Margaret Jacobs

MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE:
My Indigenous Plant Knowledge Series explores ways of reclaiming and relearning Indigenous knowledge systems to establish paths toward self-sustainability and decolonization. I am creating physical objects that can visually help us to learn and remember by depicting eastern botanicals which are used medicinally, culturally, and/or nutritionally. Cross between sculpture and jewelry objects, these pieces are constructed from hand drawn, cut and soldered brass. I then add color and texture through the powdercoating process. I choose textures and colors that allude to the natural world as well as those that seemingly contradict it. I embrace technology, using the powdercoat process to create this visually graphic, material shift in my work. I primarily use metal; steel in my sculpture and powdercoated brass in my jewelry. I choose to work with metal because of its technical properties as well as the relationship and history to Ironworking and steel that my community of Akwesasne has. I use surface patina as a way to draw with my forms and my color choices create a graphic aesthetic. My wall-mounted sculptures can be read as 3-dimensional form or flat shadow depending on where you stand. My jewelry can become part of the body or the clothing depending on what angle you see it from. At first glance, my work is quiet and subdued but the more time you spend with the pieces, the additional layers you begin to discover. My choice to surface my works this way forces the viewer to spend time with the pieces in order to develop a deeper relationship and meaning, and they have to look closely to see the color or texture or layers that are embedded. I primarily use metal, fabricated, steel in my sculpture and powdercoated brass in my jewelry. I choose to work with metal because of its technical properties as well as the relationship and history to Ironworking and steel that my community of Akwesasne has. I use surface patina as a way to draw with my forms and my color choices create a graphic aesthetic. My wall-mounted sculptures can be read as 3-dimensional form or flat shadow depending on where you stand. My jewelry can become part of the body or the clothing depending on what angle you see it from. At first glance, my work is quiet and subdued but the more time you spend with the pieces, the additional layers you begin to discover. My choice to surface my works this way forces the viewer to spend time with the pieces in order to develop a deeper relationship and meaning, and they have to look closely to see the color or texture or layers that are embedded.