Ume - Spring Brooch

Artist: Ben Dori
Materials: stainless, sequins
Dimensions: 3" x 1.25" x 1"

Artist Statement: I spent my final year of high school in Japan and remember making my own yukata from indigo dyed cloth. This exhibition has been a wonderful gateway to that memory and more. The brilliant variety of patterns, texture, and colors I saw in Japanese textiles has left me with a lifetime of inspiration. This piece is a homage to that experience, lifting the colors from my swatch to translate into patterns of stainless steel and sequins.

Artist Bio:  Ben Dory is a jeweler specializing in stainless steel granulation, broadly focusing on technological interpretations of traditional studio practices. Originally from Kansas City, he graduated with an MFA from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2014. Ben works from his studio in Savannah, GA.

Fabric Motif: Ume or plum blossom is one of the most auspicious motifs in Japan and represents the end of the winter and rebirth.

This piece is part of the Yukata Inspired 2024, a collaborative exhibition between Okan Arts & Danaca Design featuring metalwork and collage. Learn more and view the entire collection HERE.

All artwork from this collection will be available for shipping or pickup after the exhibition concludes on June 23rd. If you'd like to purchase an art piece as a gift, we'll happily provide you with a printed image and its inspiration story.