CARMEL BOERNER
Carmel Boerner lives and works in Penticton, BC, Canada, on the lands of Syilx Okanagan people. She studied jewelry design at Vancouver Community College, graduating in 2017. Her work has been exhibited in Canada, the US and Europe. She has worked for over 30 years in various non-profits in Canada and the United States. She is an avid reader, seamstress, gardener and dog lover.
Inspired by the Japanese aesthetic wabi-sabi, Carmel’s work often features decaying objects revealed as raw gems, remaining exactly as they were found. Marks of hand fabrication are important – she wants the wearer to feel the maker’s presence. Her marks echo those of the makers who have forged the rusty objects she uses in her work, which reveres that which is commonly discarded.
Carmel loves creating one-of-a kind pieces for submission to exhibits. As an eternal student and lover of a deadline, Carmel is inspired by exhibition calls and thrives on conducting research and exploring new materials and techniques, creating a piece around a concept. She enjoys poking around eBay and Etsy, beaches and barnyards, collecting rusting objects that strike her fancy.
Inspired by the Japanese aesthetic wabi-sabi, Carmel’s work often features decaying objects revealed as raw gems, remaining exactly as they were found. Marks of hand fabrication are important – she wants the wearer to feel the maker’s presence. Her marks echo those of the makers who have forged the rusty objects she uses in her work, which reveres that which is commonly discarded.
Carmel loves creating one-of-a kind pieces for submission to exhibits. As an eternal student and lover of a deadline, Carmel is inspired by exhibition calls and thrives on conducting research and exploring new materials and techniques, creating a piece around a concept. She enjoys poking around eBay and Etsy, beaches and barnyards, collecting rusting objects that strike her fancy.