Kelsey Merkeley, Alberta College of Art and Design
“Having grown up in a rural lakeside community nestled amongst the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, I hold special memories of starry nights. Some of my fondest memories are of long summer days that faded into clear summer nights, allowing the stars their chance to shine. My sisters and I would play under the hot sun, running along the sandy shores, burning the bottoms of our feet on the scalding sand, and relishing the long solstice of summer days as we plunged into the cool, refreshing water.
“As the sun set, the nocturnal moon would rise, large in the sky as it climbed over the mountains, commanding stillness and silence, radiating and reflecting on the mirrored surface of the lake along with brilliant pockets of brightness in the darkest depths of the sky. These pockets sparkled like diamonds dancing across the sky and down onto the black lake. Inspired by the spectacle of light, the loon would sing her song, inviting others to join the serenade of proud regale and falsetto wail. This piece is meant to capture the memories of my childhood and transport others to memories of their own.”
A student of Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), Merkeley draws on raw materials and natural inspirations in her work. For this piece, she used sterling silver, cubic zirconia (CZ), ruby, and pearl.
Rana Mireskandari, George Brown College
“This piece was inspired by my first camping experience at Killarney Provincial Park. Our campsite was in a secluded area near the water, and the night sky was breathtaking! The stars had never looked so close to the Earth before. I fabricated this pendant based on that unforgettable memory; it represents the outline of a tent in 14-karat yellow gold, overlooking a forest created by roller-printed leaves near a lake, and the night sky that illuminates the scene. The stars are represented by diamonds as well as bright burr marks on the oxidized sterling silver background, depicting the Milky Way.”
Having studied both music and photography in the past, Mireskandari is entering her third year in GBC’s jewellery arts program. She hopes to explore storytelling and mythology in her next collection.
