New Mexico State University’s Jewelry and Metalsmithing program will present its 43rd Annual Jewelry Sale from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at the NMSU bookstore. Fans of meticulously crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry will have the opportunity to shop for handmade pieces created by students in the NMSU metalsmithing studio.
“This assignment is about the production of jewelry, including the business aspects of pricing, how mass production works, how to create your own cohesive design and how marketing tools work,” said Motoko Furuhashi, professor in the Department of Art. “It is a professional practice to learn how to work as a production jewelry artist”.
In preparation for the sale, students have been hard at work designing their collections over the last month. They considered every detail—the weight of earrings, curve of bracelets, length of chains, pricing and the packaging their pieces will be displayed on. Through critiques and workshopping days, students collaborated and helped each other bring out the best in their ideas.
“I made my pieces to be fun and bold, so when you wear them, you really feel confident,” said Jana Johnson, a studio arts major. “I’ve learned a lot about the process of making multiples and manipulating them in different ways, which is good for selling in the future.”
This sale event gives students the opportunity to develop the entrepreneurial skills they’ll need to successfully market and sell their work. Each student made careful considerations about the balance between design, functionality and comfort, learning to understand the experience customers will have with their pieces.
“I’m studying entomology as well as art,” said Matthew Cota, a senior set to graduate this semester. “I love insects and finding the intersection between those two disciplines. This sale has taught me a lot more about making work that is sellable and wearable as jewelry rather than an art piece—are they comfortable and will people actually wear them?”
“This sale has taught me to work faster and think about how I can make a design that’s simple and be able to reproduce it quickly while also staying within my aesthetic,” said Imperio Hernandez, a senior majoring in studio arts. “I worked on a 3D file and was able to print my pieces with a special jewelry 3D printer that Professor Motoko helped me with.”
As shoppers purchase unique jewelry, they’ll also be supporting art students and programs at NMSU. Profits from the sale will help fund future workshops, studio tools and equipment, field trip activities, visiting lecturers and more.
In addition, the NMSU Foundation has created a fund to support the Jewelry and Metalsmithing program’s operations and help provide scholarships for future students. Donations can be made at https://alwaysanaggie.org/donate/jewelry/.
The jewelry sale is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at the coffee shop located in the NMSU Bookstore on University Avenue. There will be two hours of free parking in the nearby lot. More information about the sale can be found at https://www.facebook.com/NMSUjewelrysale.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University’s Jewelry and Metalsmithing program will host its 43rd annual jewelry sale from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at the coffee shop located in the NMSU Bookstore on University Avenue. This colorful collection is by Emalie Hames. (NMSU photo by Sarah Kimmerly)
CUTLINE: Motoko Furuhashi, Professor of Art at New Mexico State University, guides a critique of each jewelry collection. (NMSU photo by Sarah Kimmerly)
CUTLINE: A jewelry collection inspired by entomology, created by Matthew Cota, a studio art and entomology student at New Mexico State University. (NMSU photo by Sarah Kimmerly)
CUTLINE: A gothic-inspired jewelry collection created by Imperio Hernandez, studio art student at New Mexico State University. (NMSU photo by Sarah Kimmerly)
CUTLINE: A bold and fun jewelry collection created by Jana Johnson, studio art student at New Mexico State University. (NMSU photo by Sarah Kimmerly)