Artist Statement

I transform objects and materials that would normally be thought of as waste into art jewelry. By utilizing color, movement, and tactile qualities, I am encouraging a playful interaction between the wearer/viewer and the artwork. It is my goal to create thought provoking wearable art that challenges and reconfigures viewer stereotypes of material usage, value, and importance.

My current research involves investigations into metaphysics and philosophy. In my work, I use symbolism and unconventional material relationships to spark the imagination. In my creative practice, I aim to further understand myself, others, my environment, and the meaning of existence. My work is a communication of this journey toward enlightenment, understanding, and peace.

Education

2012       MFA
               Concentration in Jewelry/Metals
               Kent State University, Kent, OH

2008      BFA
               Sculpture: Jewelry/Metals
               Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 

Professional Experience

Interim Chair, Department of Art, Clafin University, Orangeburg, SC
January 2020 - June 2022

Assistant Professor of Studio Art, Clafin University, Orangeburg, SC
Fall 2019 - June 2022

Full Time Instructor, Clafin University, Orangeburg, SC
Fall 2014 - Spring 2019

Classes Taught:

  • Sculpture I

  • Sculpture II

  • Design Concepts I

  • Design Concepts II

  • Textile Design & Crafts

  • Art Appreciation

  • Art Appreciation - Continuing Education (Fort Jackson Campus)

  • Ceramics

  • Museum & Archival

  • Senior Project

  • Teaching Art to Children


Adjunct Instructor, Art Department, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC
2014      Art Appreciation
              Senior Project

Adjunct Instructor, Kent State University School of Art
Jewelry/Metals/Enameling Department
2013       Design and Production
               Introduction to Jewelry/Metals

2012       Advanced Studio: Jewelry/Metals/Enameling
               Introduction to Jewelry/Metals CAD for Jewelry

2011       Jewelry Concepts and Techniques
 

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Kent State University School of Art
Jewelry/Metals/Enameling Department        
2011        Introduction to Jewelry/Metals

2010       CAD for Jewelry
               Introduction to Jewelry/Metals

2009      Graduate Teaching Assistant to Kathleen Browne, Introduction to Jewelry/Metals
                Kent State University

2008      Gallery Associate, Center of The Earth Gallery, Charlotte, NC

Exhibitions

2022 Artist’s Collective Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg, SC

SC State Fair, Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Columbia, SC

Greenville Center for Creative Art Annual Showcase: Member Show, Greenville, SC

Imaginarium, Solo exhibition, Kent State University Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

2021 Sparkle Plenty, That’s a Wrap!, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA

A Fine Hand, Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, Orangeburg, SC

It’s Been a While, a Group Art Exhibition, Tapp’s Outpost Arts Center Gallery, Five Points, Columbia, SC

2020 Disrupt, Vancouver Metal Arts Association, CCBC Gallery, Vancouver, Canada

Plastic Icons exhibition, (w/ Katie Kameen), Online Exhibition, Arts Council of York County

2019 Earrings Galore, Heidi Lowe Gallery, 171 Elizabeth St, NYC (NYC Jewelry Week)

Cola Town Bike Collective, Fundraiser, Columbia, SC

Rocket Booster, Nclusiv event, The Space Hall, Tapp’s Arts Center, 9:30pm

ASTROTranscendence, Tapp’s Arts Center, Columbia, SC

Red Delicious Pop Up, Nclusiv event, Cayce, SC

Eco-Fab Trash Couture Window installation, Tapp’s Arts Center, Columbia, SC

Eco-Fab Trash Couture runway exhibition, Tapp’s Arts Center, Columbia, SC

American Craft Show, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, San Francisco, CA

un•common•place, group show with Flavia Lovatelli & Diko Lewis, Tapps Arts Center, Columbia, SC

THEVENT, - Collaboration with Floc Martin & Models, Arcade Building, Columbia, SC

Street Art Pop-up, Craft Alliance Center of Art & Design, St. Louis, MO

Earrings Galore, Heidi Lowe Gallery, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Summer Squash Pop Up, Cayce, SC

Earrings Galore, a Heidi Lowe Gallery Pop Up, Elephant Room Gallery, Chicago, IL

Farther, an exhibition, the Art House, Columbia, SC

Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, Charleston Convention Center, N. Charleston, SC

Can you feel it?, an exhibition of textural artwork, Studio 175, Orangeburg, SC

UnCut, Runway Show, Pelliclaude/Arcade Mall, Columbia, SC

handMADE, 4th annual runway exhibition, CALA-bash, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

American Craft Show, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, GA

Girls Block Featured Artist, Various venues & Performers, Columbia, SC

Group Exhibition, Troppus Projects, Kent, OH

BLOOM, Sykes Gallery, Millersville University, Millersville, PA

2018        Crafty Feast, Columbia Metro Convention Center, Columbia, SC

Sparkle Plenty 13, Quirk Gallery, Richmond, VA

Riot/Glam Fest runway show, Arcade Mall, Columbia, SC

Just Slay It, runway fashion show, Benedict College, Columbia, SC

ReCurrent, Anderson Arts Center, Anderson, SC

Reimagining Small Plastics Pop-Up, Zero Waste Daniel, Brooklyn, NY

6th Annual Figure Out, Figurative Art Exhibition, Tapp's Arts Center, Columbia, SC

Table For Six, (COR Event), Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC

Meet Me at Tapp's II, Artist Market & Exhibition, Tapp's Arts Center, Columbia, SC

Columbia Fashion Week (showcase with Anton & Maxine Clothing), ETV Building, Columbia, SC

Pairings, group exhibition, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD

Exhibition In Motion: Objects of Protection, Portland, OR

Fresh Plastic 2: Eco-Conscious Art & Fashion Show + Dance Party, CosmoLux, Atlanta, GA

Two of a Kind, Pop-Up Earring Sale, Asher Gallery, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

ARTFIELDS Juried Art Competition, Venue: Jones-Carter Gallery, Lake City, SC

                Jewelry Edition, traveling Pop-Up and online Exhibition (NC, AZ, OR, MD, MA, TX, PA, OH)

                Zero Waste, a Pussy Powerhouse zine/event, Los Angeles, CA

2017        Faculty Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

                Fresh Plastic, Art & Fashion runway show, Tapp’s Arts Center, Columbia, SC

                5th Annual Figure Out, Tapp’s Arts Center, Columbia, SC

                ECO-Fab Trash Couture, Runway Show and Window Display, Tapps Art Center, Columbia, SC

                Exhibition in Motion, Unmasked: Conceal and Reveal, Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

                RefHues, Midtown Players Club (a Hambidge Center Creative Hive), Colony Square, Atlanta, GA

                SC Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, Charleston Area Convention Center, 
                North Charleston, SC

                ARTFIELDS Juried Art Competition, Polyphony Music, Lake City, SC

                April Showers Art Sale, SC Arts Commission 50th Anniversary Celebration, 701 Whaley, Columbia, SC

                handMADE 2017, Wearable Art Runway Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

                Meet Me at Tapps, Tapp's Art Center, Columbia, SC

                Race, Reasoning, Self, and Other, IP Stanback Museum, SC State University, Orangeburg, SC

                Unconventional Departures, Lewandowski Gallery, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC

                Bauble, Curtis R. Harley Gallery, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC

2016        ADORN, Contemporary Jewelry Exhibition & Sale, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, Charlotte, NC

                SC State Fair Juried Professional Fine Art Exhibition, Cantey Building, State Fair Grounds, Columbia, SC

                FUN volume ONE, solo exhibition of recent works, FAB Gallery, SCSU, Orangeburg, SC

                27th Annual Juried Competition, Arts Council of York Co., Center for the Arts, Rock Hill, SC

                Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, North Charleston, SC

                ARTFIELDS Juried Art Competition, Seven Monogram Boutique, Lake City, SC

                handMADE 2016, Wearable Art Runway Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

                Art Continues the Legacy, Faculty Art Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Orangeburg, SC

                Jewelry Jubilee, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, Charlotte, NC

2015        This is a Brooch Photobooth, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA

                This is a Brooch Exhibition, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA

                SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, North Charleston, SC

                Butter My Biscuit: An Exhibition of Southern Sexuality, Juried Exhibition, Gallery 1010 Knoxville, TN

                Anderson Arts Center 40th Annual Juried Show, Anderson Arts Center, Anderson, SC

                Primary Colors, Faculty Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

2014       In the Spirit of Arthur Rose, Arthur Rose Museum, Clafin University, Orangeburg, SC

               South Carolina State Fair Juried Professional Fine Art Exhibition, Columbia, SC

               Clafin University Faculty Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Orangeburg, SC

2013       Craft Hilton Head Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC

               South Carolina State Fair Juried Professional Fine Art Exhibition, State Fairgrounds, Columbia, SC

               Greenville Museum of Art Biennial, Greenville Museum of Art, Greenville, NC

               York County Arts Council 24th Annual Juried Exhibition, Rock Hill, SC

               Mythical Genitalia, Juried Exhibition, Knoxville, TN

               Exhibition in Motion, SNAG Conference, Toronto, Canada

2012       Small Works Competition and Holiday Sale, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

               365: RING-A-DAY Exhibition, School of Art Sculpture Gallery, Kent State University (Solo)

               PLASTICOUTURE: Thesis Exhibition, Kent State University, School of Art Gallery 

               2011 Small Works Competition and Holiday Sale, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

               30 Small Works Juried Exhibition, Gallery Up, Rock Hill, SC 

               MICROCOSMIC, Window Installation, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH (Collaboration with April Bachtel)

               20 Hour Extravaganza, MFA Candidacy Review Exhibition, Sculpture Gallery, Kent State University, Kent, OH

               64th Student Annual Juried Exhibition, Kent State University, School of Art Gallery

2010       Small Works Competition and Holiday Sale, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

               Freshly Hatched, Exhibition of MFA graduate student work, curated by Emily Sullivan (Group)

               30 Small Works Juried Exhibition, Gallery Up, Rock Hill, SC 

               63rd Student Annual Juried Exhibition, Kent State University, School of Art Gallery, Kent, OH

2008      York County Arts Council 19th Annual Juried Competition, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill, SC 

               30 Small Works Juried Exhibition, Gallery Up; Rock Hill, SC

               SC Palmetto Hands Traveling Exhibition, Various venues across South Carolina

               South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, Charleston, SC 

               COM + STELLA, BFA Senior Exhibition, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill, SC (Solo)

               Composting Good and Evil, Ethical Metalsmiths Virtual Exhibition (Online)

               Annual Winthrop Art Auction, Gallery Up, Rock Hill, SC

2007      Recycled; An Exhibition of Wearable Art, McLaurin Student Gallery, Winthrop University

               SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, Charleston, SC

Awards

2019 Honorable Mention, Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, N. Charleston, SC

Faculty Spirit Award, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

Emerging Artist Award, ACC Hip-Pop Program, American Craft Show, Atlanta, GA

2017       Third Place, 28th Annual Juried Competition, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill, SC

2016       Second Place, 27th Annual Juried Competition, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill, SC

               Honorable Mention, Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition & Exhibition, Charleston, SC

2015       SNAG Educational Endowment Scholarship, Emerging/Mid-Career, 3rd Place

               Diane B. Lee Fine Craft Merit Award, Anderson Arts Center 40th Annual Juried Show, Anderson, SC

2013       First Place in Sculpture, Professional Fine Art, South Carolina State Fair, Columbia, SC

2012       Best in Show, Annual Small Works Competition, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

               First Runner Up, 65th Student Annual Juried Exhibition, Kent State University School of Art

2010       First Place, Small Works Competition, Downtown Gallery, Kent, OH

2009      Teaching Assistantship, Kent State University, Kent, OH 

2008      Honorable Mention, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition

               Queenie Award for Best Female in Jewelry/Metals at Winthrop University

               Lewandowski Outstanding Fine Arts Student Award

               Outstanding Fine Arts Student in Jewelry/Metals

               Janice Mueller Purchase Award, Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, Winthrop University

2007      Honorable Mention, South Carolina Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition

               Phil Moody Award, Printmaking and Drawing Show, Winthrop University

               Martin Art and Frame Merit Award, Printmaking and Drawing Show, Winthrop University

               Queenie Award for Best Female in Jewelry/Metals at Winthrop University

Publications

2018 Zero Waste, BUST Magazine, New York, NY

Zero Waste, a Pussy Powerhouse zine/event, Los Angeles, CA

2017         Style Icons, GO Columbia, The State Paper

                 This Artist Makes Used Plastic So Pretty, People Want to Wear It, GO Columbia, The State Paper

                 Local Jewelry Designer Tabitha Ott Gives Old Plastic New Life, Freetimes 

2015         Electric City News, November 19th Edition

2012         PLASTICOUTURE, Thesis, Kent State University, Kent, OH

2009        Fantastic Recycled Plastic, Lark Books

                 Style | Glitter, Think Global, Buy Local, Charlotte TASTE Spring Issue

2008        A Feast for the Eyes, Winthrop Magazine, Fall Issue

Curatorial

2021 Juror, ERR (Edisto River Review), Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

2020 Director, Light of Hope for Columbia, community Exhibition, Five Points, Columbia, SC

Curator, Gallery Space at Tapp’s Outpost, Five Points, Columbia, SC (Sept-Nov)

My mind don’t work like that, Explorations in painting by Joel Cothran

Your own worst enemy, An exhibition of artwork by Sava Kucherin

Fall Exhibitions, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

Juror, ERR (Edisto River Review), Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC

2017          Progression, Arthur Rose Museum, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC  (SC Arts Commission 50th Anniversary)

2016          Southern ________., An exhibition based on the Southern Experience, Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center

2015          42nd Annual Student Art Exhibition, SC State University, Orangeburg, SC

                  Bamberg County Youth Art Show (K-12), Hooten-Black House, Bamberg, SC

                  Celebrating Black History Through the Arts, Juried Art Exhibition, Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center

2012          Curator, GAR Foundation Student Art Exhibition, Andrew Jackson House, Akron, OH

Related Experiences

2017        Volunteer Coordinator & Attendee, SNAG Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA

2016        Workshop Attendee, Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN
                Nicole Jacquard & Anne Fiala: Alternative Materials & Inventive Solutions
                Bob Ebendorf: Lost and Found: Personal Adornment                              

                Volunteer Coordinator & Attendee, SNAG Annual Conference, Asheville, NC

                Participating Artist, SNAGnext Trunk Show, Renaissance Hotel, Asheville, NC

                Artist Vendor, ARTFIELDS Makers Market, The Green, Lake City, SC  

                Coordinator for MADE: Wearable Art Runway Exhibition, Arthur Rose Museum, Orangeburg, SC

                SCSTA 2016 College Festival Judge - Theatrical Design Category, Orangeburg, SC

                JMAC Valentines Sale, Free Range Brewing Company, Charlotte NC

                CalaBash Committee Member, Claflin University (to present)                     

2015       Volunteer Coordinator, Annual SNAG Conference, Boston, MA

                Liaoning Summer Exchange Program, Claflin University, Co-Director & Instructor

                Upward Bound Summer Program Instructor, Mass Communication, Claflin University

                Participating Artist, SCORES Cleveland Inspired Art Silent Auction Benefit, Cleveland, OH            

                Co-Curator, Celebrating Black History through the Arts, Orangeburg Fine Arts Center, Orangeburg, SC

               “Green It & Mean It”, Recycling/Sustainability Event, Clafin University, Orangeburg, SC, Participating Artist

                Faculty Advisor, Art Club, Claflin University (to present)

2014        Sustainability Committee Clafin University, Member, September 2014-Present  

                SNAG Annual Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota - Attendee and Volunteer

2013        SNAG Twitter account manager

                Cleveland Flea, Booth Vendor, Cleveland, OH

                Participating Artist, SCORES Cleveland Inspired Art Silent Auction Benefit, Cleveland, OH

                SNAG Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada - Attendee

                Teen Workshop Instructor, Found Object Jewelry, Akron Art Museum, Akron, Ohio

2012        SNAG Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ - Attendee

                Curator, GAR Foundation Student Show, Akron, OH

2011         Treasurer, Jewelry Metals Co-Op, Kent State University

                 SNAG Annual Conference, Seattle, WA - Attendee

                 Blossom Arts Summer Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH

2010         Treasurer, Jewelry Metals Co-Op, Kent State University

                 SNAG Annual Conference, Houston, TX - Attendee and Volunteer

2009        Workshop Instructor, “Ornament as Art: The Jewelry Collection of Helen Williams Drutt”

                 Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, NC

                 SNAG Annual Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Attendee and Volunteer

2008        Jewelry/Metals Demonstration at Northwestern High School, Rock Hill, SC

                 Volunteer for Cultural Arts Week at Springfeld Middle School, Fort Mill, SC

                 SNAG Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia - Attendee and Volunteer

                 Treasurer, Guild of Emerging Metalsmiths and Designers, Winthrop University

2007        An Evening at the Cotton Factory (Artist Beneft) – participating artist

                 Fong Choo teapot workshop, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC (Work/Study Scholarship)

2006        American Craft Show, Charlotte, NC - Student Volunteer

                 Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Crafts Show, Raleigh, NC - Student Volunteer

Memberships

2007 - Present       SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths)

2011 - 2015 Crafthaus

2009 - 2012           Jewelry/Metals Co-Op, Kent State University

2007 - 2008          GEMD (Guild of Emerging Metalsmiths and Designers), Winthrop University