Mass Migrations

Seth Michael Carlson

May 23 - July 15, 2024

Receptions:

Opening reception: May 24th 2024 5-8pm 

Artist Talk: May 24th 6:30pm

First Friday Reception: June 7th 2024 5-8pm 

Gravers Lane Gallery is pleased to announce Seth Michael Carlson’s first solo exhibition of jewelry at GLG, “MASS MIGRATIONS”. The exhibit will open with a reception and artist talk on Friday, May 24th 5-8pm at Gravers Lane Gallery, in Chestnut Hill and will close July 15th 2024. 

The jewelry industry has dark corners. A minimal research online easily uncovers troubling facts with issues such as human rights violations, political conflicts, and detrimental environmental impact –to name but a few. Jewelry is associated with opulence, celebration, luxury, glitz and romance.  Minimal thought is usually given to the impact the industry has on the environment, animals and human beings. Thank goodness that the rise of modern era eco-consciousness in almost every industry has resulted in a growing number of conscious consumers who are raising the jewelry industry standards. Carlson is a jeweler who is not only an outstanding craftsman, but is building his art practice with integrity. He is making jewelry ethically and sustainably which means the materials the jewelry is made from ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and minimizing environmental degradation. He is concerned about animal welfare and environmental stewardship.

MASS MIGRATIONS is an art jewelry exhibit that strives to capture the character of the fauna and flora that Seth encounters in the natural world –a celebration of its beauty. It is important to him that each piece is handcrafted using ethically sourced gold, silver, and gemstones. He sees every piece as a celebration of the natural world and believes that the materials he chooses should reflect the value of life that he seeks to convey. Seth believes in capturing the character of each life form through subtle expressive gestures. With a focus on environmental preservation, each piece is a snapshot in time to bring awareness and appreciation to the lesser known species.

The Earth and the living beings that inhabit it are always in motion. From the ground beneath our feet to the upper reaches of the atmosphere stability is an illusion as change is a constant. Migrations en masse happen in the air, over myriad terrain, and under water every year and every season. Whether in search of food, water, or a coveted breeding ground many species of mammals, insects, birds, and fish travel as a large group to ensure a greater chance of survival.  This exhibition explores these feats by utilizing precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones. Through traditional goldsmithing and silversmithing techniques, Seth hopes to share insight into the magnitude of mass migration through pattern and movement. In addition, he hopes to learn more about how our changing world has altered the migration patterns of life on Earth, including within the human species. 

Seth’s jewelry and sculpture career began in his father’s stained glass studio, where he fashioned jewelry and art pieces from scraps of discarded glass and began to experiment with metalsmithing. After attending the Savannah College of Art and Design’s BFA program in metals and jewelry, Seth was employed as a silversmithing instructor, a bench jeweler, and studio goldsmith for Barbara Heinrich Studios,  while building his brand. Additionally, he earned a graduate degree in art therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he researched and wrote about the therapeutic benefits of metalsmithing. Seth believes that being a craftsperson and being altruistic are synonymous, and giving back to the community is an essential part of mastering a craft. In 2019, Carlson had the opportunity to live in Hong Kong for four months as an artist in residence with Loupe, a design incubation space sponsored by Chow Tai Fook Jewelry. He is inspired by the wildlife, people, and experiences of his surroundings and from his travels.

Carlson uses only ethically sourced metals from reputable distributors and refineries in the United States. The metal is recycled and/or ethically sourced. Seth is a certified Fair Mined artisan which requires that he participate in an accountability program of the highest standards of human rights, and environmental preservation. Seth also uses recycled “Harmony” silver. He sources his gemstones from reputable vendors that are knowledgeable about the origins of their stones and takes every measure to ensure that rigorous environmental and human rights standards are enforced in every step of harvesting. Seth does not use any materials that are derived from wildlife in his work, display, or packaging including: leather, bones, teeth, claws, fur / pelts, hair, glues, hides, preserved insects or other invertebrates, fossils, coral, shells, ivory, mammoth tusk, or other animal remnants. When appropriate, alternative materials including advanced ceramic and recycled aerospace carbon fiber will be carved to create a facsimile of animal parts. Regular volunteering with local watershed preservation, animal welfare, and wildlife recovery programs are an integral part of Seth’s vision of environmental stewardship.