kristindiener.com
Kristin Diener, from Midwestern & New York-moved-Deep-South roots and now a resident in the Southwest, walked into her first jewelry class at a small Mennonite college in 1980. That casual but auspicious beginning propelled her into an impressive career as an artist and instructor.
After receiving her MFA in jewelry making and metalsmithing from Bowling Green State University, Kristin has gone on to create bold and distinctly original artwork. Her award winning metalwork has been featured in various publications and
exhibited nationally and internationally. Kristin's work utilizes a variety of new and traditional silversmithing techniques which she has been teaching for over 20 years.
2005
2.75" x 1.75" x .75" (Pin)
sterling silver, fine silver, copper, eyeglass frame and lens, toy rabbit, mica, paper, rabbit fur
Private Collection
“In a small town outside of Milwaukee, a thrift store was selling someone’s rabbit collection. This was one of the rabbits. I found the rabbit both serious and whimsical, and wanted a piece both elegant and funny to honor it.”
Beloved
2007
7.5" x 4.5" x 1" (Necklace without chain)
sterling silver, fine silver, brass, gunshells, rhinestone, pearls, glass beads, buttons, bottle cap, mother of pearl, found object, textile fragment, candy wrapper, mica
Private Collection
Historic Reality Tiara
2001
16.5" x 8.5" x 8"
(Tiara)
sterling silver, fine silver, gold, brass gunshells, 1979 road atlas, glass watch crystals, glass cabochons, bottle caps, guinea hen feathers, doll eyes, wisdom teeth, Great Grandma Schertz’s squash seeds, fingernail clippings, Georgia dirt, bone toothpick, shell, found objects
Private Collection
“Historic Reality Tiara holds so much information for me. My love of history, objects, fabrication, adornment, ritual, humor, travel, extremes. One of a series of 4 pieces created in 2001. Originally, the theme of the series was Obsession, but I was becoming rather physically ill when I obsessed over all the technical aspects required to create the pieces. So I renamed the theme Devotion, a “kinder gentler” Obsession. This way I could still labor as long as needed to carry out my intent and idea but not feel sick. In terms of subject matter, each place signified by road atlas under glass watch crystals refers to a location that was an important Native American site before the arrival of Europeans. I am interested in true history of places and people, as far as it is accessible, and have often been curious about how my ancestors thought about setting and tilling of native soil. An important book at the time I created this piece was Stolen Continents.”
Death’s Crossroads: Shrine With 36+ Wearable Pieces
2001
22" x 16" x 4"
sterling silver, fine silver, brass, copper, found objects, gunshells, bone, shells, buttons, tintype, wisdom teeth and gold crown, 1920s glass cabochons, pearls, turquoise, pyrite, opal, agate, resin
Private Collection
“In 2000, I was roadtripping to New Orleans 3-4 times a year from Albuquerque. I wanted to create a piece about decision making. How when a decision is made another is left behind and dies. Although I am rethinking that and am not sure that’s really what happens. But at the time this piece was made, it felt very clear that when you make one decision at a crossroads, another decision or decisions dies. And that really bothered me. Much of the trash used in the shrine is from walks on Central/Route 66 in Albuquerque.”
Sea At Night
2007
4" x 2.25" x .25"
(Necklace 14.5" long with handmade chain)
sterling silver, fine silver, moonstone, pearls, button, 1920s glass cabochon, mica, candy wrapper, 1800s Italian mathematics text
Private Collection
New Orleans & Alabama/Mississippi Gulf Coast Love Story: Loss & Lament: Fertility Reliquary II
2005
20" x 12 " x .75"
(46" long with handmade chain)
sterling silver, fine silver, brass, eyeglass lenses/frames/nose rests, road atlas, antique buttons, beer bottle caps, Route 66 guitar pick, newspaper fragment, photograph, fossil print, pearls garnet, citrine, moonstone, mica, candy wrapper, resin, 1920s glass cabochons, beach pottery, silver bells, assorted stones, toy scissors, plexiglass
Private Collection
Lip Lock
2010
2"
(pin)
sterling and fine silver, steel slag, key, postcard fragment, mica, candywrapper, handmade lace, lingerie netting, crystal
A Confederacy of Dunces: Fortuna’s Wheel
2003
(pin)
sterling and fine silver, brass, found objects, grape seed, button, peach moonstone, carnelian, hematite, jasper, citrine, turqoise, pearl
A Confederacy of Dunces: Night of Joy
2003
5" x 3" x .25"
(pendant)
sterling and fine silver, found objects, moonstone, citrine, turquoise, peach moonstone, pearl, resin
Henna Hand
2003
4" x 2 " x .5"
(pin)
sterling and fine silver, grape seeds, resin, glass prosthetic eye, pearls, citrine, garnet, moonstone, sunstone
Private Collection
Tushy Pin
2006
3.5" x 2 " x .25"
(Pendant with handmade chain)
sterling silver, fine silver, postcard fragment, graphite, thread, rose petal, candy wrapper, pearls
A Confederacy of Dunces: John Kennedy Toole Fictional Portrait
2003
4" x 2" x .25"
(pendant)
sterling and fine silver, photograph, watch crystal, found objects, peach moonstone, peridot, citrine, garnet
