RE-CRAFTED

"ReWritten" AnExpression in Glass by Jennifer Anne Kelly. I believe that the removal of handwriting is the removal of craft. Our technological methods of communication risk erasing a person’s character.  In this collection of glass representations of handwritten objects from our past the fragility of the object mimics the fragility of our shared culture. Intimate, hand etched texts transcribing a series of recipes onto glass doubles the deliberateness, care and precision required in the transfer of knowledge and traditions. By playing with materiality and erasure I invite the audience to think about longevity and ephemerality, not only of the written word, the writer, and the cultural histories inscribed, but also about the enduring unsustainability of living and non-living things mentioned within recipes. Intimate in size and execution, each index card recrafts our love for the preciousness and now rarity of handwritten notes, letters, and instructions. The act of crafting a letter or journaling is known to have psychological benefits derived from the process of forming letters by hand. Preserving this practice is fundamental in our journey to rediscovering true value. Newfoundland and Labrador have long been an example of the necessity to understand the vulnerability of resources and the value of culture. Glass represents the contradiction between fragility and strength. The original form may be broken but the pieces endure for centuries. It is my hope that this collection of glass sculptures offers contemplation and optimism for our shared future.