Deconstructing Gender in Jewelry Part III
WJA NY Metro + WJA Miami + Queer Metalsmiths
present
Conversations on Diversity: Deconstructing Gender in Jewelry Part III
Care for Creators
Join the Women’s Jewelry Association for our third year of Conversations on Diversity: Deconstructing Gender in Jewelry: Care for Creators, a virtual event hosted by WJA New York Metro, WJA Miami, and Queer Metalsmiths, continuing the conversation on how gender impacts the jewelry industry. Moderated by Tracey Carswell (they/them) of Powerful in Pink, we are excited to welcome Naomi Johnson (she/they) of Metal Petal Jewelry, Samonte Cruz (they/them) of Samonte Cruz Studios, and Jen Lorang (she/her) of Alchemilla Jewelry.
This event is about prioritizing the mental and emotional well-being of LGBTQIA+ jewelry creators, makers, and industry professionals in the current environment. Together, we'll embark on an evening of conversation, reflection, and community. No matter your gender or identity, we are committed to providing a safe(r) and inclusive space for everyone.
We will begin with a grounding exercise to help create balance and focus, and then explore the important connection between creative practice and overall well-being during our conversation about self-care. Come together and connect with other jewelry professionals, cultivate relationships, and show our unwavering support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Whether you're an artist, designer, bench jeweler, or industry leader, this event is for you! Join us in prioritizing your mental and emotional well-being while embracing and celebrating diversity. Together, we can create a space where everyone feels welcome and valued.
About the Panelists:
Naomi Johnson, Metal Petal Jewelry
Naomi Johnson (she/they) is a Chicago based Black queer metalsmith. Naomi draws inspiration from nature, as well as architectural elements like tile work and stained glass, and infuses their designs with afrofuturism. After starting metal smithing as a way to create the adornments they dreamed of, Naomi created Metal Petal Jewelry as a way to share their work with others and has been honored every time they have seen someone else wear their jewelry and make it their own. They balance creation and their small business alongside a full time job as a researcher at a nonprofit.
Follow Naomi on Instagram at @metalpetaljewelry and visit their website at metalpetaljewelry.com
Samonte Cruz, Samonte Cruz Studios
Samonte Cruz (they/them) is a mixed-race, mixed-gender, Filipinx goldsmith, multi-media artist, performer & educator, with 20+ years of experience as a community organizer. Originally from the Seattle area, Samonte now lives & creates on unceded Sinixt Territory, in the beautiful mountains of British Columbia [BC]. Samonte’s passion is making custom jewelry & amulets; specializing in culturally inspired work like, Filipino Tattoo (Batok) wedding bands. They also design pronoun pins, stickers & apparel, while running their own online shop.
In 2018, Samonte began working as an apprentice to award-winning master goldsmith, Paul Durkin at Lauener Brother’s Jewellers in Trail, BC, in addition to teaching beginner jewellery courses at Kootenay School of the Arts, Selkirk College. Fueled with a desire to support other queer & trans artists in their community, Samonte founded the Bent On Art Festival, a series of events designed to promote the work of LGBTQ+ artists in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. In their spare time, Samonte enjoys playing music, performing drag & spending time with their dog-kid, Bruno.
Follow Samonte on Instagram at @samontecruzstudios, and visit their website at www.samontecruzstudios.com
Jen Lorang, Alchemilla Jewelry
Jen Lorang (she/her) is the designer behind Alchemilla Jewelry, working with a small team of three incredibly talented jewelers in her backyard barn studio on occupied Nipmuc and Pocumtuk land (Amherst, MA). She designs, fabricates and finishes each Alchemilla piece by hand with great care, joy and a love for the magical feeling that adornment brings to its wearer. Alchemilla is proudly Queer, DIY and sells with primarily woman owned and small local shops. As a white owned business, Alchemilla is committed to anti racist practices and is constantly working to be better at eradicating racism, sexism, classism and all other violent colonialist capitalist oppressions- as they show up in ourselves and the systems that engulf us.
Follow Jen on Instagram at @alchemillajewelry and visit her website at thealchemilla.com
About the Moderator:
Tracey Carswell, Powerful in Pink
Tracey Carswell (they/them) is a queer non-binary artist, educator, coach, and curator dedicated to empowering leaders and building inclusive communities. They are the founder of Powerful in Pink, a creative brand that offers coaching, small business support, curation services, and community building opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs.
Tracey also co-founded Queer Metalsmiths, a community space that honors, centers, and uplifts 2SLGBTQIA+ jewelers and metalsmiths. Through their work as the founder and former President of the Miami chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association, as well as Powerful in Pink and Queer Metalsmiths, they invest in the growth and success of women, femme, queer, transgender, and gender non-conforming leaders in the jewelry and craft industries.
Follow Tracey on Instagram at @powerfulinpinkbytlc @queermetalsmiths and visit their website at traceycarswell.com
Watch the entire conversation at WJA.
