Art Gym Denver is thrilled to present Pieces by Erynn McConnell  in the Common Space Gallery with an opening reception January 31 from 5 – 8PM. Pieces is a series of jewelry by Erynn McConnell which repurposes broken ceramic plates.

Kintsugi is a Japanese process of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold along the cracks, as to highlight the flaws and histories of the object. Building on this concept in her new series Pieces, artist Erynn McConnell translates the idea into jewelry by combining broken ceramic plates with brass to make rings, necklaces, earrings and other wearable forms of kintsugi. McConnell’s artist statement explains this intention; she states, “this jewelry was made with the intention of reminding the wearer that no matter how broken we are, there is still beauty and worth in our pieces.” Changing the context of these broken pieces into positives helps the viewer, and ultimately wearer, of this jewelry reflect on their own shortcomings. The jewelry becomes a physical reminder to find positives in ourselves; that even our worse, broken problems hold a great deal of value.