Misha Kahn, a RISD FURN Alum, took me on as a studio assistant last summer during the crucial beginning phases of his career in the New York Art World. HIs unconventional approach to making and empirical knowledge, and especially his approach to mold making has impacted and informed my recent fall work.

I will be returning to Belize this winter to continue my studies with my uncle and grandfather, at their traditional jewelry shop - El Zafiro. This trip I will be focusing on how gold is worked and formed as a material. I will also be attending a few weddings and funerals, as well as taking some personal time on the island barrier reef scuba diving with my father.

Lawton Mull: Art and Objects deals in antiques. They are an up and coming company based out of Long Island City, and perform almost all of their own furniture restoration work. I worked with them for a summer, learning the basics of restoration as well as learning about mid century European design. It was an amazing experience to be able to simultaneously research and restore. The list of beautiful objects I worked with is countless, and the experience unsurpassed.

This winter I spent abroad in my home country of Belize. While visiting I studied silversmithing, and jewelry fabrication with my grandfather and uncle: Ernesto Sabido Senior, and Junior. Their father son jewelry business, has been in operation for sixty years, and they still work silver and gold in the traditional mexican style. It is my responsibility to preserve and pass on the Jewelers skill to my next of kin, and though Jewelry is not my my current craft of focus, it is one that I inherit with pride.

I recently completed my senioor degree project: an investigation into biodegradable paper laminations, and thermo-vacumm formed polyethylene terephthalate. My project sought to examine and critic the material culture of disposability and consumption, by reconfiguring our approach and psychological relationship to recycled paper and PETG plastic packaging.