Catalyst

Metal sculpture and jeweler Tessia VanderGroen displayed her metal sculptures and handmade jewelry in compliance to earn her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Metalwork.

The Merlino Gallery on campus exhibited Tessia's fine and intricate metal work in the form of sculpted wall pieces, bracelets, rings, broaches and hair accessories.
Photo by Valerie Graham





"The themes for my pieces sprouted from a very quiet place" said Tessia.

"Preservation, solitude, growth, confusion and self -discovery were the driving points of these pieces that I have sculpted. No matter how instinctive or forced the process is, I feel like my work tries to take on a life of its own. That quietness from my themes explain themselves formally when I can't even do it justice with my own words."

Sculpted piece by Tessia VanderGroen
Photo by Valerie Graham

Handmade hairpiece and ring by Tessia VanderGroen
Photo by Valerie Graham

The theme for the title of her work, "Catalyst", is drawn from the people or things that present themselves as catalysts and affect Tessia's work.

"I pull from significant experiences and changes in my life which act as the forces that cause activity between my metal and I. They ( her sculptures) themselves are not altered in any way, but rather I interpreted them to take the physical form through my hands" she said .

Wall sculpture by Tessia VanderGroen
Photo by Valerie Graham

One of Tessia's pieces, the metal sculpted spiked bracelet, was a favorite of one viewer.

"This bracelet is so interesting. I would never wear it out in public though because it looks like it would be a little dangerous. I'd be afraid of accidentally wounding someone with one of those gnarly spikes" said senior Reina Rogers.

Spiked bracelet by Tessia VanderGroen
Photo by Valerie Graham

Tessia thanked her family and room mate for their, "Love, support and encouragement."
She also gave a special thank you to what she referred to as her "metals family" for helping her "grow and being by her side with torch in hand."