/kwir/-fôrēə/

Queer + Euphoria = [queerphoria]

Queer - umbrella term that describes sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender

Euphoria - a state of intense happiness and self-confidence

Queer Metalsmiths is excited to announce the return of [queerphoria] for NYC Jewelry Week 2023 with an exhibition that explores the transformative power of adornment as walking wearable safe spaces, [queerphoria] vol. 2: Adorned Serenity.

[queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity is an exhibition that centers queer artists and how their work serves as a wearable safe space that fosters inner peace, confidence, or a deeper understanding of self. By showcasing the profound connection between queerness, adornment, and identity, this event invites artists to participate in a celebration of empowering jewelry as transformative objects.

Queer-identifying metalsmiths and jewelry designers are invited to apply for [queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity with a piece that relates to the theme of the show accompanied by their personal narratives that reflect the intentions and symbolism of what Adorned Serenity means to them. Participating artists from different backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to create a piece for the show to make an enriching experience, inspiring them to develop their work in tandem with the concept of the show in mind.

This exhibition is designed to engage a broader audience by existing in a virtual space on our online platform– encouraging empathy and understanding of both the queer experience and how it relates to adornment. It will not only showcase the artists’ work, but also offer insight into the cultural, social, and historical context of the queer community's journey towards self-acceptance and inner peace.

[queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity is more than an exhibition; it is a movement towards redefining the past, present, and future of adornment in relation to the queer experience. [queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity is curated by Queer Metalsmiths’ co-founders SULO BEE and Tracey Carswell, with guest jurors Sol and Danica Drago.

[queerphoria] is to be seen. [queerphoria] is to be felt. [queerphoria] is to be heard.

Meet the Jurors

This year we are excited to welcome Sol (they/them) and Danica Drago (they/them) as the jurors for [queerphoria] vol. 2: Adorned Serenity.
Get to know the jurors below!

[queerphoria] vol. 2 Juror
Sol (they/them) is a maker and activist born in Quito, Ecuador. They are drawn to jewelry’s ability to form a narrative on the body. Through their brand, Mi Corasol (@mi_corasol), they make objects that exist simultaneously as political statements, decoratives, and functional objects, unapologetically centering the experiences of their latinx, QTBIPOC, immigrant and activist communities. Sol has a background in sculpture and craft, acquiring a BFA in Fiber Arts from California State University, Long Beach where their work focused on body identity politics. In 2022 they completed the Jewelry Entrepreneurship program at Long Beach City College.
Click here to learn more!

[queerphoria] vol. 2 Juror
Danica Drago (they/them) (@danicadrago) is an interdisciplinary artist and arts facilitator based in Toronto. They earned their B.Des in Material Art and Design: Jewelry & Metalsmithing from OCAD University in 2015, but spent most of their time in the Ceramics department. Danica’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, in exhibitions, art fairs and symposiums for New York City Jewelry Week, Harbourfront Centre and XPACE Cultural Centre in Toronto, East Carolina University, University of British Columbia, and the Espace Solidor Museum in France, among others. They have led an active studio-based teaching practice in ceramics for the past seven years; working with youth and adults at the Gardiner Museum, Jewish Community Centre, Harbourfront Centre, and local ceramic studios in Toronto. They have also facilitated site-specific clay and tool-making workshops in public parks, libraries, schools, streets and rooftops. They are a recent alumni of the Craft & Design Artist-in-Residence program at Harbourfront Centre.
Click here to learn more!

[queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity
NYCJW 2023 Conversations: Juror’s Talk

Join [queerphoria]: Adorned Serenity guest jurors Danica Drago and Sol, for a live-recorded conversation that explores the transformative power of adornment as wearable safe spaces, their experience of the jurying process, and how their own work reflects the theme of this year’s exhibition.

Join the Conversation

Juror’s Choice

Our jurors for [queerphoria] vol. 2: Adorned Serenity each chose an artist’s work that they wanted to highlight from the exhibition.
Learn more about them below!

Sol’s Choice
“My juror's choice is Nanette Pengelley's piece, ‘I am my own safe space.’ It is a customisable multi- sensory experience that holds a profound interplay between personal empowerment and community responsibility. The intricately thought out music box mechanism transforms the piece from adornment to a vessel that can transport the wearer to a place where they feel truly seen and safe.”
Click here to read more and experience Nanette’s work!

Danica’s Choice
“My juror’s choice is Samonte Cruz’s piece, ‘Eternal Safe Space: Trans-cestors’ Funerary Mask’; an exceptional work for me in the show, because of how much it speaks to the absence of serenity that many trans/gender non-conforming people face in this current time; navigating the past, present and future traumas of existing in a world that systemically inflicts structural violence on our bodies in both life and death. By connecting with their cultural and lived experiences as a trans, Filipinx, disabled person, Samonte’s piece envisions a safe space beyond this realm; to access a sense of inner peace by claiming space in the present to protect and honor the dead, while creating a powerful connection to the legacies of their queer and trans Filipinx ancestors.”
Click here to read more and experience Samonte’s work!