On june 3rd, Precious Waste´s first exhibition was held at Universidad Gestalt de Diseño in Xalapa, Veracruz, México.

The exhibition started with a fashion show where students and some teachers wore the neck pieces on the body, allowing the audience to appreciate them in their real context. Simultaneously, some of the work was displayed on the reused cardboard ( from Costco) mannequins .

 

A speech regarding the statement and purpose of the class project was addressed by contemporary jewelry artist Mariana Acosta to the audience. The opening´s ribbon was very adequately made from wine corks and was cut by both Ms.Acosta and the President of the institution Phd. Margarita Acosta Mota who then handed over a diploma to each student participant in the collection of 19 sustainable contemporary jewelry pieces.

 

Precious Waste emerged as an academic project held by artist MFA. Mariana Acosta Contreras (RISD ´09) at Universidad Gestalt de Diseño in México where she educates industrial and graphic designer students at all levels,  the art of waste material transformation.

 

There are two main stages of the work with waste materials / objects. Firstly, motivation is key in the process of understanding what contemporary jewelry is and how it can relate to value regarding waste as main subject. Collecting as many items from different backgrounds, starting from one´s own waste, to the neighbors, a restaurant, a bakery or a factory deliver very interesting and varied perspectives as to which materials are more common in terms of abundance or research that can result into very precious and unique findings. 

 

Studying and experimenting with waste material in a rational but also intuitive fashion can lead to a second stage where a metamorphosis occurs as experimentation becomes the bridge between the ordinary and the extraordinary. A compelling part of this process is the use of a modular form that repeats itself amongst an aesthetic instrumentation of elements that give birth to a piece of contemporary jewelry.

 

The overall inquiry of this project revolves around the significance of value referred as preciousness. What makes an object´s worth? Is it material? Is it transformation? What happens when we see pet bottles or money purposely arranged as the main material of a neckpiece? The dialogue that takes place as a result of this process and how it challenges one´s personal perspective about preciousness is pivotal to the project´s success.