Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Jean Conroy.
Kelly Jean, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As I little girl I found dead birds, moles, mice and would bury them, painting a rock for its tombstone. It was a sense of play and wonder at being able to see these small creatures up close and a sense of curiosity about life and death. I’ve always had my paint set handy & was always encouraged by my artist mother to create. Art was always my path-it’s in my blood. My mom’s mother went to Syracuse University for graphic design, and I followed her lead to the same school to pursue Art Education and painting. I took only two jewelry courses while there, and saw the enameling setup, and needed to learn how to work with the colored glass. I like to say that enameling was my gateway into metalsmithing. I worked as an art teacher and took enameling classes at the Worcester Center for Crafts and then eventually began teaching there as well. After five years in the ‘real world’, I decided that jewelry and metals was the world I needed to be in for the rest of my life and went to UMass Dartmouth for my Masters in Jewelry and Metals from 2010-2013. I currently teach Metalsmithing at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School by day, and by night and weekends and summer, I have taught and teach at Massachusetts College of Art, Haystack School of Crafts in ME, Peters Valley School of Craft in NJ, Metalwerx, a school for Jewelry in Waltham. Beyond my teaching, I maintain a studio practice out of my home in West Roxbury, making conceptual work for exhibitions as well as wearable one of a kind.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Currently, I am very excited about using drawings from my sketchbook and etching them into mother of pearl or precious gemstones with a laser cutter. The process I am working on creates graphic little drawings on materials that typically are smooth and plain. I do make silver and gold “pretty” jewelry, love to enamel, make the occasional wedding bands for special people, and also make conceptual necklaces that speak to my ideas about the cycle of life and the beauty and sadness in death. I have a particular aesthetic that I am drawn to, dead birds, flowers, bones, moths, butterflies, flies, diamonds, are just some of the elements in my work.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I am lucky enough to be able to teach in the field I love so I don’t have to sell my art to make a living. I think being an artist and having to sell work to live in this city would be incredibly hard and a daily struggle. However, I think doing what you love is invaluable, and making it happen is always going to lead to a happier existence. I think Boston does have some great opportunities to get out and see art, to buy art, to experience culture, but I do think there’s always more to be done. I do my small part by encouraging the next generation of artists, they truly are going to be the ones who save the world… (and art world)
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My conceptual work can be seen on my website, and Instagram and occasionally I am lucky to be a part of some cool exhibits. I am currently working on a group project called “When Given the Same Guidelines” and that will be a traveling show once the project is complete.
to find my wearable work:
Equinox Gallery: San Antonio, TX www.equinoxjewelrygallery.com
Lark & Key Gallery: Charlotte, NC www.larkandkey.com
Dow Studio: Deer Isle, ME www.dowstudiodeerisle.com
Monique Rancourt Artisan Gallery: MA www.moniquerancourt.com/artisan-gallery.html
Alchemy 9.2.5: Belmont, MA www.alchemy925.com
Worcester Center for Crafts Gallery Store www.worcester.edu/wcc-the-gallery-store
Amy Zane Store and Studio: Kalamazoo, MI www.amyzane.com
Adorn: Cape Cod, MA www.adorncapecod.com
Contact Info:
- Website: kellyjeanconroy.com
- Email: kelly.conroy@gmail.com
- Instagram: kelly_jean_conroy
Image Credit:
Photos : Justin Brown
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