Marilyn Yakumithis
She/Her
Sylvania, Ohio
“Marilyn Yakumithis is a jewelry artist and maker. She has been creating jewelry since earning her BFA in Sculpture, with an emphasis in Jewelry & Metals, from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2015. She was artist in residence at the Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum in Athens, Greece, where her work is featured in their permanent collection. Marilyn was also involved in the Chicago art community, where she volunteered at Lillstreet Art Center and participated in jewelry events at The Silver Room.”
“Shells of Former was created after surviving a mass shooting. Relationships are severed by senseless acts of violence, and new connections result from traumatic shared experiences. These bracelets combine traditional jewelry materials and ephemeral craft materials associated with building memories. Some components are meticulous, others seem haphazard - like gun violence. I fired rounds at a shooting range and set the shells, signifying emptiness and intensity of time - displaying burnt marks from the moments fired. The backings ambiguously resemble dripping hour glasses, bodies, or tomb stones. Friendship charms stand the test of time, like physical and emotional memories of trauma.”
@marilynyakumithis
How does your work relate to the theme of restoration?
“My work often involves catharsis - a restoration of the soul. The process of creating work is healing for me - it helps me consider a topic from multiple angles which restores my understanding, and provides greater context for ideas to connect.”
"Shells Of Former" Marilyn Yakumithis
How does your creative practice allow you to restore (renew, return, reclaim, recover)?
“The process of creating artwork restores my sense of well being - problem solving and getting into the flow state of metalsmithing is relaxing, and it helps me meditate more deeply in a calmer state about topics that typically disturb me. It also restores a sense of connection with others - whether someone relates to the experiences conveyed through my art, or through sharing ideas with others during the creative process.”
As a queer+, artist, what do you see can be, needs to be, or cannot be restored?
“I hope for human connections to be restored. There are many factors distracting people from forming meaningful connections both with others and within themselves. It's becoming more difficult to connect on a deeper level without shallow external forces interfering.”
Photographs Courtesy of the Artist
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“The presence of my partner has been an important part of this process. We were together at the event, and she's been supportive throughout making this art and moving through through fear together. Making these bracelets and facing these fears with her - collecting shells from our rounds at the shooting range - helped with processing the intensity of the experience.”