Carolina Reyes - Anillo del Malpais

Artist: Carolina Reyes
Materials: copper, sterling silver, vitreous enamel, lava rock 
Size: 7.5 
Dimensions: 2" x 2.75" x 1.75"

Artist Statement:
This ring is hand pierced from copper and enameled with Thomson Unleaded products. It is torch fired, which produces the intricate patterns "burned" into the surface of the enamel. The enameled plate floats on a bed of sterling silver prongs, soldered to the patinaed back plate, to which the sterling ring shank is also attached. A small piece of lava rock sits in the center of the ring. These rocks fill the area in which I grew up and now live, and serve as daily inspiration. This lava rock was sanded down into a cabochon form, then prong set into the center of the ring.

“Anillo del Malpais” is part of a larger series titled "Malpais" or "Bad Lands", which is what the desert hills close to my home are known as. The volcanic rock found in these lands are ancient but are utilized in many ways today. They are used to landscape properties, fill gardens, and were even used to build the entire façade of the Catholic church in my town, which makes them an integral part of my community.

Artist Bio:
Carolina Sephra Reyes is a metalsmith and herbalist who grew up in the valley of Southern New Mexico. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry from New Mexico State University in 2015. She received Master of Fine Arts in Metals Design from East Carolina University in 2019. During her time at ECU, Carolina co-chaired the 2019 ECU Metals Symposium, an internationally attended metals conference. She also worked as the gallery director and curator for the Mendenhall Student Center Galleries. She returned to her hometown of San Miguel, NM post-graduation and spent the 2019 Fall semester teaching metals and jewelry as an adjunct professor at New Mexico State University. She now teaches privately in her home studio, continuing her research into native plants and aspects of the land in which she grew up and now lives.

This ring is part of Battle of the Rings: Ring Smackdown 2021, an online exhibition and competition. Shop the entire collection HERE, view the matches HERE, and learn more HERE.