Whether you're looking for a special gift or want to treat yourself, you can scratch your shopping itch later this month at the annual jewelry sale at New Mexico State University.
Metalsmithing students in NMSU's Department of Art will have hundreds of one-of-a-kind, handmade, wearable art pieces at their 42nd annual jewelry sale. The one-day event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at the coffee shop in the NMSU Bookstore on 1400 E. University Ave., with two hours free parking for customers.
"The jewelry sale gives the students experience as professionals in the jewelry industry," said Motoko Furuhashi, associate art professor. "The students learn jewelry advertising, marketing, accounting, customer care and jewelry production."
"Selling my work feels surreal, I never expected to be into metals, much less end up selling my own jewelry. I am grateful that others like the design enough to want to buy it." Said Imperio Hernandez, a junior in the studio art program who participated in last years' sale. "After my first sale, I am excited to improve the product and make the packaging fun and decorative as well."
Elizabeth Swenson's handmade jewelry highlights an oceanic collection that showcases flowing jellyfish earrings to form the design for her collection, Swenson performed several lost wax castings, a metal casting technique.
"Bronze, brass, copper, silver, gems, and stones if I like the way they look," Swenson said.
Julieanna Lerma, a graduate student in the studio art program uses sterling silver, mixing her personal style and aesthetic.
"My jewelry is an extension of myself that is an expression of handmade chain work and alternative aesthetics," Lerma's said.
Not all those with jewelry in the sale are art majors. Emalie Lamb Hames is a senior in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management who will graduate next May and plans to pursue a master's degree in business administration right away. She started taking courses for fun and fell in love with metal and torches.
"I have been taking the classes for three years now," Hames said. "I love arranging stones, wire, metal, tools, until something strikes inspiration. I somehow ended up with a floral design scheme for this year's sale. I am making organically shaped pendants, floral imagery in my earrings, pendants, and pins, and I am challenging myself with some intricate rings. I try to focus on having items in a wide range of prices, so you will see items from me in a range of precious and no- precious metals that range from $20 to about $100.
"As an instructor, I am very proud of our talented students and am excited to share their products with the public," said Furuhashi.
All profits from the sale will support metalsmithing and jewelry-making activities for the students and will assist in acquiring new equipment for the metalsmithing studio. Those who cannot make it to the sale but still want to support the art students and the jewelry-making studio can make donations at https://nmsufoundation.org/givenow/jewelry.
For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/NMSUjewelrysale or check out the Instagram page @nmsumetals.
The next big event for the Department of Art will be a day of "Open Studios in Devasthali Hall on Saturday, November 9.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-s-42nd-annual-jewelry-sale-boosts-art-students--entrepreneurial-skills/s/68549164-0515-4005-8f79-ba246bbf15ad
