Artist Statement
A piece of jewelry is a collection of materials, of mass and volume and color. In the traditional materials I most frequently use, these properties get further defined and categorized into grams of precious metal, into the purity of karat and the stone weight of carat – into hardness and clarity, into cut and luster. A good piece of jewelry, though, properly worn, properly appreciated, is – or will be – so much more than that. Every time it is worn, some of it will be left on the wearer, some of it will be left in their environment – an imperceptible trace of where they have been and what they have done. In turn, what is left behind will itself leave a mark on the piece.
Beyond what is seen and can be measured, beyond the wear and tear that might take years or decades to truly show, is the intimacy of that unique relationship. The damage of frequent – often daily – wear isn’t harm; it’s the age patina of the piece. It is the wearing in and wearing down as a work conforms to the body and the activity of the wearer. It’s the unique place of jewelry to be a highly cherished inanimate object that engenders a presumption of its constant presence. There is a benign, affectionate neglectfulness – something that only calls attention to itself by its absence – like a loved one.
Sometimes my objects tell stories as soon as they are viewed…sometimes they only truly tell their stories after years of wear.
Artist Bio
Dwayne Bandy began his academic career at Texas A&M University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science, and began a doctorate in Nutrition, which he left to pursue his long-standing dreams of working in metal.
He came to Austin Community College in 2008, to study Art Metal in the Welding Department.
He discovered the Jewelry Department in his second semester, and soon focused on the medium, eventually receiving his Associate of Applied Science degree in Jewelry.
After finishing his studies there, he worked for a local custom jewelry shop for several years, eventually returning to ACC in 2015, to serve the department first in the role of lab tech, and then as an adjunct professor and instructional associate.
Dwayne continued his education at Sierra Nevada University, where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Arts in Spring 2020.
Dwayne brings a unique perspective to his current role as Assistant Department Chair, based on his experiences at ACC as a student, as a staff member, and as an instructor, and looks forward to being part of the continued growth and development of the Department.
