4.5 x 3.5 x 1 cm
Sterling silver, tea bag, thread, paint, pigment, copper, graphite
These earrings are created from a tea bag stretched and sewn over a wire frame. They should be handled by the edges to prevent damage.
Tea bags behave like a blend of paper and fabric - they take on paint and pigment easily, and can also be folded and stitched like fabric.
Jillian Vang is a contemporary jeweler from Libertyville, Illinois. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Metals and Jewelry Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Interested in the transient, her jewelry and small sculpture feature unique ephemera such as tea bags and wallpaper. Her work uses reclaimed and modern elements to render emotions and experiences. With a focus on color and pattern, they invite conversation about ritual, routine, and femininity.
At this time Jillian is working as a gallery assistant at the RIT City Art Space, an off-campus exhibition and event space, and producing artwork for her upcoming thesis show in May 2022. She also works as a show assistant for Kyri Jewelry at various pop-up locations around Rochester.
Jillian was recently nominated for the 2022 Windgate Fellowship and Award for Emerging Craft Artists Advancing Sustainability. Her work was also selected to exhibit in Athens Institute for Contemporary Art Material Alchemy: Metal and Color, which will be opening in late April 2022.