
Pressed steel, Glass enamel
9 x 9 x 0.5 inches each
Retail Value: $500
#22
Molly Shulman
Rain Check Brooch
Brass, steel, powder coat, aquamarine, blue topaz, silk
2 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches
Retail Value: $350
Originally from Frederick, MD, Molly studied fine art at James Madison University where she graduated with a BFA concentration in Metals and Jewelry. Molly began working at the Baltimore Jewelry Center as a Youth Instructor for the After School Program. She now supervises multiple youth programs, teaches classes, and responds to calls for commissioned pieces of jewelry. Working closely with kids and teens remains a passion of hers along with the idea that working with ones hands is integral to having a happy life.
Rachel Kedinger is an artist currently living and working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rachel primarily makes objects out of metal with a focus on utilitarian use.
Of her work, Rachel says, “I am interested in the history and use of objects. When making, I think about objects people use in their daily practice and how I can focus on details that create a better user experience. I try to understand the interaction between the user and the objects by adding elements of detail and care.”
Rho Tang
Evolution Of Being Earrings
Mother of pearl, niobium, sterling silver
1.25 x 1 x 0.125 inches each
Retail Value: $370
Rho Tang is a contemporary jewelry artist based in Beacon, New York. In 2025, she was selected for Schmuck (Munich, Germany).
Of this work, Rho says “Evolution of Being” series is inspired by “mitosis”, a process of replicating new cells. Each work is composed from identical components, flexible joints between individual parts provide many degrees of freedom for transformation, to express different modalities similar to the genetic variations found in the natural process of evolution.”
#23
#24
#25
Sarah Parker
Space Lady Hoops
Sterling Silver
1.5 x 0.25 x 1.5 inches
Retail Value: $125
Sarah “Spee” Parker is a Richmond-based sculptor and jeweler. She received her MFA from the Department of Craft/Material Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and her BFA at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Sarah’s sculptures, installations and jewelry focus heavily on americana, punk, DIY, anti-containment, and questioning authorship through the lens of craft. She was a recipient of the Baltimore Jewelry Center Emerging Artist Residency in 2020.
#26
Stevie Pniewski
Blessing of Larmes Brooch
Brass, glass beads, rabbit fur, powder coat, thread
2 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches
Retail Value: $400
Stevie Pniewski is a metalsmith and educator working in Baltimore, Maryland. They hold a BFA in Fibers from MICA. Stevie is the co-founder of Realm, a collaborative duo that focuses on eclectic design objects and furniture, as well as an instructor with the Baltimore Jewelry Center. Their work has been exhibited during jewelry and design fairs across the eastern seaboard.
Stevie’s work presents as an exploration of materials and color, combining unexpected textures with obscured imagery while pulling forms and shapes such as the “goutte”, a droplet, from medieval heraldry.
#28
Suyu Chen
Little Blue Knot Brooch
Recycled silver, powder coating, stainless steel
1.25 x 2 x 0.25 inches
Retail Value: $320
Originally from China, Suyu Chen is a jewelry artist based in Rochester, New York. She teaches as adjunct faculty after earning her MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Her practice combines found objects with precious metals to challenge the boundaries of jewelry as adornment and cultural expression. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
“Inspired by the powder-coating and hand-drawing experiments I began during my artist residency at BJC, this brooch continues my exploration of color, texture and mark-making in jewelry.”
#28
Tanya Crane
Sgraffito
Enamel Earrings
copper, enamel, surgical steel, silicone and silver post
1.75 x 1.75 inches each
Retail Value: $180
Tanya Crane is a multi-disciplinary artist working mainly within the context of jewelry and sculpture for the body. She is an Assistant Professor in 3D Foundations + Jewelry + Sculpture at Long Beach City College. Craft has become a bridge between her artistic practice and her dedication to serving communities through education and active involvement.
Of this work, Tanya says, “My sgraffito work references both African and African American cultural artifacts.”
#29
Taylor Zarkades King
Palette
No. 62 Earrings
Anodized Aluminum, Sterling Silver
2.5 x 1 inches each
Retail Value: $180
Taylor Zarkades King is a metalsmith whose craft based practice sways between a jewelers bench and a studio that finds its form through larger configurations of wood, metal, & fiber. King holds her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University & a BFA from CCA. She is a participating artist of Radical Jewelry Makeover’s Artist Project, and a Jewelry Edition Vol. 5 alumni.
Of this work, Taylor says “Palette No. 62 is a pair of earrings from my limited-edition collection of wearable color studies—made of cold forged anodized aluminum and oxidized .925 silver.”
Zach Mellman-Carsey
Kriah Brooch
Cast sterling silver, cubic zirconia
2 x 2.5 x 0.25 inches
Retail Value: $800
Zach Mellman-Carsey is a visual artist living in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Zach received his Master’s degree in Fine art Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Indiana University in Bloomington. Zach’s work explores the use of technology embedded into wearable jewelry using computer aided design and digital fabrication to further concepts of identity, place and mourning.
Zach’s work explores the personal need for ritual in times of instability and grief. By re-contextualizing an ancient method of offering to the dead, Zach is exploring an interesting glimpse into their adverse past.
#28
Gift Certificates, and More! Experiences,
A Curated Selection of Fine Wine
Donor: Michael Schaffer
Retail Value: $400
2 Night Stay at the Wedding Cake House
Donor: Wedding Cake House
Retail Value: $300
Embark on a magical escape to the enchanting Wedding Cake House in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island! This unique, whimsical abode has captivated imaginations for years with its stunning, cake-like architecture and enchanting charm.
Experience a night or two of unparalleled charm. Step into a world inspired by fairytales and dreams as you explore the intricate, architectural marvel that is the Wedding Cake House. Enjoy two nights of luxurious relaxation in beautifully appointed rooms that blend historic charm with modern comforts. Located in the vibrant city of Providence, this stay offers you the perfect base to explore the city’s rich history, eclectic art scene, and diverse culinary offerings.
Hand-selected from the cellar of former board member Michael Schaffer, this exclusive wine collection features a thoughtfully curated mix of exceptional vintages—perfect for sipping, sharing, and savoring.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Tickets
Donor: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Retail Value: $280
Enter the enchanting world of classical music with this exclusive opportunity to experience three unforgettable concerts by the renowned Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO)! Whether you’re a seasoned concertgoer or new to the joys of orchestral music, this subscription offers a front-row seat to the best performances in the city. The winner can select 3 concerts across multiple genres, and will receive 2 tickets per show!
Custom Jewelry by Kyle Johnson & Maggie Klinedinst
Donor: Various
Retail Value: $5000
Participants are bidding to win an opportunity to have a custom piece of jewelry made for them by BJC Teaching Fellow and owner of Bluestone Goldsmithing Kyle Johnson featuing a custom cut pear-shaped pink spinel, faceted by community member and president of the Gem Cutters Guild of Baltimore, Maggie Klinedinst.
Included in this listing are 3.94 pennyweights of 14 karat yellow gold and a 1 carat pink spinel from Tanzania. The winner of this experience will be presented with custom design options rendered by Kyle. The winner will be responsible for the for the purchase of additional material if the project deviates from the scope of the renderings.
Jewelry Tools
Donor: Pat Baker
Retail Value: $150
This lot includes a first edition Green Lion saw frame and a pair of Swanstrom pliers—stylish, high-performance tools that combine precision, durability, and thoughtful design.
An ideal set for jewelers at any experience level, from students building their first bench to seasoned professionals refining their toolkit.
Custom Letter Jacket by Sarina Angell
Donor: Sarina Angell
Retail Value: $300
Step up your style game with this one-of-akind custom letter jacket crafted with love and creativity by the talented Baltimore-based artist, Sarina Angell. Designed to make you stand out, this jacket is more than just a piece of clothing— it’s a work of art.
Custom two-color, appliquéd, unlined, cotton canvas letter jacket with brass buttons or snaps and patch pockets.
Cafe Connoisseur’s Bundle
Donor: Various
Retail Value: $150
Sip local with this coffee and treats bundle from Catalog Coffee and Sophomore Coffee. Featuring two beloved Baltimore cafés, it’s a perfect way to enjoy great flavor while supporting local favorites.
BJC Class of Your Choice
Donor: Baltimore Jewelry Center
Retail Value: $575
Unlock your creativity with free tuition to a class of your choice at the Baltimore Jewelry Center!
Whether you’re looking to learn new techniques or refine your skills, this opportunity allows you to explore a wide range of classes in jewelry making and metalworking. A perfect gift for aspiring artists and craft enthusiasts!
Music Bundle: Paul Reed Smith Guitar
Factory
Tour + A Keystone Kard
Donor: Various
Retail Value: $175
Step into the world of premium guitar craftsmanship and live music with this extraordinary bundle! Enjoy an exclusive Paul Reed Smith Factory Tour, where you’ll get an insider’s look at how these legendary guitars are made. Plus, score 5 free shows at Keystone Korner, an iconic live music venue in Baltimore
Immerse yourself in the artistry and passion behind each Paul Reed Smith guitar, while experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of live music at Keystone Korner. This package offers an unparalleled opportunity for any guitar enthusiast or music lover to dive deep into the heart of guitar-making and live performance.
Private Lesson with J Diamond
Donor: J Diamond
Retail Value: $475
Take advantage of this rare opportunity with a 4-hour private lesson with J Diamond! This exclusive experience is available only through Ornamenta, as private lessons are not typically offered at the BJC.
Work directly with J Diamond to schedule a time that fits your needs and enjoy personalized instruction tailored to your goals. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to learn from one of our current teaching fellow!
Thank you to our Gold and Silver Level Sponsors for their generous support of Ornamenta and the Baltimore Jewelry Center:
Maria M. Caschetta
Marcy Feeney & Mark Klotzbach
