Press Release Modella Gallery is pleased to present Ripples from Stillwater, an exhibition of work by selected graduates of the OSU Jewelry and Metals Program. This exhibition has been organized by Chris Ramsay, Professor of Metals-Jewelry / 3D Design at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Each of the artists selected for this exhibitions completed coursework in the BFA Studio Art Program at Oklahoma State University, and specifically, studied with Chris Ramsay. The act of adornment is an ancient practice. The ornamentation of our bodies as well as decoration of our personal and collective spaces survives from prehistoric times. From the petroglyphs inscribed into the walls of ancient pueblos of the American Southwest to sacred objects and jewelry found in ancient Egyptian tombs, to the geometric tattoos of the Toda tribe in South India, humans have an inescapable and innate desire to adorn. The artists in Ripples from Stillwater employ a variety of smithing methods and sculptural techniques to illustrate their connection to nature, memory, and storytelling. The emphasis of the jewelry and metals program is to build a strong technical foundation, while working to identify individual personal aesthetic and interests, as groundwork for being able to express themselves freely through the medium. Contemporary craft persons are well founded in a working knowledge of traditional techniques and processes while they push the boundaries of media and content. I believe that the diverse work of the artists in this exhibition demonstrate what is occurring globally. – Chris Ramsay