Jewelry and Gender: Challenging the Norms

The Kent State University School of Art Collection and Galleries presents Jewelry and Gender: Challenging the Norms at the KSU Downtown Gallery from November 2 through December 1, 2018.  The exhibition, curated by Roza Maille, looks at art jewelry through the lens of gender, displayed alongside photographs of local LGBTQ+ youth, serving as models.  Quotes from model interviews about their own gender expressions and identities will be included in the display, giving the viewer perspective on the spectrum of gender identities that exist, as opposed to the male/female binary. An opening reception will take place on Friday, November 2 from 5-8 p.m. during the Downtown Kent Art Walk.  Both the reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. The KSU Downtown Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St. in Kent, Ohio. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Volunteers from the LGBTQ+ community at Kent State University who identify along the gender spectrum anywhere from non-binary to trans to male or female participated in the project. The wearable artwork serves as an amplification to the wearer’s gender identity or expression. In some instances, the interaction between the jewelry and the wearer may also address challenges they face because of how they identify or how they have persevered through those challenges. 

The jewelry artists featured are local and national, including one artist from Canada.  Featured artists include: Nikki Couppee, Tanya Crane, Aurélie Guillaume, Erica Hoosic, Younha Jung, Amy Klainer, Andrew Kuebeck, Matt Lambert, Marissa Saneholtz, Sherry Simms, and Rachel Smith.