by Layah Duckworth
DaMea Hughes is a senior at Valdosta State University graduating in May of 2022. She is from a small, country town called Cedartown in Georgia. When asked about the effect of where she’s from on her work, she states, “art really isn’t a big thing there.” She began her college experience as a criminal justice major with art as a hobby. After realizing her passion for art as a career, Hughes changed her major to interior design. However, in the summer of 2021, Hughes couldn’t get enough and changed her major again to strictly focus on her art. Hughes is part of the senior exhibition titled “In Situ”. This is a Latin phrase that translated means, “the original place”. Hughes states that all the seniors have come together during their college career as artists, and created their own original place within the gallery, hence “In Situ”.
Hughes credits Professor Abigail Heuss, who teaches the jewelry and metalsmithing class, with her love for the medium. Along with a wonderful teacher to guide Hughes, she also finds joy and a bit of therapy in the metalsmithing process. The process can become destructive at times, such as hammering sheet metal to add textures. It can be a good medium to release some frustration.
A copper pendant, titled Protection, has multiple symbols with meaning to the artist. This pendant is in the shape of the hamsa of the Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The hamsa represents chakras and mudras (hand gestures) that re-direct energy flow in the body. The pendant is stamped with swirls which symbolize the evolution of self and the trials one endures in life. Finally, the tiger’s eye is mounted in the same spot as the eye would be located on the hamsa and provides protection.
Trifecta, a completely handmade necklace, also uses symbols that are important to the artist. It was constructed with silver, copper, and a green jasper crystal. Hughes wrapped silver wire around a dowel rod and sawed through the middle of each loop to create her jump rings. Next, she individually stretched each ring to elongate them before soldering each one to create the chain. The trifecta consists of two charms- a mushroom and a lotus flower, with the crystal in a bezel setting as the centerpiece. The mushroom and lotus flower were patinated with a crackling green patina to resemble the colors in the green jasper. These symbols were not picked at random. The mushroom charm represents the healing properties that can be found within mushrooms. The lotus flower is a symbol of enlightenment and rebirth. Lastly, the green jasper symbolizes balance.
Hughes’ art is very personal to her, with a common theme being growth within herself. She also loves to do research on other religions and cultures to make her works as inclusive as possible. In the future, Hughes states that she sees herself working with younger kids, possibly teaching crafts at youth centers or daycares. She said she may eventually decide to become an art teacher or an art therapist. Either way, Hughes wants to be a “safe space” for children to create and express as she did not have that same resource growing up.
Layah Duckworth: Valdosta State University senior in Art Education, 2022.