Radical Jewelry Makeover (RJM) is Ethical Metalsmiths' innovative community mining and jewelry project. It raises awareness of the connection between mining, metalsmithing, activism, collaboration and art. It involves volunteer "miners," "smelters," "refiners," jewelers, and metalsmiths working together to create a new and transparent supply chain. The project is both performance and event, linking recycling, reuse and collaborative work sessions with the creation of unique, innovative, handmade jewelry, concluding with an exhibition and reception. Students are learning about issues of transparency, sourcing, and over consumption within the field of jewelry. RJM asks participants to shift their perspective in the studio to place human and environmental health as the primary design consideration for making the work.
RJM collaborated with Longwood, ODU, VCU and professional jewelers in the area to bring an installment of RJM to the Longwood community. In the Fall 2024 semester, a call-to-action donation drive was held asking the local communities to donate their old, unwanted, and broken jewelry. On September 27th, 2024 students from Longwood, ODU, and VCU along with professional jewelers, gathered at the VCU studios to sort and assess the community donations. We received over 70 donations amounting to over 100lbs of jewelry, including costume, silver, gold, and diamonds. Students and professionals spent the rest of the Fall 2024 semester transforming those unwanted materials in to new fresh pieces of Madeover jewelry.
The Radical Jewelry Makeover exhibition opened in the Bedford Gallery in late February 2025. A closing reception and sale was held on March 19, 2025. Madeover jewelry from students, faculty, alumni, and professionals was available to purchase. The Longwood community helped to raise over $1000 in support of student scholarships and the nonprofit Ethical Metalsmiths. Scholarships were awarded to Longwood students Lorianna Elliott and Alec Corwin, both of whom made exceptional collections of Madeover jewelry over the course of the Radical Jewelry Makeover class.
View more info about this project in the Youtube video HERE.
