Crafting Change With the Radical Jewelry Makeover Project

In art and design, sustainability is becoming a key focus as artists strive to make an impact beyond aesthetics. Jessica Calderwood, associate professor of art, with help and support of the student Metals Guild, led a project at Ball State University that beautifully joins creativity with sustainability, transforming discarded jewelry into stunning art pieces.

This innovative initiative, part of the larger Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) movement, breathes new life into forgotten or unwanted materials, reduces waste, empowers students, and engages the community. RJM is the brainchild of Ethical Metalsmiths, a community of caring buyers, jewelers, designers, and suppliers committed to transparent, responsible, and environmentally sound practices for all aspects of the jewelry-making process.

The Radical Jewelry Makeover project began with a simple yet powerful idea: to address the environmental impact of the jewelry industry through recycling and reuse. RJM focuses on creating ethical and transparent supply chains by reimagining old and broken jewelry.

Ms. Calderwood, an advocate for sustainable art practices, enthusiastically embraced this vision. Leading the metals and jewelry program in the School of Art within the College of Fine Arts, she recognized the opportunity to educate students about the environment while offering them access to materials they might not otherwise get to work with, such as gold, silver, and precious stones.

"I can't take credit for the idea." Ms. Calderwood said. "It's all Ethical Metalsmiths. I'm just the steward for the Muncie Midwest edition."

Ms. Calderwood's project brought together a network of collaborators, including the IU Bloomington metals program and various other metals programs throughout the Midwest. Partnering with local organizations such as Made in Muncie Pottery, Heidi Hale Jewelry, and the Muncie Arts and Culture Council, the project sourced materials from the community during the Summer and Fall of 2023.

"The idea was to challenge the students to think differently about materials, encouraging them to see the potential in what others might consider trash," Ms. Calderwood said.

The project invited the community to donate old and broken jewelry, resulting in a remarkable collection valued at nearly $38,000. These donations were shared among participating schools during two collaborative symposiums at IU, followed by multiple community "maker parties" in the Fall of 2023.

As part of their coursework for Intro to Metals, students were tasked with capturing these donated objects by incorporating them into their jewelry designs. This hands-on experience allowed them to develop their technical skills while also gaining an appreciation for sustainable design practices.

"My favorite part of the Radical Jewelry Makeover was sorting through all the donations," said senior Allison Jester. "I volunteered to photograph each of the piles of donations along with two others. It was such an amazing experience getting to collaborate with so many people, hear their stories, and create new works of art."

The yearlong project was celebrated in two exhibitions: one at the Grunwald Gallery at IU Bloomington in January 2024 and another at Made in Muncie Pottery in May. These exhibitions showcased the innovative jewelry pieces created by students and community members, highlighting the potential of sustainable art to inspire and engage.

"This project was student-driven, immersive, and engaged the art field, the local community, and focused on sustainability, design, education, and collaboration," Ms. Calderwood said.

During this project, students created a variety of interesting art pieces, but they did not get to keep or profit from the work. It will be returned to the Ethical Metalsmiths to be repurposed yet again. However, the students learned critical lessons from this work.

"I wish I'd understood the importance of service earlier in my life. It's something that has now become important to me," Ms. Calderwood said. "It's about a concern for our community, for our environment, and our globe. So, for me, that was a crucial lesson to learn, and I think the earlier we can teach our students the importance of that, the better.

"We've worked on various projects in jewelry and metals and try to get students to talk about things they care about," Ms. Calderwood continued. "We used to have an assignment centered around protest. It speaks to the importance of political action and that jewelry is sometimes not just decorative but an opportunity to express one's values and concerns. Over the last seven to 10 years, the primary concerns of students have shifted from politics to concern for the environment, which is inherently political. However, it's more about having a planet to live on for our children and grandchildren. That seems to be the No. 1 subject that students want to talk about. Exploring other ways that they can think about doing service to that cause is a means to have that conversation in a way that's more proactive."

Ms. Calderwood's work with the Radical Jewelry Makeover is a powerful example of how art can be a force for positive change. By transforming discarded materials into works of art, she and her students have raised awareness about environmental issues and inspired the community to think creatively and act sustainably.

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