Project #3

     Project number three is entitled iVote and the objective is to create jewelry that persuades. The topic need not be political, but must motivate action for or against a particular topic. A sample double pin back must also be made and turned in with this project, and while the type of fastener is optional, the finished piece must be a pin or medal type of object. Symbolism must be used to persuade the audience of the point the jeweler is trying to prove.
     I started off by brainstorming three different topics, and symbols that could go along with each. The subjects were partisanship in politics, I would be trying to convince my audience that it was detrimental, conflict jewelry making materials, and humane practices in livestock production. The conflict materials seemed to have the best symbolism available for the subject, and it also fit in with my theme for the semester, even though this was not a requirement for this project. So the winning idea was to fabricate a pin that would try to make people think about where materials come from before they purchase jewelry.
     Adinkra symbols are used in West Africa to represent stories, ideas, and proverbs. I chose to use the overlapping diamonds that symbolize handcuffs called epa. The thought behind this choice was that this area has been held hostage by the raw materials their lands contain for centuries now. The term blood diamonds is well known today, but before that the countries of West Africa were led by tremendously wealthy men who have pillaged the wealth from gold and diamonds to live lives of privilege while most citizens are amongst the poorest people on the earth. The double diamond symbol would be the background of my piece with etching on the surface so that there can be darker and lighter areas for contrast.

Sketches

     I wanted the diamond symbolism on the pin to be purely symbolic. I did not want to use simulated diamonds on the pin, so a large plexi-glass diamond shape will be used with silhouettes of scenes from the Sierra Leonean conflict behind the plexi. A double pin back will be used to secure the pin, since it will be quite large and heavy.

     Some references used for the project:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/14/fashion/14diamonds.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.adinkra.org/htmls/adinkra_index.htm

http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html