Artist Statement

I like to think of my jewelry as an extension of myself. My pieces become a part of me that I've molded, nurtured and caressed into being. Though I do not have any formal training in jewelry construction; I have a college degree and professional designations in Interior Design. I've enjoyed creating things for as long as I can remember and over the years have worked in a wide variety of mediums; garment construction and other sewing projects, knitting, needlework, weaving, basketry and water colors. A large part of the satisfaction I get from the creative process is not only the balance of color and spaces but figuring out the positive and negative properties of a material and how it can be used in the construction process. I was introduced to wire work and the jewelry construction applications by my sister and have been hooked ever since. I especially like to find ways to incorporate construction processes from other mediums to metal. I enjoy nature and am outside as much as I can and am constantly amazed by the beauty and intricacy of what nature has created all around us and try to incorporate nature into my work either through the use of materials or the energy that nature provides. Rocks have been something I have been picking up and collecting as long as I can remember and have now found a way to incorporate them into my work along with semi precious stone and lampwork glass beads. My respect for nature drives my concern with recycling and to that end has been fascinated by the concept of incorporating found objects into my work as well. The word 'Ninde' is from the Ojibwa language and means heart. I thought this was very fitting for my work since all of my work is truly from my heart. My work has been exhibited at the Creamery Gallery, Sandy's Boutique, The Good New Gallery, The Ski Gallery at the UW and the Sun Dance theater gift shop. My work was awarded best of show at the Agora Art Fair, Honorable Mention at the Festival of the Arts in Wausau, WI and Honorable Mention in the mixed media catagorie and third place over all at the Salon Show for the Madison Art Guild

Susan Baez