Valarie Lyda Marcelyn, 1967 - 2007
pins, rabbit fur, rose quartz beads, cotton cord
2024
Sharleen Taylor, 1954–2001
pins, rabbit fur, cotton cord
2024

Lizzie Leone, 1922 – 1965
pins, rabbit fur, Czech glass beads, cotton cord
2024
Yvette Windsor, 1922 – 1969
pins, rabbit fur, glass beads, cotton cord
2024
Parris Parker, 1942 – 1980
pins, rabbit fur, rhinestones, lacquer, cotton cord
2024
Daliah Clancey, 1945 – 1979
pins, rabbit fur, rhinestones, lacquer, cotton cord
2024
Chantelle Ness, 1943-1991
pins, rabbit fur, cotton cord
2024
Laureen Mellony, 1933– 1975
pins, rabbit fur, glass pearls, cotton cord
2024
Isidora Elisa, 1961 – 1997
pins, rabbit fur, rose quartz, lacquer, cotton cord
2024
Flora Kayleah, 1907 – 1954
pins, rabbit fur, glass beads, lacquer, cotton cord
2024
Margot Octavia, 1943– 1971
pins, rabbit fur, cotton cord
2024
Charity Hariette Benton, 1992 – 2014
pins, rabbit fur, rose quartz beads, cotton cord
2024
Janet Genessa, 1922 – 1969
pins, rabbit fur, glass beads, cotton cord
2024
Jaime Mona Lauren, 1969-2016
pins, rabbit fur, glass beads, cotton cord
2024
Brandi Hughes-Corban, 1934 – 1964
pins, rabbit fur, cotton cord
2024



STATEMENT


Dolls draws its primary inspiration from Jacqueline Susann’s 1966 novel, Valley of the Dolls. The novel explores the lives of three women who navigate the promises and downfalls of fame, glamour, and wealth, only to find their ambitions undone by addiction and the unstoppable progression of time. Each necklace in this series reflects iconic female figures who endured personal struggles and societal pressures.

This work reflects on the phenomenon of celebrity culture and its intimate relationship with identity. Celebrity is not merely about individuals, but operates as a kind of ideology, shaping how we perceive aspiration, failure, and redemption. Each necklace critiques the glorification of figures whose struggles become public spectacle and whose legacies shift between admiration and cautionary tales. Through the lens of adornment, this critique transforms into a personal exploration of how cultural narratives intersect with identity. Jewelry, as both adornment and symbol, serves as a lens to explore dependency, fame, and selfhood.

At its core, this body of work reflects my anxieties about relevance, aging, and the seductive pull of obsessive habits as coping mechanisms. I find myself navigating the tension between aspiration and vulnerability, between societal expectations and personal truths. By merging the personal and the cultural, my work invites viewers to consider their own relationships with societal ideals and their personal experiences of compulsion, desire, and identity.

All of the work from Dolls and Feint-Hearted are dedicated to my mentor, Mary Hallam Pearse. Thank you for being a wonderful mentor and friend after all these years. This work never would have happened without your support and honesty. I appreciate you taking the time to challenge my creativity. Thank you for your empathy and compassion. Your continued support is remarkable. Thank you.