This two part piece was made with a little metal frame and silver-plated olive leaves gifted to Liz by Syann Van Niftrik as part of the ‘From Our Own Correspondence’ commission. The earrings are designed to sit and be displayed in the frames and can be gently removed to be worn.
”Syann sent me a little metal frame that she had had for ages but couldn't use or throw away, & also sent me some silver-plated olive leaves (incase the frame was too heavy & awkward to work with) which had a personal connection to her from an art residency in Italy.”
”I decided to combine both, & working with Syann's thoughts that the frame had a “shrine-like” quality I decided to make a pair of earrings that would sit inside the picture frames & hold elements of personal sentiment to both Syann & myself.”
”I drilled & stitched through the frame to try & match the original colours & patterns of the metal, I cut & oxidised the silver earrings to fit in the frames, then stitched a corresponding band across them to link diagonally across the frame. The stitching on the earrings echoes the patterns of embroidery on the piece of fabric I sent to Bronwen Gwillim for FOOC, which had been sewn by either my Mum, grandmother or great-grandmother. The stitching holds in place tiny discs of oxidised silver olive leaves, hopefully reflecting some of Syann's work using multiple repeated forms linked together.”
Materials: Oxidised silver, silk thread and stitched fragments of oxidised silver.
Dimensions: 80 x 60 mm (frame), 17 x 25 mm (earrings).
Liz Willis is a Hertfordshire (UK) based jeweller, using silver & hand stitched silk threads to add layers of colour & texture to her work. She uses found objects collected from mudlarking along the River Thames. Everyday objects, such as pins & nails, that were handmade generations ago & have had a previous life & use, are worked on by her hands to give them a new chapter & make them little pieces of wearable history.