On Thursday, April 18, the Makerspace brought in guest artist Beatriz (Bea) Mora-Hussar, a Venezuelan metalworker, to teach guests how to make charm bracelets. Around a dozen people attended the event located within the creative space in the Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library.
Mora-Hussar has both a bachelor of fine arts and a masters of fine arts from Cal State Fullerton. She has been making jewelry for many years, but only started working with metal around 2010. The small, delicate charm bracelets she and her guests made differ greatly from her usual work.
“I don’t make small jewelry,” said Mora-Hussar. “My work is more sculptural – something people can wear. I work with aluminum, and it’s a lot of fun!”
Nevertheless, she gave expert instructions on creating charm bracelets using silver and gold chains. For example, when measuring a chain against your wrist, you want it to fight somewhat tightly. That way, it won’t be too loose once the clasp is attached. Bracelet makers placed their charms on small hooks, which they attached to the bracelet chains and welded shut using pliers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone else’s charm bracelets turn out,” said fourth-year Albert Hejmadi, who has been coming to the Makerspace since long before he applied for the student assistant position.
“It’s really cool that you can make it your own. And everyone just makes their own thing, and you can really see how people put their personality into the bracelets that they make, so I’m excited about that.”
Alyssa Lund, a Makerspace assistant added that she hopes the event will make students “feel inspired and empowered to make jewelry, even if there isn’t a guest artist here facilitating as well, and that this might inspire them to be willing to also try some other new crafts.”
During the event, Lund asked Beatriz Mora-Hussar about the possibility of returning to the Makerspace for another event in May. This event would coincide with Mother’s Day, and most likely be themed around the holiday.